ANNAN ATHLETIC 1 Omar (44) MOTHERWELL 3 Johnston (16), Moult (61), (63)
MOTHERWELL manager Mark McGhee admitted man of the match Marvin Johnston was the big difference between the teams in yesterday’s win at Annan.
The striker bagged a tremendous opener before claiming two assists.
McGhee admitted: “We have a star player in Marvin who can make all the difference. And today he did.
“We had to regroup after conceding a goal just before half time.
“In the second half we continued the good stuff and got two goals.
“Overall, another step in pre-season and an important win in the competition.”
Motherwell were threatening and in the 15th minute Lee Lucas shot wide.
The goal came a minute later. Johnston strode down the left and beat two players, scoring from 20 yards from an acute angle.
Johnson was creating problems every time he got the ball and, in 25 minutes, his powerful shot from the edge of the box was stopped by keeper Blair Currie, Peter Watson clearing the danger with a hefty kick.
Johnston had another shot which went past in the 32nd minute, then Lewis Moult was just inches wide with a shot.
Steven McManus hit the bar with a header from a Lionel Ainsworth corner on 42 minutes.
Annan shocked the visitors a minute before the break, Rabin Omar’s header finding the net.
Well came out strongly at the start of the second half and Johnston almost put them ahead in the 48th minute but Currie just got to his shot, while he had to look lively to stop a Richard Tait effort.
The visitors were now in control and they had five corners in the space of five minutes before Louis Moult finally but them 2-1 up in the 61st minute.
Johnston did the hard work and Moult finished clinically.
Two minutes later, Well were on easy street when Moult fired in his second.
Annan had a couple more chances, Max Wright testing keeper Craig Samson with a shot from 15 yards in the 72nd minute and Steven Black blasting a shot wide on the right.
A free-kick in the 82nd minute from Steven Black was stopped by the visiting defence and cleared.
Annan manager Jim Chapman said: “We’ve made basic errors in decision-making and defending, so all the huffing and puffing counts for nothing if you keep making errors. We’re disappointed but the guys worked hard with three games in seven days and two against Premier sides.”