Motherwell 0 Hibs U19s 3

The wee Hibees picked up three points in the CAS Elite U19 League Cup group stage following a dominant performance over 10-man Motherwell.

The youngsters battled hard and put on a show at a rain-soaked K-Park as Zach Bruce, Luke Davidson and Alisdair Burns each found the net to fire Hibs to another group stage victory. 

Our hosts were trailing by one when Andrew Arnott was dismissed for a reckless challenge on 53 minutes, allowing Hibs to further control proceedings in South Lanarkshire.

Hibernian XI: Mallon, Buckley, Gillie, Riddell, McNeill (McSporran 73'), Bruce, Jimenez (Gallacher 67'), McMurdo (McDonald 46'), Downie (Burns 77', Davidson, Calder (MacDonald 46').

Unused Subs: Brown.

A first chance presented itself to the Hibees via a defensive error. A failed backpass was intercepted by Logan Jimenez 25 yards from goal, but the forward's dinked effort was well kept out by Jack McConnell, who made himself big to thwart our attacker.

The hesitant Motherwell defence initially failed to deal with the danger that followed McConnell's stop, allowing Bruce an opportunity to volley from outside the area. His effort was blocked by a defender before it could reach the keeper and promptly cleared.

Another block would deny the Hibees soon after, as Davidson fired low from a 20-yard free-kick only to strike a Motherwell body in the wall. 

Just shy of the half-hour mark Davidson would threaten once more from a set-piece. His whipped corner-kick beat everyone in the box bar Adam Buckley, who was unable to turn in the delivery at the back post. 

Minutes later, another corner from Davidson caused havoc inside the mixer. From the second phase, a deep cross was knocked down into the path of Downie. Unmarked amidst the chaos, the attacker took a swipe at the ball but saw his near-post effort tipped behind by McConnell.

Darren McGregor's side would find their well-deserved opener on the cusp of half-time through Bruce. The holding midfielder found himself doing forward's work as he chased down a channel ball over the top from Lewis Gillie, which McConnell raced out to meet.

The Motherwell keeper misjudged the bounce of the ball on the slippery surface, however, which gifted the persistent Bruce an open goal opportunity. Unfazed, the youngster maintained his composure to finish well on his left foot under heavy pressure.

Hibs kept up the relentless pressure after the interval and another chance quickly came after the break, as Davidson's wide free-kick delivery was put back across goal towards Downie, whose first-time volley whizzed wide of the post.

After a tough first half, things went from bad to worse for the home team as the referee had no second thoughts when sending off left-back Arnott eight minutes into the second half for a late challenge on Davidson in the middle of the park. 

A headed block from Jay Gillies denied Adam Buckley minutes later as the defender rose highest in the box to power a dangerous header on target. From the resulting corner, Downie would also be denied by a last-gasp block as Hibs pushed hard for a second. 

A ferocious volley from Davidson would, once more, be blocked behind by the resilient, disadvantaged hosts - though the forward would grab our elusive second goal on 74 minutes.

Gillie's fizzed a piercing pass into Josh McDonald, who delicately offset the ball to Davidson. The attacker then effortlessly charged forward through the middle of the home team's defence and curled in beyond McConnell to extend our lead.

Sublime pressing inside the attacking third paid off on 85 minutes for the Hibees, as Motherwell were squeezed high from a goal-kick and punished for losing possession to Burns. 

The midfielder nicked the ball clear from the hosts and burst forward into space - while McDonald and Davidson combined, allowing the latter to feed the ball into Burns' path - before sliding in to finish low underneath McConnell.

Callum MacDonald would twice be denied in the closing stages while cutting inside onto his right, but Hibs emerged victorious nonetheless following a strong showing in East Kilbride to secure a fourth League Cup group stage win in five matches.