Morton 11 - 0 Viewfield Rovers

Morton 11 - Finlayson (10), McGuffie (32), Weatherson (35, 81), Grady (46, 54, 68, 80) Wake (78, 87), Russell (85)
Viewfield Rovers 0 -

Att: 127

A very strong Morton team cruised into the Renfrewshire Cup final after a convincing 11-0 win.

Davie Irons went with a strong starting XI, one that you might even expect to face St. Johnstone on Saturday. This was probably due to the fact that we had no game at the weekend and he wanted to give the players a run out. The only starters who can't be considered first team regulars were Ryan McWilliams in goal and Carlo Monti in midfield.


The demolition began in the 10th minute when Kevin Finlayson picked the ball up on the edge of the box and smashed a shot past Shearer in the Viewfield goal. The ball hit the post and flew across goal and in at the other side.


Surprisingly it was another 22 minutes before we scored again but this one was worth waiting for. Ryan McGuffie strode forward from midfield and fired a shot into the top right hand corner with the precision of a laser beam.



The third arrived three minutes later when Peter Weatherson - who didn't have the best of nights having missed numerous chances over the 90 minutes - arrived at the back post to volley an Iain Russell cross against the goalkeeper and in.



In the last action of the first half Brian Wake ran onto a long ball over the top and lifted the ball over the unrushing keeper however his shot bounced, struck the base of the post and ran to safety.

So the score was 3-0 at half-time. Without wanting to be disrespectful to Viewfield I thought they were the poorest team I've seen Morton play in a Renfrewshire Cup semi-final and that there should've been far more than a three goal margin at half-time. Irons seemed to agree and went with a 2-4-4 formation in the second half.


James Grady was introduced at the interval and seemed as hungry for goals as he did at the beginning of his career. Only a minute after the kick-off he got his first, and Morton's fourth, when he stabbed a McGuffie lay off past Shearer. A minute later he volleyed against the cross bar and over.


Unsuprisingly Grady scored again in the 54th minute when he popped up in the right place at the right time to tap a Finlayson cross, that Russell swiped at and missed, into the net. The veteran was showing no mercy to his amateur opponents in his quest for goals and completed his hat trick when he headed a Russell cross home from a couple of yards out.


Brian Wake tapped in McGuffie square ball for 7 in the 76th minute. Grady made it 8-0 four minutes later when he cooly placed the ball past the keeper after he had expertly controlled Monti's excellent ball over the top. Darren McGeough came on as a sub (and impressed me with his distrubition and calm manner in possession) and flighted an excellent cross for Weatherson to head home. Spoonsy had missed quite a few chances up to this point and looked quite relieved to get his second goal. In fact, he actually took time to have a bit of banter with a guy in the crowd suggesting that's what happens when he gets the right service.



Russell made it 10 when he stooped to head home a Finalyson cross. Wakey completed the scoring in the 87th minute when he slotted home from a very tight angle.

Overall this was a very easy win but that's to be expected when you put out what is close to a full strength side against an amateur team. I was talking with a pal about how the Renfrewshire Cup could be improved and we both kind of agreed it would be quite interesting if the Renfrewshire FA allowed junior teams to compete. The likes of Arthurlie (who won the Renfrewshire Cup in 1956/57), Renfrew, Johnstone Burgh, Greenock and Port Glasgow might put up more of a fight and make the competition more interesting.

Morton (3-5-2; 2-4-4):

1. McWilliams - 7
2. McManus - 6 (12. Grady - 46 mins - 8)
3. Walker - 6 (15. Smith - 46 mins - 6)
4. Paartalu - 6
5. Greacen (c) - 7
6. McGuffie - 7 (14. McGeough - 79mins)
7. Finlayson - 8
8. Russell - 7
9. Weatherson - 5
10. Wake - 6 (12. Grady - 74 mins)
11. Monti - 5

Subs Not Used:

16. Mitchell
20. Deans

1st Half

McWilliams
Greacen McManus Walker
Finlayson Monti Paartalu McGuffie Russell
Weatherson Wake

2nd Half

McWilliams
Greacen Smith
Finlayson Monti Paartalu McGuffie
Russell Weatherson Grady Wake

Viewfield Rovers: Shearer, Campbell, McDermott, Leonard, Fitzsimmons, Currie, Joyce (Martin, 80), Evans, Cairney, McIntyre (Cowie, 62), McCullough.


My man of the match: Kevin Finlayson

Sponsor's man of the match: n/a


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

None

Greenock Telegraph match report

gmfc.net teamlines (couple of mistakes on goalscorers)