Morton 2 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic

Morton 2 - Weatherson (28), Greacen (48)
Dunfermline Athletic 1 - Kirk (83 pen)

Att: 2092

Match highlights from dafc.premiumtv.co.uk

Davie Irons and his fired up Morton side were inspired to victory by Dougie Rae's stinging criticism in the official matchday programme.

After the appalling showing at Partick Thistle Irons made some changes in an attempt to freshen up his side. He went with a 3-5-2 with Chris Smith dropping to the bench and Allan McManus replacing the injured Dominic Shimmin at the back. In midfield Allan Jenkins came in for Stevie Masterton while Erik Paartalu took Smith's place and played in a holding role in front of the defence. James Grady replaced Brian Wake up front.



Rae's comments must have got through to Irons because we played decent football right from the start. I was sitting in the seats at the front of the Cowshed with my 4-year-old son(who, incidentally, loves Cappie the Cat) so I got a perfect view of a silky move down Morton's right hand side - just the kind of football the 'Ton faithful are crying out for, especially as we know the team are capable of it. Kevin Finlayson collected a pass from Greacen, he drew in his marker and passed the ball to McGuffie with the outside of his right boot and surged forward. McGuffie let the ball run through his legs and at the last moment flicked the ball with his instep round his marker and right into Finners' path. The move came to nothing in the end but had all those around me were on their feet clapping in appreciation. Good football goes a long way with football fans and Irons would do well to remember that.



We were dominating the match and creating plenty of chances. McGuffie, Peter Weatherson and Jim McAlister all went close before we took the lead in the 27th minute. Unfortunately I missed this goal as I had my boy at the toilet and then in the queue for a packet of crisps. There's nothing more annoying than sitting watching the match intently 'praying' for a goal for 25 minutes then as soon as you go to the toilet or the pie stall you hear the murmur of the crowd turn to shouts of 'go on, go on, cooooome onnnn... YESSSSSSSS!!!' and a massive roar as you stand helpless waiting on a bag of cheese and onion Walkers. As I didn't see the goal I'll leave the Greenock Telegraph's Roger Graham to describe it for you:

McGuffie’s pass between a Fifer’s legs found McAlister running free down the left wing and his early, whipped cross arrived perfectly for Weatherson to jacknife a header in at the back post.

Morton legend Jim Holmes made the half-time draw but was really at the game to watch his son Graeme play for Dunfermline. Unfortunately Graeme was strecthered from the field and replaced by Rory Loy in the 35th minute.

We finished the half strongly and almost doubled our lead but Gallacher held McGuffie's shot. We also had a pretty strong penalty claim turned down by referee Mike Tumilty. Jenkins burst into the left side of the Dunfermline box and appeared to be tripped / pushed to the ground by Greg Shields but the ref waved play on and so it was still 1-0 Morton as we went into the half time break.



We picked up exactly were we left off in the first half and scored within 3 minutes of the re-start. A Finlayson corner(which are surprisingly good) was flicked on by McManus at the near post. The ball fell perfectly for Greacen at the back post. The 'Ton captain missed the first chance but made no mistake at the second time of asking.

Following his goal Greacen seemed to turn into a magnet in the opposition box. A series of corners and crosses all presented him with chances to extend our lead but on each occasion he came close but just not close enough.

In a desperate attempt to take something from a game that was rapidly slipping away from him Jim McIntyre went to a back three with three up front and made a couple of substitutions: Jamie Mole replaced Scott Thomson after 57 minutes and Calum Woods replaced Stephen Glass 10 minutes later - and it almost worked for him. Irons countered the Pars'3 up front by putting Chris Smith on for Paartalu and reverting to a back four. You can understand Irons logic but the changes gave Dunfermline the attacking impetus. They pulled one back when Jim McAlister was adjudged to have tripped Steven Bell right on the corner of the 'Ton box. I didn't think it was a foul but crucially Tumilty did and Northern Ireland international Andy Kirk sent Kevin Cuthbert the wrong way with the spot kick.

We managed to hold on for the three points but not before Jamie Mole missed a glorious chance to equalise when he fired straight at Cuthbert with only the keeper to beat. Mole was under pressure from a couple of Morton defenders but he really should've scored.

This was a decent win and a very encouraging performance considering the previous match at Firhill. More of the same please Morton.

Morton (3-5-2):

1. Cuthbert - 7
2. McManus - 8
3. Walker - 7
4. Paartalu - 6 (15. Smith - 69 mins)
5. Greacen (c) - 8
6. Jenkins - 8
7. Finlayson - 7
8. McGuffie - 7
9. Weatherson - 8 (12. Russell - 91 mins)
10. Grady - 7 (14. Wake - 82 mins)
11. McAlister - 7

Subs Not Used:

16. McGeough
20. Cannon

Booked: Greacen

Cuthbert
McManus Greacen Walker
Paartalu
Finlayson Jenkins McGuffie McAlister
Weatherson Grady

Dunfermline Athletic: Gallacher, Scott Thomson (Mole 57), Wilson, Phinn, Shields, McCann, Bell, Glass (Woods 68), Bayne, Kirk, Holmes (Loy 36).

Subs Not Used: Burke, Reidford.

My man of the match: Stewart Greacen

Sponsor's man of the match:


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

BBC match report

The Greenock Telegraph - match report

The Greenock Telegraph - match reaction

The Scottish Sun - match report

The Daily Record - match report

dafc.premiumtv.co.uk - match report

Tontastic pictures