26/08/2007

Morton 0 - 2 Hamilton

Morton 0
Hamilton Academical 2 - Offiong (52, 66 pen)

Att - 3,189

League leaders Hamilton maintained their 100% record with a pretty comfortable win at Cappielow on Saturday.

Morton started with the same line up as the one that took the field against Stirling Albion last week but with Jamie Stevenson supporting Chris Templeman in a more attacking role. If anything this performance was less impressive than that one.

We were disjointed and looked to have no particular game plan. The midfield were anonymous and we had nothing up front. The transfer deadline is looming and going on this showing at least two signings are a must.

Our only real efforts on goal were a fierce volley over the top by Stevenson, a Stewart Greacen header comfortably saved by Halliwell and a few weak efforts straight at the keeper by Templeman - who appears to be a striker who cant shoot, every effort seems to be really weak unless he has the chance to swivel his body to get power behind the shot.

Hamilton took the lead in 52 minutes when Stewart Greacen -who was having a good much up until this point- made two vital errors. His first was a sliced clearance that allowed Gilhaney to cut in on the left and cut back for Offiong to head home. Greacen should have been marking Offiong but allowed him to hang back for a cut back while Greacen kept running forward without checking where the striker had gone. There's no point putting in great performances for the majority of the match and then just switching off and costing your team a goal.

Hamilton's and Offiong's second came from the penalty spot. Jay Shields was chasing Offiong in on goal but Shields didn't have the pace to keep up so he attempted a slide tackle from the side to dispossess the league's top scorer. It was a stone wall penalty and for me a definite red card. I can never understand fans who clap off a player who has just been sent off. Especially when he foolishly just ensured that his team had lost the match. Offiong cooly dispatched the penalty to confirm my pre-match predicition he would be the key man in this match and to make his tally for the season 6 goals in 6 matches.



We have until Friday to bring in new players. Our moves in the transfer market in the coming week will make or break our season.

Morton (4-4-2):

1. Robinson - 6
2. Shields - 5
3. Walker - 4 (14. McAnespie- 25 mins - 6)
4. Harding - 5
5. Greacen - 6
6. Keenan - 5
7. Millar - 5 (12.Finlayson - 55 mins)
8. Stevenson - 5 (16. Coakley - 55 mins)
9. Templeman - 5
10. Weatherson - 5
11. McAlister - 6

Subs Not Used:

15. Graham
20. McGurn

Booked : Templeman

Sent Off : Shields(65)

Hamilton : Halliwell, Parratt (McLeod 79), Elebert, McLaughlin (Gibson 72), Easton, McArthur, Swailes, McCarthy, Neil, Gilhaney, Offiong (Wake 72). Subs Not Used: Winters, Cerny

My man of the match : Jim McAlister

Sponsors man of the match : Stewart Greacen

Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)














http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/6960783.stm

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