SEVERAL Morton first team players made their return for the reserves against Motherwell second-string side yesterday in their 2-0 Reserve Cup defeat at Cappielow.

Ryan Scully, Rory McKeown, Connor Bell and Scott Tiffoney were involved for John Sutton’s side against the Well, with Bell making his first appearance since injuring his ankle back in August.

The visitors largely dominated the first half, and took the lead from an Alex Rodriguez-Gorrin penalty on 13 minutes, with Jake Hastie grabbing a second three minutes from the end.

The hosts had no chance of progressing in the cup competition, with only the winners of the group stages progressing to the semi-finals.

Elliott Frear hit the crossbar on the 10th minute for the visitors, with the forward curling in an effort from a tight angle.

The away side opened up the scoring three minutes later when a penalty was awarded to Motherwell after Ben Eardley pulled back Frear in the box. Rodriguez-Gorrin stepped up, and coolly slotted his kick past Scully.

Motherwell were looking dangerous and Darren Hynes gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the box, giving the away side another chance for the visitors, but luckily the free-kick was put over the bar.

The away side had started the better of the two teams, limiting Morton to few chances in the opening half an hour of the game.

Morton’s first opportunity in the first half came on 34 minutes, but Well goalkeeper Mark Gillespie came out and confidently claimed the cross.

McKeown’s well-struck free-kick hit the wall on 42 minutes, Morton’s first shot of the game.

Right before half-time Frear almost scored, catching Morton on the break, and clipped the bar with his shot.

The second half was uneventful, as Bell was taken off after 60 minutes in a planned substitution.

Morton tried to push for an equaliser late on, but Jake Hastie scored a second for the away side on 87 minutes to seal the win.