Annan Athletic — Motherwell U21: 4:0, Challenge Cup

Annan Athletic made light work of Motherwell U21 with a 4-0 victory in the Challenge Cup Group Stage-3 fixture on Tuesday evening. The hosts took all three points at home, extending their recent form with a performance that showed efficiency over control.

The scoring started early, with A. Roy opening the account in the sixth minute. He doubled his tally before the interval, netting again in the fortieth minute. T. Muir added a third in the fifty-fifth, and C. O'Donnell sealed the result with a fourth goal in the sixty-third. Two yellow cards were shown, one to each side.

And here's the thing about the numbers — Annan won despite holding just 47 per cent possession against 53 for the visitors. They recorded eight shots on target to three, with a 44 per cent accuracy rate compared to 38. Both sides created zero big chances, but Annan's eight blocked attempts suggest they worked harder to get results.

The visitors dominated attacks at 101 to 85 and earned three corners against two, yet those figures meant little on the scoreboard. Motherwell U21 were caught offside three times while Annan stayed onside throughout. The hosts committed only five fouls compared to fifteen for the away team.

This result moves Annan Athletic into a stronger position in the group stage, particularly given their recent results — a 1-2 loss to Kelty Hearts, a 2-0 win over Dumbarton, and a 2-2 draw with Berwick Rangers. Motherwell U21's record looks worse, with losses to Alloa Athletic and earlier defeats to Stenhousemuir and Stranraer in previous seasons.