Stranraer 1 - 7 Morton

Stranraer 1 - McColm (55)
Morton 7 - Kean (27, 50, 54), Holmes (31), Weatherson (71, 76), Kelbie (83)

Morton ended their mini goal drought with a seven goal thrashing of a poor Stranraer side.

Stewart Kean, who'd come in for some criticism after missing a few good chances against Dumbarton, was in deadly form and netted an impressive hat-trick.

His striker partner, Peter Weatherson, helped himself to a double -one a sublime chip - while Graeme Holmes and late substitute Kevin Kelbie also scored to complete the rout and set Allan Moore's men up for the season with a confidence boosting goal fest.

Meanwhile, Carlo Monti has been the man in possession of the left-midfield starting place but faces stiff but healthy competition from David O'Brien, who made a very impressive contribution after replacing the injured Holmes in first half injury time.

After the match, Allan Moore expressed his delight at Kean's hat-trick, saying: “I’m glad he managed to get off the mark as I’d seen some of the websites saying he was useless, so he’s answered back today.

“He took his goals very well, and I’m pleased for him as he’s a confidence player and didn’t have the best of seasons at Queens last year."


Morton (4-4-2):

1. Colin Stewart - 7
2. David MacGregor - 7
3. Kevin McKinlay - 7
4. Marc Smyth - 7
5. Grant Evans - 7
6. Michael Tidser - 8
7. Graeme Holmes - 7 (12. David O'Brien, 45+1 - 7)
8. Allan Jenkins (c) - 7 (16. Fouad Bachirou, 64)
9. Peter Weatherson - 8
10. Stewart Kean - 9 (15. Kevin Kelbie, 55)
11. Carlo Monti - 7

Subs not used:

14. Stuart McCaffrey
20. Kevin Cuthbert

Booked: Kean.

Stewart
MacGregor Smyth Evans McKinlay
Holmes Jenkins Tidser Monti
Kean Weatherson

Stranraer (4-4-2): Marshall 6; Gallagher 4, Murphy 4, Bouadji 3 (McAuliffe 75, 1), Sharp 5; Winter 6 (G. Mitchell 75, 2), Agnew 6, D.Mitchell 5, McColm 6 (Nicoll 65, 2); Oné 6, Moore 5.

Subs not used: Malcolm, McCaulay (gk).

Booked: D. Mitchell, Moore.


Referee: Steven Nicholls

Attendance: 470


My man of the match: Stewart Kean

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report (02.08.2010)

stranraerfc - photographs

Morton 0 - 0 St. Mirren

Morton 0-0 St Mirren

(St Mirren win 4-3 on penalties)

St Mirren won their fifth consecutive Renfrewshire Cup with a penalty victory at Cappielow after the 90 minutes ended goalless and went straight to spot-kicks.

The Ton had Kevin Cuthbert, who appears to be Allan Moore's second choice goalkeeper at the moment, to thank for sending the match to spot-kicks after he denied Steven Thomson, Steven Robb, Michael Higdon, Craig Dargo and Darren McGregor with a series of impressive stops.

However, the Buddies' Scotland internationalist goalkeeper Paul Gallacher was also in impressive form and saved efforts from Peter Weatherson and Michael Tidser.

New St Mirren boss Danny Lennon had come in for some criticsm from opposition fans for his decision to sign four players from previous club Cowdenbeath - but I actually thought that Paul McQuade and Darren McGregor were two of the better performers on the night.

Also of interest was the introductions of ex-Morton players David van Zanten and Paul McGowan as second half substitutes. McGowan, whose goals helped fire Morton to the Second Division title in 2006/07 while on loan from Celtic, was greeted by a loud boo from the home support, although I have been told that there was also a smattering of applause from some fans in the Cowshed.

And McGowan expressed his disappointment with the reception after the match, saying: "I was a bit disappointed with the fans. I was a young boy when I was here, which seems a lifetime ago, and I thought I did well.

"I learned a lot coming here, but in terms of my career I obviously want to be playing in the SPL.

"But that's fans for you, isn't it?"

McGowan had the last laugh when he tucked away his penalty and St Mirren won the shoot-out 4-3 when captain John Potter stroked home after Graeme Holmes and Kevin Kelbie missed for Morton.

Penalty sequence: Holmes (missed), Higdon (scored), Monti (scored), van Zanten (missed), Kelbie (missed), Brady (scored), Tidser (scored), McGowan (scored), Smyth (scored), Potter (scored).


Morton (4-4-2):

1. Kevin Cuthbert - 8
2. David MacGregor - 7
3. Kevin McKinlay - 7
4. Marc Smyth - 7
5. Grant Evans - 6
6. Michael Tidser (c) - 6
7. Graeme Holmes - 6
8. Fouad Bachirou - 7
9. Peter Weatherson - 6 (14. Allan Jenkins, 81)
10. Stewart Kean - 6 (15. Kevin Kelbie, 72)
11. David O'Brien - 6 (12. Carlo Monti, 72)

Subs not used:

16. Neil MacFarlane
17. Nathan Shepherd
20. Colin Stewart

Cuthbert
MacGregor Smyth Evans McKinlay
Holmes Bachirou Tidser O'Brien
Kean Weatherson

St Mirren (4-4-2): Gallacher 8; Barron 7, Potter 7, McAusland 7 (Brady 90+2, 1), Travner 7; Thomson 6, McGregor 8, Murray 7 (van Zanten 72, 3), Robb 6 (McGowan 82, 3); McQuade 7 (Dargo 63, 4), Higdon 8.

Subs not used: Lynch, Wardlaw, Love, Samson (gk).


Referee: Stevie O'Reilly

Attendance: 3,422


My man of the match: Kevin Cuthbert

Greenock Telegraph - Match Report (28.07.2010)

saintmirren.net - match report