Flying Frear up for Rangers test
well against the big teams, especially at home, so hopefully we can do that again.”
Motherwell were hoping the League Cup would kickstart their season just as it did last year when they also lost their opening two league fixtures.
It was the hosts who came racing out of the blocks though. Livi hit the bar in the first minute of the match, a rasping long range drive from Steven Lawless from well outside the box cannoned back off the frame of the goal.
In a breathless start to the game, Johnson then tested Kelly in the Livi goal on the break with a low shot at the near post that was well dealt with.
Player manager Kenny Miller was barking orders at his players from the front, and he led by example with a fantastic dipping half volley after five minutes that Trevor Carson pushed just over the bar.
With both sides not afraid to get forward, Alex Gorrin won possession in the middle of the park and he fed Johnson. His powerful strike bounced back off the post with the keeper well beaten. There have been plenty of reports about Livingston’s pitch already this season, but it certainly wasn’t impeding the players as the exciting game kept on producing chances.
Ten minutes in, Frear was scythed down after making an excellent run down the wing. Bigirimana swung the ball into the six yard box and Curtis Main just couldn’t keep his header down to open the scoring.
Frear then put another perfect cross into the box minutes which Richard Tait raced onto. He headed straight at Kelly with the goal at his mercy. Danny Johnson was no stranger to goals south of the border. He hit 45 goals in 39 games for Guisboroughtown to seal a move to Cardiff City.
After 23 minutes ‘Well struck the crucial blow. Main did excellently down the left hand wing, and his clipped cross into the box found Johnson who fired low past Kelly to give ‘Well the lead.
After half an hour the visitors almost doubled their lead. Frear released Johnson who timed his run excellently to beat the offside trap. He fired the ball across the box but Main just couldn’t turn it home. From the resulting corner Carl Mchugh then bulleted a header at the near post that was saved tremendously by Kelly.
Frear set up Main whose close-range header was fantastically clawed away by Kelly who kept the hosts in the tie just before half-time.
The second half was a much more cagey affair, with ‘Well less willing to press forward given their one goal advantage.
‘Well fan favourite Allan Campbell replaced Gorrin with half an hour left as Stephen Robinson moved to take back control of the middle of the park.
He almost made an instant impact when he span two markers on the edge of the box before unleashing a stunning low drove that smacked off the left hand post.
Lawless fired over from the edge of the box late on but ‘Well held on. The Betfred League Cup quarter-final draw in full is: Rangers v Ayr United St Johnstone v Celtic Hearts v Motherwell Hibs v Aberdeen Ties will be played on September 25/26/27.