Hapless Motherwell had been despatched crashing out of the Europa Convention League as they fell to a second successive defeat towards Sligo Rovers.
Graham Alexander's crew trailed from the primary leg at Fir Park, with Aidan Keena's strike giving the Irish crew a slender benefit to defend at house. But it surely wasn't the previous Hearts and Falkirk striker who was the hero this day trip, as Sligo's opener got here like a bolt from the blue from an unlikely supply.
Central defender Shane Blaney gave them the lead on the night time when he struck with a powerful free-kick from 25 yards out. He'd appeared set to ship in a cross however adjusted his toes on the final second and caught Liam Kelly out, his strike hovering over the Steelmen stopper who might solely wave at it on its method in. And Max Mata rubbed salt in Motherwell wounds deep into stoppage time when he raced in behind so as to add a 3rd of the tie and put the icing on the cake for the Irish facet.
The lead ought to have doubled earlier than the half-time interval although as after a woeful 45 minutes, the Premiership crew had been fortunate to enter the break with even half an opportunity of maintaining it alive. A wholesome travelling assist let their crew hear it too with a refrain of boos and jeers and so they did not up because the travelling followers let rip on the last whistle.
Issues did not get a lot better after the break both because the streetwise house facet managed the sport effectively, a lot to the frustration of the guests who noticed Josh Morris and Paul McGinn go into the ebook for useless fouls. Joe Efford discovered himself with Motherwell's finest likelihood of the sport with quarter-hour to go however even that wasn't a lot to shout about as he volleyed harmlessly extensive after some good work from Connor Shields to maintain it alive.
Motherwell had been quick on concepts and lacked any form of creativity as Alexander proved incapable of fixing the sport regardless of a raft of substitutions.
Sligo go on to face Viking FC within the subsequent spherical after the Norwegians shocked Sparta Prague in stoppage time to achieve the third qualifying spherical. Motherwell in the meantime head to to Paisley to face St Mirren of their Premiership opener on Sunday, in determined want of a consequence to quell the rising unrest amongst a assist who've severe reservations over each administration and taking part in workers.
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