Pre-Season So Far - Part II: Cappielow Friendlies

Morton 1-3 Bristol Rovers

Morton were given a lesson by English League One side Bristol Rovers in their first home match under Allan Moore.

Rovers completely dominated the first half and took a deserved 3-0 lead with goals by Jeff Hughes (penalty) and a Jo Kuffour double.

English-born Ghanaian Kuffour was particularly impressive and his excellent pace and move caused the Ton defence all sorts of problems.

Former Scotland under-21 Stuart Campbell, who was born in England but has a Greenockian mother and a Glaswegian father, also had a good match and it was his visionary through ball that unlocked the Ton defence for Kuffour's second goal.

The Ton came back into the game in the second half, thanks to the introduction of substitutes Peter Weatherson, new loan signing Grant Evans, Tarik Bengelloun (pictured, above) and Fouad Bachirou. And, after the match, Moore confirmed that he would be signing (or maybe even already had signed) Bengelloun and Bachirou on one-year deals.

Weatherson placed a late penalty in off the post to give Morton a late consolation and some reward for a much improved second half performance.

Morton (4-4-2):

1. Colin Stewart - 6 (20. Kevin Cuthbert, 46 -6)
2. David MacGregor - 5 (12. Grant Evans, 46 - 6)
3. Kevin McKinlay - 5 (16. Nathan Shepherd, 86)
4. Marc Smyth - 7
5. Alan Lithgow [trialist] - 6
6. Michael Tidser - 7
7. Graeme Holmes - 6
8. Allan Jenkins - 6 (15. Fouad Bachirou, 60)
9. Stewart Kean - 6 (14. Peter Weatherson, 46 - 7)
10. Kevin Kelbie - 5 (17. Tarik Bengelloun, 65)
11. Carlo Monti - 6 (-. David O'Brien, 71)

Stewart
MacGregor Smyth Lithgow McKinlay
Holmes Jenkins Tidser Monti
Kean Kelbie

Bristol Rovers (4-2-3-1): Green 7; Regan 6, Coles 6 (Anthony 46, 6), Tunnicliffe 7, Sawyer 7; Campbell 8, Blizzard 7 (Brown 59, 3); Hoskins 7 (Duffy 68, 2), Lines 7, Hughes 8; Kuffour 8.

Subs not used: Reece, Clough, Pell, Richards.

Referee: Alan Muir

Attendance: 1,036


My man of the match: Michael Tidser

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report (19.07.2010)

bristolrovers.co.uk - Photographs

Morton 13-0 Moorcroft AFC

Morton cruised into the Renfrewshire Cup final with an easy victory over plucky Renfrew based amateurs Moorcroft.

Peter Weatherson bagged four, while Carlo Monti and Kevin Kelbie grabbed a hat-trick a piece as Morton steamrollered their amateur opponents.

Michael Tidser wrapped up the win scoring his second of the match with a stunning dipping volley from 25-yards in the final seconds.

Graeme Holmes netted the other goal with a cool finish after Carlo Monti put him one-on-one with keeper Ian McLean with a sublime through ball.

Morton (4-4-2):

1. Kevin Cuthbert - 6 (20. Colin Stewart, 46 -6)
2. David MacGregor - 7
3. Harry Killick - 6
4. Marc Smyth - 6 (14. Kevin McKinlay, 61)
5. Allan Jenkins - 7
6. Michael Tidser - 9
7. Graeme Holmes - 8
8. Neil MacFarlane - 6 (15. Nathan Shepherd, 46 - 5)
9. Peter Weatherson - 8
10. Kevin Kelbie - 8
11. Carlo Monti - 8 (12. David O'Brien, 46 - 7)

Cuthbert
MacGregor Smyth Jenkins Killick
Holmes MacFarlane Tidser Monti
Weatherson Kelbie

Moorcroft AFC (4-4-1-1): McLean 6; Scobie 4 (McMillan 72, 2), Robinson 3, Lawrie 3, Heinman 6 (Capani 53, 2); Sutherland 5, Morgan 6 (Mulgrew 63, 2), Goudie 5, Anderson 6 (Kerr 53, 3); McKinna 6; Gilmour 5 (Sharp 78, 1).

Booked: Robinson (55)


My man of the match: Michael Tidser

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report (21.07.2010)