Inverness Caley Thistle dumped out of Premier Sports Cup after thrashed by Motherwell

Premier Sports Cup

Motherwell 4

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

Scorers: Van Veen (9, 38, 67) Devine (24 OG)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle were dumped out of the Premier Sports Cup as they were blown away by a rampant Motherwell at Fir Park.

Kevin Van Veen found the net twice before the break which sandwiched an unfortunate own goal from Danny Devine.

Van Veen converted a second penalty in the second half to complete a miserable night for Caley Thistle.

Inverness will now look to put Wednesday night behind them as they prepare to head to Kirkcaldy on Saturday to face Raith Rovers.

Three changes for Inverness Caledonian Thistle as Danny Devine and Nathan Shaw come in for Steven Boyd who was dropped to the bench and George Oakley who is suspended.

It took Motherwell only nine minutes to break the deadlock.

Ross Tierney flinged in a long ball from midfield to find Joe Efford on the right wing, his cross into the six-yard box finds Kevin Van Veen who was unchallenged to tap into the net.

The hosts doubled their advantage midway through the first half when Danny Devine failed to divert Matt Penney’s cross from the left away from danger and kicked the ball straight past Mark Ridgers.

Dodds made an immediate response to going two goals down as Nathan Shaw was taken off for Steven Boyd as Billy Dodds decided an immediate attacking approach was required.

But Motherwell kept the foot down and won a penalty eight minutes from half time when Cameron Harper was found guilty of clipping the heels of Sean Goss in the box.

Van Veen fired a rocket into the top right corner to put Motherwell in full control and score his fifth goal this season.

Inverness started the second half brightly and substitute Steven Boyd came close to pulling one back when his thunderous low drive stung the palms of Liam Kelly who parried the ball away to safety.

But Motherwell extended their lead midway through the second half when David Carson was found guilty of handball stopping a cross from the left wing.

Van Veen kept his composure from the spot to fire home from 12 yards.

Goalkeeper Mark Ridgers prevented Motherwell making it five late on when Connor Shields cross found the head of Ross Tierney who nodded towards goal but he cleared it with his feet.

Motherwell: Kelly, Lamie, Spittal (Mckinstry 70) Slattery (Maguire 79), Van Veen (Shields 76), Efford (Aarons 70), Solholm, McGinn, Penney, Tierney, Goss (Miller 79).

Subs (Unused) Oxborough, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Cornelius.

Inverness: Ridgers, Duffy, Harper, Deas, Devine (Hyde 70), Carson, Mckay, Macgregor (Delaney 45), D. Mackay (Mackay 88), Allardice, Shaw (Hyde 29).

Subs (Unused) Cameron Mackay.

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 3982

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