Both teams were looking forward to this game after the not so friendly pre-season game which Motherwell won with a late goal.
Motherwell started with the same team that had won the previous week.
This was a high tempo match with both teams playing exciting attacking football.
The colts were producing the better chances with the Lanarkshire goalkeeper being called in to action on a number of occasions.
Grant Thomson pulled off a fantastic full length save to push the ball over for a corner mid way through the first half.
A defensive slip allowed Lanarkshire to take the lead right on the stroke of half time.
The Colts took the game to Lanarkshire in the second half pushing hard for an equaliser.
Motherwell got rewarded for their good play when Mathew Lafferty rose well above the United defence to power home a header from a Gerry Smith corner.
Lanarkshire tried to respond but could find no way past the Colts defence of Gary Stirling, Paul Byrne, Fraser Marshall and Ryan McMillan.
Motherwell were denied a penalty in the last ten minutes when Ryan McMillan was clearly brought down inside the box by the united central defender.
The game looked to be heading for a draw when in the dying minutes Billy Neil flicked a low cross over the Lanarkshire keeper high into the roof of the net.
FINAL RESULT
MOTHERWELL COLTS 2 V LANARKSHIRE UNITED 1