Awards night clean sweep for ‘exquisite’ Turnbull

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson labelled some of David Turnbull’s football “exquisite” after the 19-year-old netted his tenth first-team goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton.

The midfielder went on to collect a clean sweep at the club’s awards night, winning five trophies in his breakthrough season.

Turnbull was voted player of the year by both fans and team-mates, won the top goalscorer award, the young player prize and goal of the season for a long-range strike against Dundee.

His goal against Accies typified his composure, cushioning a volley home from Liam Grimshaw’s 30th-minute cross, but it also showed he can compete physically as he outmuscled Accies skipper Darian Mackinnon.

The teenager stroked the ball around as Motherwell dominated until half-time before Grimshaw’s loose pass set up Hamilton substitute Marios Ogkmpoe to level with six minutes left.

Turnbull, right, also scored in the Irn-bru Cup for the club’s under-20s side and Robinson has been delighted with his goalscoring prowess among other attributes.

Robinson said: “Our season could have petered out but I thought first half we were really good and David Turnbull was exquisite at times. Ten goals is a brilliant return from him. He’s a fantastic footballer and very easy on the eye.”

Hamilton increased the distance between themselves and bottom club Dundee to eight points but still find themselves in a major battle to avoid a playoff after St Mirren cut the gap to two points with a 3-1 win at Livingston.

Coach Brian Rice said: “I can’t affect St Mirren. At one stage we were only a point ahead. I am delighted to get a point with the way the first half went.”