By Callum McFadden at Fir Park.

Motherwell secured a first-leg advantage over HB Tórshavn in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League at Fir Park, granting Alfred Johansson victory in his first competitive match as Motherwell manager.

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The hosts started on the front foot, with the possession-based approach that earned them widespread praise last season once again at the heart of their performance. Lucas Fadinger looked eager to influence proceedings whenever he got on the ball and carved out the game’s first clear opportunity inside five minutes, only to blaze his effort over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

Motherwell did not have to wait much longer to break the deadlock. Debutant centre-back Martin Moormann announced himself in spectacular style, firing home from twenty-five yards after latching onto a cleared Oscar Priestman cross in the fifteenth minute. The Austrian unleashed a thunderous strike that flew into the top corner of the HB net, producing a finish of the highest quality that many strikers would have been proud to claim.

The visitors responded well to falling behind and gradually grew into the contest, enjoying more of the ball as the first half wore on. Despite their increased share of possession, HB Tórshavn struggled to carve out any clear-cut opportunities.

Motherwell came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage before the break. Ibrahim Said squandered a glorious opportunity when he could only head against the crossbar from close range after meeting an inviting cross.

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Johansson’s side began the second half with the same intensity they had shown before the break and doubled their advantage within 10 minutes of the restart. Fadinger unleashed a superb strike from the edge of the box that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Jakob Thomsen had a golden opportunity to pull one back for the visitors, but his low effort drifted agonisingly wide of the Motherwell goal.

Motherwell came close to adding a third just after the hour mark when another debutant, Willy Vogt, found himself in a promising position. However, he was denied as he fired straight at Bjarti Mork, who made a comfortable save.

Both sides rang the changes throughout the final 20 minutes, with the raft of substitutions disrupting the flow of the contest.

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In the end, Motherwell claimed a deserved victory on the night and will take a two-goal advantage to the Faroe Islands for next week’s second leg.

WFI player of the match: Lucas Fadinger (Motherwell) – At the heart of all that was good about Motherwell and took his goal well.

Motherwell: Paulsen, Girdwood-Reich (Ross, 66), Moormann, Sparrow, Fadinger, Priestman, Said (Whyte, 92), Williams (Charles-Cook, 78), Wilson, Booth, Vogt (Longelo, 66).

Substitutes: Connelly, McConnell, Longelo, Thomson, Dalziel, Ngandu, Whyte, Ross, Weir, Buchanan, Hunter, Charles-Cook

HB Torshavn: Mork, Steiring, Hansen (Lon, 87), Mneney, Johannesen, Voss (Sorensen, 70), I Soylu (Pettersen, 70), Dam, Mohr (Bjarnason, 73), Jonsson, Thomsen (Mouristesen, 87)