Arbroath put up a strong fight this afternoon in front of a crowd of 4145 inside of Gayfield but failed to really test a stubborn Premiership Motherwell side.
2067 Motherwell supporters cheered on their team, and despite Arbroath starting well they suffered an early blow.
Ricky Little took unwell and was forced off with sickness with David Gold coming on in the 13th minute.
This meant Scott Bitsindou partnered Thomas O’Brien in defence with Gold replacing Bitsindou in midfield.
Sean Adarkwa who led the line brilliantly forced Liam Kelly into a save in the 15th minute.
Adarkwa had a superb game, but just lacked support at times on the attack, which was understandable as his teammates had to be wary of the fast counter attacks Motherwell were capable of.
The visitors did take the lead in the 26th minute when Stuart McKinstry fed in Mikael Mandron who fired in from close range.
Cammy Gill had a great game denying Blair Spittal towards the end of the first half and then McKinstry at the start of the second half.
Arbroath battled, with João Baldé and Michael McKenna covering every blade of grass as they tried to push their team up the pitch.
Dean Cornelius should have doubled Motherwell’s lead but shot over the bar in a second half that either team really struggled to create clear openings.
As the game headed deep into injury time Mandron added a second, this time being set up by Sean Goss.
It was a tough scoreline for Arbroath as they battled hard and matched the Premiership side throughout but exit the Scottish Cup.
Arbroath
21 – Cammy Gill
12 – Scott Stewart
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little (Gold 13)
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
20 – Scott Bitsindou
25 – João Baldé
8 – Michael McKenna
18 – Yasin Ben El-Mhanni (Linn 61)
24 – Sean Adarkwa
19 – Ryan Dow (Hilson 70)
Arbroath Substitutes
7 – David Gold – 4; 13th
9 – Dale Hilson -19; 70th
11 – Bobby Linn – 18; 61st
22 – Florent Hoti
23 – Scott Allan
1 – Derek Gaston (GK)
50 – Robert Douglas (GK)
Yellow Card – Balde 63
Motherwell
1 – Liam Kelly (c)
4 – Ricki Lamie
7 – Blair Spittal (van Veen 74)
8 – Callum Slattery
12 – Oliver Crankshaw (Cornelius 74)
16 – Paul McGann
17 – Stuart McKinstry (Shields 89)
20 – Shane Blaney
21 – Mikael Mandron
22 – Max Johnston
27 – Sean Goss
Motherwell Substitutes
2 – Stephen O’Donnell
6 – Barry Maguire
9 – Kevin Van Veen – 7; 74th
15 – Sondre Solholm Johnasen
18 – Dean Cornelius – 12; 74th
26 – Ross Tierney
29 – Connor Shields – 17; 89th
38 – Lennon Miller
13 – Aston Oxborough (GK)
Goals – Mandron 26, 90+4
Yellow Cards – Slattery 51, Goss 66, van Veen 90+1
Attednace; 4145 (2067 Motherwell)
Officials;
Referee – William Collum
Assistant Referee 1 – David Roome
Assistant Referee 2 – Michael Banks
