SPL U19 League match

Hibernian's under-19 team started brightly in their opening league match of the season at East Mains, but, despite racing into a 3-1 lead, ended up defeated by Motherwell.

Match highlights from the game will be available to watch via the Academy section of Hibernian TV (click here to subscribe) later on Saturday evening and supporters are reminded that next Saturday's match against Dundee United (28 August, kick off midday) will be staged at St Andrews University Sports Campus.

As the previous season's runner's up, Motherwell went into the match as the favourites against a new-look Hibernian side.

But Hibernian deservedly took the lead on the 14-minute mark when Phillip Addison scored with a right-footed volley from close range.

Then Hibernian doubled their lead nine minutes after half-time when the home side hit Motherwell on the break with devilishly efficient counterattacking football and Crawford crossed for Handling to finish from close range.

But Motherwell reduced the deficit against the run of play two minutes later when McGachie exploited an underhit back-pass to score past Antell.

Nevertheless Hibernian kept going and struck once again - this time from a well-worked set-piece move. Handling connected with an inviting free-kick and centre-back Forster latched onto his header to score.

But Motherwell staged a late fightback to turn the tables on Hibernian with Scott Smith penalised for a foul inside the area and the visitors' captain McKinnon scored the resultant spot kick.

Then on 76 minutes, Motherwell stunned their hosts further by drawing level with a long range strike from Howarth restoring parity.

But Motherwell delivered the sucker punch with five minutes of the contest remaining when Motherwell's McDonald unleashing an unstoppable strike into the roof of the Hibernian net.

Hibernian: Antell, Burns (Doris), Lancaster, Horner, Forster, Smith, Crawford, Handling, Caldwell, Horribine, Addison (Monaghan). Subs Unused: Grant, Verth, Gold, Wright.

Hibernian Goals: Addison 14 minutes, Handling 54, Forster 63.

Motherwell: Bradley, Brown, Sloan, Lynch, McKinnon, Carswell, Watt (Erwin), Scanlan (Halsman), Howarth, McDonald (McLean), McGachie. Subs Unused: Muir, Griffin, Connor, Murray.

Motherwell Goals: McGachie 56 minutes, McKinnon (pen) 72, Howarth 76, McDonald 85.

Referee: Andy Tait.

Match images provided by William Mcgillivray