Stephen Robinson impressed by Ryan Bowman
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson admits Ryan Bowman has given him serious food for thought with his early-season form.
The former Gateshead striker only scored two goals last season and his last-minute celebration after a penalty in a 3-2 defeat by Inverness on the final day did not go down well with Robinson.
But the 25-year-old matched his tally for last term in a 22-minute appearance on the first day of this season as he struck two well-taken goals against Queen's Park in a 5-1 Betfred Cup victory at Hampden.
Bowman's three pre-season goals failed to get him a start as Alex Fisher was supported by Craig Tanner up front but the forward looks set to contribute in the coming weeks.
Robinson said: ''We wanted more game time into the legs of Alex Fisher and Tans and they both did really well but Bowie has come on and stepped up to the plate and scored two great goals.
The word we keep using at the football club is 'together'. We have a small squad and people will get chances to play football. When you get your chance, take it, and Bowie has certainly done that.''
Bowman's goals both came from good runs on to balls over the top and he finished well each time, rounding the goalkeeper for the first and lobbing him for the second.
Chris Cadden had scored early on but Adam Cummins levelled against his former club and Motherwell struggled to break the amateurs down before Tanner scored after a mistake in the home defence.
But Bowman eased them clear with two goals in three minutes before fellow sub Louis Moult curled home a free-kick.
Robinson said: ''For all our football in front of people two balls over the top were probably our two best goals of the game.
That's a little lesson not be playing too much in front of people but to put things in behind and make it hard for them.
They were two great finishes. We have a small squad and we want competition for places.'