The teams will have three further matches in this sectional stage against Annan Athletic, East Stirlingshire and Stranraer with the group winner and four best runners-up from the eight sections progressing to the knockout stage. Three points will be awarded for a win as usual but a match drawn after 90 minutes will be resolved by penalties with the eventual winner winning a bonus point.
A happy day in May 2014
The decision by BT Sport to select Motherwell and Rangers in the first round of games was not met with joy in wither camp. Both teams made substantial changes over the close season and it is likely that neither manager knows their strongest eleven.
Motherwell's pre-season games have done nothing to inspire confidence for the forthcoming challenge but this test will give us a glimpse of some of the strengths and weaknesses in the squad. Blyth, McHugh, Tait, and Heneghan will be hoping for a first taste of the Fir Park surface while older favourites like McDonald and Moult (if free of injury) will be looking to get their first goals of the season.
The visitors have enrolled close to a full team of new boys as they prepare for the trials of the top division. It's inevitable that memories return to their last appearance in Motherwell when we avoided relegation and delayed their promotion by a year.
A repeat of the score on that happy day is unlikely but home advantage may serve us well enough to start the campaign with a 2-0 win.
Remember Rangers last visit to Fir Park?
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