Llanelli 0 - 3 Motherwell: Motherwell make amends as Llanelli are swept aside

JOHN Sutton's first-half double sent Motherwell into the Europa League qualifying second round as they avoided a giant-killing against Welsh minnows Llanelli.

Sutton's second-leg brace and Jamie Murphy's effort ensured there would be no European humiliation as the Scottish Premier League outfit turned around a one-goal first-leg deficit to clinch a deserved win at the Parc Y Scarlets. Motherwell, who will now face Albanian side KS Flamurtari, came through a tricky test as they brushed aside their part-time hosts.

Jim Gannon's new-look side fell to a surprise home defeat at Fir Park last week, but they ensured there would be no upset here thanks to striker Sutton's early double and Murphy's clincher. In doing so they made history by becoming the first Scottish club to win a European tie after losing the first leg at home.

Sutton, who had already gone close with a diving header, made no mistake when he leapt highest to meet Steven Hammell's cross and cancel out the home side's one-goal advantage in the seventh minute. It was one-way traffic as Steven McGarry headed just over in a dominant start from the visitors. And it was no surprise to see the Scots extend their advantage and claim a second vital away goal the 28th minute.

In a carbon copy of the first goal, it was giant striker Sutton who rose above his marker to head Paul Slane's cross beyond Llanelli goalkeeper Ashley Morris in the 25th minute.

Yet to their credit, Llanelli – the part-time side in the Welsh Premier League – refused to throw in the towel as they searched for a way back into the game. Stuart Jones, the matchwinner from the first leg, twice came close to handing his side a lifeline. The defender chipped over the crossbar after visiting goalkeeper Michael Fraser fumbled a free-kick. And Jones' frustrations continued when he headed player-manager Andy Legg's corner inches wide. But it was Motherwell who still looked the more likely to score again as McGarry blazed just over from 25 yards out as Llanelli were left facing an uphill task at half-time.

The west Wales side began second half on top as they searched for a way back into the tie.

Andrew Mumford almost gave the home side a glimmer of hope moments after the break with a header which was brilliantly tipped over by Fraser.

Mumford came close with a free-kick but the home side's purple patch failed to materialise in the vital goal.

And once the home side saw a handball shout turned down, there appeared no way back. Motherwell made sure the tie was over as Llanelli, who threw men forward at will, were hit on the counter-attack as substitute Murphy killed off the tie with another headed goal.

Jim O'Brien skipped past Michael Howard before delivering the perfect cross for an unmarked Murphy to power home in the 72nd minute to ensure Motherwell's 500-strong travelling support went home happy.

It was the end of the road for Llanelli, who had dubbed the second-leg tie as the biggest game in their history. But for Motherwell, their European adventure was just beginning as they breathed a sigh of relief at avoiding an upset and looked ahead to the next round.

Llanelli: A Morris, Mumford, S Jones, Thomas, Corbisiero, Griffiths, Venables, Follows, Legg, Phillips, Howard. Subs: Jenkins, Bowen, Holloway, Warlow, Moses, C Jones, C Morris.

Motherwell: Fraser, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Sutton, Lasley, O'Brien, McGarry, Forbes, Saunders, Slane. Subs: Murphy, Fitzpatrick, Archdeacon, Hutchinson, Page, McHugh, Kosiorowski.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)

Gannon applauds restoration of professional pride

JIM Gannon breathed a sigh of relief after his Motherwell side avoided an upset to sweep past Welsh minnows Llanelli.

Motherwell progressed into the Europa League second qualifying round with a 3-1 aggregate victory thanks to a John Sutton double and Jamie Murphy's goal last night.

Sutton's brace and substitute Murphy ensured the Scottish Premier League side turned around a one-goal first-leg deficit and clinch a deserved win at the Parc Y Scarlets.

It booked Motherwell a clash with Albanian side KS Flamurtari, and Gannon said: "We were pleased to see our training has had an influence. We've restored professional pride after the defeat last week. I think we needed to up our game and show more courage and quality. We got into good positions in wide areas. The lads have been working hard and we saw the benefits of that.

"I don't know much about the Albanian side we face next – we've been focusing on this game. There will be a lack of information for us against them, but we will take a lot out of this game as we improved massively in this second leg."

Gannon took a swipe at Serbian referee Milorad Mazic for failing to clamp down on the heavy-handed approach of Llanelli. The former Stockport manager felt his players were not protected against the part-timers. He added: "I was just disappointed (with) the referee, he should protect the players. There were a lot of heavy challenges."

Llanelli player-manager Andy Legg admitted his shell-shocked side never recovered after their dismal start.

He said: "We needed to keep it tight not to concede early on. We switched off for both goals."

Llanelli: A Morris, Mumford, S Jones, Thomas, Corbisiero, Griffiths, Venables, Follows, Legg, Phillips, Howard. Subs: Jenkins, Bowen, Holloway, Warlow, Moses, C Jones, C Morris.

Motherwell: Fraser, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Sutton, Lasley, O'Brien, McGarry, Forbes, Saunders, Slane. Subs: Murphy, Fitzpatrick, Archdeacon, Hutchinson, Page, McHugh, Kosiorowski.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia)