MATCH REPORT

Once again, defensive errors cost us vital points as the team threw away a narrow lead in the closing stages to fall to defeat in Greenock. Leighton McIntosh had carved out a narrow advantage, finishing off a fine move just before half-time, and the team were looking good to hang on to it until a late collapse proved all too costly.

Paul Hartley had opted for an attacking line-up with Michael O’Halloran handed an immediate debut in support of the front two of Mitch Megginson and Leighton McIntosh, who had been restored to the starting eleven. The other change from last week’s draw with Arbroath saw Kyle McClelland drafted in to anchor the midfield. Virtanen, Bangala and Toure dropped to what was a fully stocked bench.

O’Halloran was quickly involved, gathering the ball and driving at the home defence before rolling a pass wide to Scully. The wing-back took a touch and curled in an inviting cross, but Schwake rose highest to catch it.

In the twelfth minute, the manager shook up his side. Logan came over to left-back, Naismith went out to the right and Scully moved forward into midfield in a revised 4-3-3 formation.

Scott Fox pulled off a sensational double save to deny the home team. A low cross from the right found Robbie Crawford at the near post and he flicked the ball goalwards. Scott dived low to keep the initial effort out one-handed, then grabbed it as Crawford fastened on to the rebound.

Connor Scully won a free-kick twentythree yards out, but Vigurs’ curled effort at goal was high over the angle of bar and post.

We won a corner on the right, but when it was cleared, the home side broke in numbers. McGrattan got entangled with Scully just inside the box and the Morton man ran free, but with the goal at his mercy, the midfielder blazed high over the bar.

Having been given a reprieve, Cove then took the lead three minutes before the interval with a well-worked move. Vigurs played Megginson free in the box, Mitch controlled and rolled it back, and Iain took a touch before chipping in a rightfooted cross. Leighton McIntosh climbed above his markers and sent a delightful header looping over Schwake for his ninth goal of the season.

It might have been two soon after. Logan fired in a cross from the left and Vigurs got a touch, but before he could properly control the ball, the keeper dived out to snatch it.

Michael O’Halloran’s debut lasted sixty-nine minutes, a lack of game time clearly taking its toll, and he was replaced by Luis Longstaff.

David Bangala took over from the injured Connor Scully in midfield and Gime Toure came on for the tiring Iain Vigurs as Paul Hartley again switched formation, the team now shaping up 4-4-2.

Out of nothing, the home side were thrown a lifeline. Robbie Crawford raced into the box, Shay Logan was too late with his challenge, and referee

Kirkland awarded what was a clear penalty. Robbie Muirhead lashed the ball off the underside of the bar, and it rebounded down and into the net off Scott Fox’s back.

Morton (4-2-3-1)

Schwake; Pignatiello (Miller 54), Baird(c), O’Connor (Ambrose 74), Waters; Grimshaw, Blues; Quitongo (Muirhead 54), R. Crawford (Roy 86), McGrattan (A. Crawford 54); Oakley

Substitutes

Green, Garrity, King

Goalscorers

Muirhead (pen 80), R. Crawford (85)

Booked Grimshaw (46), Baird (52), Waters (73)

Cove Rangers

(3-4-1-2)

Within minutes, it was 2-1 Morton thanks to another of the self-inflicted goals which have scarred our season. A long free-kick was floated into the box and just as Mark Reynolds looked set to clear, he inexplicably let the ball pass him. It deflected across the six-yard box and Robbie Crawford was first to react, squeezing it home at the back post.

There was no time for the team to recover and the defeat left us embroiled in the three-way battle at the bottom, the only slight consolation being the heavy defeat suffered by Hamilton, and Arbroath failing to win against Partick Thistle.

Fox; Naismith, Neill, Reynolds; Logan, McClelland (Virtanen 31), Vigurs (Toure 75), Scully (Bangala 75); O’Halloran (Longstaff 69); Megginson (c), McIntosh

Substitutes

Gourlay, Ross, Weston, Dunne, Glass

Goalscorers

McIntosh (42)

Booked McClelland (29), Fox (83)

Referee

Steven Kirkland

Attendance

1,873

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