Motherwell end 20-year wait

Motherwell progressed to their first Scottish Cup final in 20 years after a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of St Johnstone yesterday.

The game was over as a contest before half-time as Motherwell raced into a three-goal lead to end St Johnstone’s final dreams.

The Fir Park side took the lead in the fifth minute when Tom Hately whipped in the first corner of the match and Stephen Craigan headed the ball into the net.

Motherwell doubled their lead with a solo goal from Jamie Murphy just nine minutes later and John Sutton sealed the tie four minutes before the break.

St Johnstone rallied briefly in the second half but Derek McInnes’s side failed to score in a match for the 21st time this season as Motherwell reached their first final since 1991, when they beat Dundee United to clinch the trophy.

Scottish Cup semi-finals
Motherwell 3 - St Johnstone 0

Playing today
Aberdeen-Celtic - 13:45

Premier League
Inverness 1 - Hearts 1
Rangers 2 - St Mirren 1

Premier League today
Hibernian-Hamilton - 13:00

First Division
Cowdenbeath 1 - Falkirk 2
Dunfermline 6 - Queen of South 1
Morton 1 - Dundee 3
Partick 1 - Ross County 1
Stirling 1 - Raith Rovers 2

Second Division
Airdrie Utd 2 - Dumbarton 1
East Fife 1 - Stenhousemuir 1
Forfar 3 - Alloa 1
Livingston 0 - Ayr 0
Peterhead 1 - Brechin 1

Third Division
Annan Athletic 2 - Berwick 3
Arbroath 2 - Queen’s Park 2
East Stirling 1 - Albion 2
Elgin 0 - Clyde 1
Montrose 3 - Stranraer 2