Dumbarton 1-2 Morton

Dumbarton 1 - Geggan (11)
Morton 2 - Graham (43, 49)

Morton secured their passage to the fourth round of the Scottish Cup with a battling 2-1 win over serial cup opponents Dumbarton.

Allan Moore's men started brightest but conceded an early goal against the run of play when Colin Stewart put his name on a corner but failed to collect, leaving Andy Geggan the easy task of heading into an empty net.

Ton struggled for around half an hour after that as their lowly opponents - the Sons currently sit bottom of the Second Division - took a huge lift from their goal.

However, the visitors gradually fought their way back into the game and levelled minutes before the interval when Brian Graham popped up at the back post to nod home Graeme Holmes' inviting cross.

The young striker added a second shortly after the restart when he rifled the ball into top corner from close-range after Stewart Kean's low centre found him in acres of space just outside the six-yard box.

David MacGregor was sent off in the 79th minute after a second yellow card for a slide tackle that looked both well timed and fair. His initial booking, which arrived just six minutes earlier, was for a fairly innocuous looking obstruction.

Young St Mirren loanee Jon McShane and impressive left midfielder Alan Cook both went close for the hosts but could not quite find the breakthrough as 10-man Ton held on for the win and a fourth round tie with Airdrie United or Beith Juniors.

You can read my full Greenock Telegraph match report here: Double Puts Ton Into Next Round.

And match reaction from Ton goalscoring hero Brian Graham and manager Allan Moore here: Brian: Now Bring On The Old Firm.

Morton (4-4-2):

1. Colin Stewart - 6
2. David MacGregor - 5
3. Kevin McKinlay - 6
4. Marc Smyth - 8
5. Stuart McCaffrey - 7
6. Michael Tidser - 7
7. Graeme Holmes - 6 (15. David O'Brien, 68 - 3)
8. Darren Young - 7 (12. Fouad Bachirou, 70 - 4)
9. Brian Graham - 7
10. Stewart Kean - 6
11. Carlo Monti - 6 (14. Peter Weatherson, 81 - 3)

Subs not used:

16. Kevin Kelbie
20. Kevin Cuthbert

Stewart
MacGregor Smyth McCaffrey McKinlay
Holmes Young Tidser Monti
Grahah Kean

Dumbarton (4-4-2): Grindlay - 7; Devlin - 7, Nugent - 8, McNiff - 7, Creaney - 6 (Chisholm, 81 - 2); Brannan - 5, Geggan - 7, McLeish - 6 (McStay, 76 - 3), Cook - 8; Campbell - 6 (Smith, 61 - 4), McShane - 7.

Subs not used: Walace, White (gk).

Dumbarton bookings: McLeish (23), Brannan (75).

Morton bookings: MacGregor (73), McCaffrey (75), Smyth (77).

Morton sending off: MacGregor (79).


Referee: Craig Charleston

Attendance: 905

My man of the match: Marc Smyth

Sponsor's man of the match: Paul Nugent (Dumbarton)


View from the other side:

dumbartonfootballclub.com - match report