Queen Of The South 1 - 2 Morton

Queen Of The South 1 - Weatherston (72)
Morton 2 - Masterton (7, 31 pen)

Att: 2,611




Can we play you every week?: Two Stevie Masterton set-pieces earned Morton their usual win over Queen of the South at Palmerston.

"Clubs are being circulated to say that he is available on loan," James Grady said about Masterton a couple of weeks back. So it was a big surprise to see the former Clyde man take a starting position in the centre of midfield - but it would turn out to be an inspired decision. Iain Russell was the other change; he took Brian Graham's striking berth alongside Peter Weatherson.

Morton had the better of the first half and opened the scoring after just seven minutes. Referee Colin Brown awarded the Ton a free-kick for a foul on Peter Weatherson, and Stevie Masterton drilled the dead-ball under Queens' defensive wall and into David Hutton's bottom right hand corner from the edge of the 'D'.

The home team had a chance to equalise in the 19th minute but former Morton target Rocco Quinn's volley was deflected wide by Alan Reid's outstretched right boot.

Morton almost doubled their lead in the 22nd minute, but Iain Russell dragged his shot across the face of goal after he was played in on goal by Masterton.

Quinn passed up another decent chance when he volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy in the 24th minute.



One minute later, Hutton had to be alert to get down to his left hand post to gather Weatherson's left footed strike.

However, Morton did manage to double their lead on the half hour, and it was no surprise that it came via another set-piece. This time Masterton smashed a penalty right down the middle, giving Hutton no chance. The penalty decision was quite debatable. It appeared to be for handball but from where I was sitting it looked like the Queens player had the ball smashed against his hand rather than his hand going to the ball.

Both teams squandered chances to score in the last five minutes of the first period. Ton captain Stewart Greacen headed a Masterton corner inches over the bar while Willie McLaren smashed a wild effort high and wide at the back post. So Morton went into the interval with a two goal lead, which they merited going on the balance of play.

The second half was different story. Gordon Chisholm made two changes at the break: David Weatherston came on for Willie McLaren and Stewart Kean replaced Leon Knight. Both players helped turn the game in the Palmerston side's favour.

However, they passed up four excellent chances in five second half minutes, and this proved to be their downfall; a goal in this spell would've given them enough time to really push for an equaliser. Kean got on the end of a Bob Harris free-kick from out on the left, but he put his header over the bar when it looked easier to score. That was in the 50th minute, and it was just two minutes later when Weatherson made an excellent block to deny Marvin Andrews. One minute after that, Colin Stewart flapped at a corner and he was lucky to see David Lilley turn and hook the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. The final chance of this crazy five minute spell saw Bob Harris crash a spectacular effort off the bar from 25 yards, fortunately for the Ton, the ball rebounded to safety.



Queens eventually pulled one back in the 71st minute. Harris flighted a dangerous free-kick into the Ton area which Lilley flicked on. The ball fell to Burns and he hooked it back into the six yard box, where Kean flicked on for Weatherston to fire into an empty net. Game on!

The home side had the momentum and Morton were beginning to come under unbearable pressure. So it was a sore blow when Kevin Finlayson was sent off for an inexplicable barge on Weatherston. Kevin had already been booked, so it's hard to understand why he felt he needed to fly into Weatherston's side with his knee up. The frustration was doubled by the fact that Craig Reid should've been sent off ten minutes earlier. Reid was already on a booking and tugged Jim McAlister's shirt right in front of referee Brown. The incompetent whistler acknowldged the foul by rasing his arms to gesture 'play on'. Yet he failed to give Reid his marching orders when play finally stopped.

Grady sent on new signing Kevin McKinlay to shore up the midfield and the hardy utility man did a decent enough job by getting stuck in and making his presence felt. He also made a crucial clearing header at the back post in the final seconds of the match.

The only team in the Bible continuted to dominate possession after their equaliser, but they failed to create any real clear cut chances in the last quarter of an hour. In fact, we managed to create a few opportunities at the other end. Iain Russell headed over on a couple of occasions and McAlister fired straight at Hutton from 8 yards.

In the end, the ten men of Morton held on for an excellent, hard fought three points. Mind you, it was Queen of the South away - so the result was never in doubt.


Morton (4-4-2):

1. Colin Stewart - 6
2. Ryan McGuffie - 8
3. Alan Reid - 6
4. Dominic Shimmin - 8
5. Stewart Greacen - 7
6. Stevie Masterton - 8
7. Kevin Finlayson - 6
8. Allan Jenkins - 6
9. Peter Weatherson - 8 (15. Graham - 88 mins)
10. Iain Russell - 8 (16. McKinlay - 80 mins)
11. Jim McAlister - 7

Unused Subs:

12. David MacGregor
14. Michael Tidser
20. Kevin Cuthbert

Booked: Masterton, Finlayson, Graham, Jenkins (after the match).

Sent Off: Finlayson (77)

Stewart
McGuffie Greacen Shimmin Reid
Finlayson Masterton Jenkins McAlister
Weatherson Russell

QotS: Hutton; Reid, Harris, Andrews, Lilley; Burns, McKenna, Quinn, McLaren (Weatherston, 46); Holmes, Knight (Kean, 46).

Unused Subs: Scally, Hamill, Fox.

Booked: Quinn, Reid, McKenna, Lilley

Sent Off: Hutton (after the match)

My man of the match: Stevie Masterton

Sponsor's man of the match: Marvin Andrews (QotS)


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Teamsheet













Greenock Telegraph - Match Report

Greenock Telegraph - Keeper Sent Off In Tunnel

Scottish Sun - Match Report

bbc sport - Match Report

qosfc.com - Match Report

qosfc.com - pics by Colin Johnstone