Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe says Hibs loanee Josh O'Conner will add great value to his squad after the youngster scored on his Diamonds debut to help the club reach tomorrow's NL Cup final.
Goals from Dean McMaster, O'Connor, Adam Frizzell and Calum Gallagher made light work of Motherwell's under-18 side at Broadwood.
O'Connor netted in front of dad Garry, the former Hibs striker and Scotland international, and McCabe was impressed with the 19-year-old's contribution.
McCabe said: "You saw glimpses of what Josh can bring, his attributes.
"He's quick, he's very direct, he's got a natural eye for goal being a striker but I think it suited him playing in the wider areas today with the pace and mobility that he's got.
"He will bring real value to our squad.
"With Motherwell bringing a young side, it was an easier game on the legs than what it would have been playing a more senior team.
"We've got to play the game and just some of the patterns and flows of the game we played today, you could see the things we were trying to implement over the time we've been back [for pre-season]."
Albion Rovers defeated hosts Cumbernauld Colts in the day's earlier game of the pre-season tournament and it is they who will face McCabe's men tomorrow for the trophy.
Motherwell had an early opportunity when Muhammad Adam charged down a pass back and it looped high in the air towards goal, but the Diamonds defence managed to clear the danger.
Airdrie then started to dominate proceedings against their youthful opponents and a quick-fire double fter the half-hour mark put them in control.
McMaster broke the deadlock when he burst forward, played a one-two with Calum Gallagher and cooly slotted the ball into the net after 33 minutes.
And Gallagher had the assist again three minutes later when put the ball on a plate for O'Connor to fire home at the back post.
Moments later, two delightful nutmegs at the edge of the box from Adam Frizzell got him into the danger area and he found Gallagher. The striker then teed up Cammy Ballantyne for a strike and his effort was saved well by Bogan in the 'Well goal, keeping the deficit at two.
Three minutes into the second half, a looping header from Gallagher on the strecth landed narrowly wide of the far post, following a Ballantyne delivery from the right.
Seconds later, a fine point-blank save from Bogan denied O'Connor his second of the day, before an attempted overhead kick in the box from Gallagher flew over the crossbar.
In 52 minutes Airdrie found their third goal when a flowing move ended with MacGregor finding Frizzell, who fired the ball into the top corner.
And Gallagher completed the scoring 11 minutes from time, firing a low strike past Bogan inside the box.
Motherwell U18 gaffer David Clarkson, who side will face Cumbernauld Colts tomorrow, said: "I think the message here was to try and raise the standards, raise the levels.
"We are an under-18s team who had some under-15s coming on today, which is great.
"It shows you the step up that they can reach. It's not going to take one or two games, it will take years.
"They were playing against really experienced players there, so it was a great test for the boys to get that opportunity.
"Playing these kinds of games is only going to help their development.
"You can see bits and pieces in the game already that they are capable.
"Tomorrow is another good level as well, which they need to rise to if they want to make the step up at the club."
Airdrieonians: Rae, Ballantyne, Taylor-Sinclair, Fordyce, O’Connor, McGregor, Frizzell, Gallagher, McMaster, Aiken, Fellows.
Subs: Hutton, McCabe, Todorov, Devenny, Dunlop, Telfer, McGill, Spalding, Gunn, Trialist
Motherwell: Bogan, Ross, Williamson, Flatman, Bone, Forrest, McDermott, Booth, Tomany, MacDonald, Adam.
Subs: Aitken, Johnstone, Simpson, McClean, Nelson
