COKE'S THE WELL HERO BUT MAN U AREN'T THE REAL THING; SIR MATT BUSBY SHIELD: Fir Park kids do legend proud.

Byline: Gordon Parks

SIR MATT BUSBY famously said: "If you don't put them in you can't know what you've got."

And the batch of babes being blooded by Motherwell provided a fitting tribute to the Scots legend's memory yesterday by lifting the inaugural trophy carrying his name.

For anyone staring in disbelief at the scoreline, the winning goal came from a guy named Coke against a strength of opposition that was far from the real thing.

Those who gathered to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Manchester United great's birth were given a glimpse into the future.

Sir Alex Ferguson sent a side to Busby's territory to honour one the area's most famous sons. But anyone hoping for a glimpse of the great man were left disappointed as a managers' convention in Geneva proved more attractive for Fergie.

Another letdown was a teamsheet that included no instantly recognisable names in the Old Trafford squad.

Only keeper Ben Amos and Brazilian wonderkid Fabio da Silva were known to most of the 3470 who observed the one-minute applause for a local boy who began his remarkable life in the nearby mining village of Orbiston, Bellshill.

Pick Busby would have approved of the elevation of kids Ross Forbes, Shaun Hutchinson, Paul Slane, Jamie Murphy, Steven Saunders and Robert McHugh from the Well youth team this season.

But, with the Scottish reserve league now disbanded, it's more by fashion than design - they have nowhere else to go.

Well's new signing Yassin Moutaouakil was handed a debut at right-back and his 13th-minute interception prevented da Silva opening the scoring. Norwegian midfielder Magnus Eikrem was the pick of United's starlets with a touch and passing range that set him apart.

But Motherwell were calling the shots and Amos needed to be at full stretch to keep out Jim O'Brien's shot then John Sutton slid in to side-foot Stevie Hammell's cross just wide.

O'Brien was again denied by Amos after the interval but the breakthrough arrived in 53 minutes. Giles Coke's clever one-two with Sutton cut the United defence apart and the Englishman clinically fired into the far corner from eight yards.

Well boss Jim Gannon admits the reasons behind this match were more important than the result.

He said: "It was an enjoyable game aimed at commemorating a great coach who had an emphasis on young players.

"It gave my young players the chance to face a side that will be the future of Manchester United."

United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "It was a great exercise and Motherwell have some good players."

Motherwell: Ruddy, Moutaouakil, Hammell, Reynolds, Coke (Jennings 57), Jutkiewicz, Hateley (Lasley 57), O'Brien (Pollock 75), Forbes (Fitzpatrick 57), Hutchinson (Page 79), Sutton (McGarry 57). Subs not used: Kosiorowski, Quinn.

CAPTION(S):

TASTY FINISH: Coke is hailed, main pic, and Well's Mark Reynolds collects shield from Sir Matt's son Sandy