By grabar
July 7 2010

Motherwell kicked off their pre-season programme with a professional and workmanlike 3-1 win at Brechin City on Tuesday. Three second half goals from John Sutton, Ross Forbes and Keith Lasley, sealed a comfortable victory for Motherwell in their first pre-season game at Brechin City. Both sides had chances in the first half with the clearest falling to Craig Molloy of the home side who blasted over from 8 yards out with less than ten minutes to the break. Motherwell made the perfect start to the second period when Sutton opened the scoring three minutes after the re-start. A shot from trialist Carlos Gazapo was blocked by a defender and fell for Sutton to fire in off the body of Craig Nelson. Seven minutes later they doubled their lead, a cross from Mark Reynolds found Forbes at the far post and he sent an unstoppable, bending shot high past Nelson from an acute angle. The third came in the 66^th minute, a shot from trialist Chris Shuker was blocked as far as Lasley 25 yards out and his fiercely hit shot left Nelson helpless as it soared into the top corner. Brechin snatched a consolation with fifteen minutes left, a cross from the left picked out sub Jamie Redman whose effort was deflected past the despairing dive of Darren Randolph in the Well goal. The major disappointment on the night was an ankle injury picked up by Jamie Murphy which could make him a doubt for next Thursday night’s Europa Cup tie. Well side: Randolph, Saunders, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Lasley, Jennings, Forbes (Halsman – 83), Shuker, Gazapo, Murphy (Sutton – 20) Subs not used: Hollis, McHugh, Hutchinson, Page, Meeechan.