In what was the 25th anniversary of the last time Motherwell Football Club lifted a trophy aloft at Hampden, how fitting it was that the nod to their history was done in sensational fashion by the players of its future.

With over 2000 supporters inside Hampden on a clear Glasgow night, the Lanarkshire side finally became Scottish Youth Cup champions, claiming a 5-2 scalping of Hearts. It would signify the first time since the days of Stevie Kirk, Phil O’Donnell and Davie Cooper that claret and amber ribbons would be draped round a trophy at the National Stadium.

It was a victory that was celebrated just as vigorously by the Motherwell supporters as that day back on May 18, 1991. Guided by former captain Stephen Craigan and bolstered with a host of first-team stars, the team from Lanarkshire were, pardon the pun, Well worth their moment last night in what was their maiden Scottish Youth Cup triumph.

“Over the piece if you come to a final and score five goals then I think you deserve to win it,” said Craigan. “I don’t think it’s a night to be critical, it’s a night to enjoy with the boys.

“They are a great bunch. They are close knit, they are enthusiastic, they work hard, they make mistakes and I shout at them and they shout back.

“But when you have nights like this it’s all worth it.”

Motherwell had only ever made it into the final once before, coming back in 1987 when they went down 2-1 to Celtic. In their squad they had two players in Stephen Cadden and Scott Leitch, and, as fate would have it 29 years on, both their kids would go on to grab a goal each in this landmark moment.

On 21 minutes it was the free-kick from Dom Thomas that caused problems for Hearts keeper Kelby Mason who dropped the cross at the feet of Dylan Mackin for the striker to hook the ball home.

Seven minutes later it was two with Mark McGhee regular Chris Cadden getting the crucial strike. Allan Campbell jinked into the box before a stray leg sent the ball to the Well captain, and his low shot deflected off Daniel Baur and by his own keeper.

Motherwell were cruising at this point but Jon Daly’s Hearts would get a lifeline on the stroke of half-time. A soft free-kick on the edge of the area allowed Jordan McGhee the chance to bend a low shot that flew into the bottom corner.

It was a one-goal deficit that only lasted to the hour mark. A Thomas corner was flicked on at the near post with the Hearts defence flapping only for David Ferguson to slam the loose ball home at the back post.

While Motherwell looked commanding, they would again leave the door open for the Tynecastle club to get another lifeline. It was centre-half Ben Hall who made the slip on the edge of his own box. It allowed Dario Zanatta to ghost in, round Brett Long and squeeze the ball in.

However, the team from Lanarkshire would not be denied their first piece of silverware for a generation.

It was the two late substitutes that clinched it as Robbie Leitch - with a bending right-foot shot beyond Mason - and Dylan Falconer - who produced an audacious lofted chip after a clever run - topped off an historic night for Motherwell Football Club.

“It was good to get a goal but more importantly it was good to get the boys a win,” said Cadden, who was reinstated as captain for the night in what could well be his last game for the Under-20s.

“The team we have in there are incredible and it’s a credit to Crags and the coaches down below. They are doing their jobs right.

“I’ve not spoken to my dad yet but he’ll be delighted I managed to go one better than him. That’s what I wanted to do at the start of the night.

“This is my last year in the 20s. My career has taken a brilliant turn in the last year. It started off with winning the league at Albion Rovers and now winning the Youth Cup.

“So, more of the same in the future would do nicely.”