Turnstyle Delays

Morton have urged fans to get to Cappielow earlier than usual tomorrow as there may be a chance of delays at the turnstyles. The club has been carrying out maintenance work at turnstyles throughout the ground during the week and this is expected to cause slight delays at the gate.

gmfc.net - Match Admission

Dunfermline Athletic Under-19s 4 - 2 Morton Under-19s

Dunfermline Athletic Under-19s 4 -
Morton Under-19s 2 - Gordon (2)

2pm kick-off
Sunday 22nd February
Dalgety Bay Sports Centre

by Chris Silver

Morton under-19s were masters of their own downfall as they went down 4-2 to Dunfermline's under-19s on Sunday.

Allan McManus made several changes to the team that lost 5-2 to Raith Rovers in the last match. In defence Anthony Houston replaced Scott McNab at right-back and an unknown debutant partnered Paddy - whose second name I'm not sure of and whose presence against Raith was sorely missed - in the centre. Kieran Cannon started in goal after his appearance as substitute for the first team at Firhill the day before and Troy McKerrell replaced Darren McGeough in the midfield.

Morton have a habit of making things difficult for themselves and today was no exception, within 3 minutes from the start the 'Ton were a goal behind. Paddy and a Dunfermline striker challenged for a speculative long ball from their right-back but the ball went over their heads and presented the other Pars striker with a chance. He evaded his marker with a fine touch to his left on the edge of our box and before smashing the ball past Cannon (pictured, above left), who got his first touch of the ball when he picked it out of the net.

We were stunned by the set-back but gradually gained in confidence as the first half wore on. Our first chance came on the half hour mark after good work on the left by Chris 'Limo' Gordon and Nathan Shepherd. Shepherd made an overlapping run and whipped over a deep cross which was met by Daniel Friel. Friel's first touch took him beyond the full-back but he was quickly closed down and his hurried shot went high over the crossbar.

Morton were on top and pushing for an equaliser with the three in midfield, three up front and the rampaging Shepherd at left-back all impressing. However, just as we looked as if we might score Dunfermline increased their lead. Cannon mishit a clearance which went out of play on the Morton right. From the resulting throw in a Pars midfielder managed to create a bit of space to drill a low cross across the six yard box. Everyone failed to connect with the cross until their outside left gained possession, he dragged Shepherd towards the touchline before turning, cutting inside and rifling a shot past Cannon.

So after an encouraging first half performance we still went in 2-0 down at half time. However, McManus's and James Grady's half time team talk must have stressed the positives as they came out for the second half with some vigour and halved the Pars lead immediately. Shepherd and Gordon linked well down the left and Shepherd's low cross was expertly controlled by the impressive Gordon; he turned his marker before curling a powerful shot into the top right hand corner of the net.

The Pars were beginning to struggle while Lee Mitchell was really impressing for Morton. The 18 year old proving to be a real thorn in the opposition's side with his ability to break up play and keep possession. It was no surprise when we eventually scored the equaliser our play merited. The goal was almost a carbon copy of the first goal the only difference was the quality of the finish by Gordon - this time he used the outside of his boot to curl the ball past the keeper at his near post. They say a goalkeeper should never be beaten at his near post but Gordon's shot was hit with too much pace and accuracy to give him any chance.

Our tails were up and Friel went on a mazy run in search of a goal to put us in the lead. However, his run came to an abrupt end when he was cynically fouled from behind thus earning the guilty player a well deserved yellow card. Gordon was denied a hat trick when the Pars keeper pulled off the save of the day from the resultant free kick.

Friel went close soon after but his shot was too high. This proved to be his last involvement in the match as he went off injured after receiving another shocking challenge. Kenneth MacKay took his place.

Dunfermline took the lead against the run of play. McKerrell looked set to clear after a looping cross from the byline landed in front of him however the ball evaded his touch after an unpredictable bounce and the Pars striker made no mistake to make it 3-2 to the home team.

Liam Kerrigan replaced our number 7 in midfield who had tired badly and was allowing players to run off him too easily causing mayhem in the Ton defence.

The Pars completed the scoring when one of their strikers connected with a cross from the right to rocket a header past Cannon.

So, another defeat but we can take heart from the fact that this was a better display than recent performances. There was also a few encouraging individual performances; particularly Limo Gordon, who is strong, holds up play well, has a decent touch and took both goals well. Mitchell is the anchor in centre of midfield, he links play and breaks up opposition attacks while Shepherd makes some great roving runs up the left wing (although I'm not too sure about his status as a left-back). Hopefully one or more of these boys can make an impact on the first team in future, after all that is what the youth set up is really for.

Morton Under-19s Results - Season 2008/09

thescottishfootballleague.com - Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Under 19

Coakley: Morton Was More Like A Youth Club

Former Morton player Adam Coakley provided a damning insight into Jim McInally's tenure as Morton manager in the Scottish Sun's Supergoals pull-out on Monday.

When asked: 'X-Files. What is your strangest experience?' the striker - currently playing with Queen's Park - said:

"Joining Morton. I was so used to being professional and disciplined at Well but everyone was mental at Cappielow. It was more like a youth club with a table tennis table and a pool table. They even used to play cricket instead of training."

Coakley's answer seems to confirm rumours that training was a bit of a joke under McInally. Ironically, Coakley (pictured, above left) was so bad he still couldn't get a game at such an unprofessional club as he only made four substitute appearances in six months at Cappielow.

Partick Thistle 1 - 0 Morton

Partick Thistle 1 - Doolan (49)
Morton 0 -

Att: 3348

A single goal, scored by Thistle's January signing Kris Doolan, was enough to settle this abysmal match.

Davie Irons went with the same line up that earned a 0-0 draw with St. Johnstone at Cappielow on the 31st of January. The only changes were on the bench as James Grady returned after almost 2 months out with a damaged medial ligament and Under-19s reserve goalkeeper Kieran Cannon was listed as the back up for Kevin Cuthbert.



This poor excuse for a football match only sparked into life in the last five minutes of the first half. In the 40th minute Morton almost scored when a Stewart Greacen - one of only three players I'd give pass marks to; the others being Cuthbert and Shimmin - header came back off the post. However, Thistle just about had the better of the first half (not really an achievement to be proud of) and came closest to scoring right on half time when Greenock-born Gary Harkins forced an excellent save from Kevin Cuthbert. Harkins met a Paul Paton corner but Cuthbert got down well to push it away with two arms.




So after an appalling first half the teams went in 0-0 at half-time.

Some fans around me contemplated leaving to go to the pub as it was a punishment to watch the drivel both teams were serving up but most stayed in the hope the second half would pick up. However, it only took 4 second half minutes for them to head for the exits when a move involving Liam Buchanan and Stephen McKeown presented a chance to Doolan who fired the ball past Cuthbert to score his 3rd goal in 6 games since signing from junior side Auchinleck Talbot.



Kevin Finlayson had the ball in the net in the 64th minute but the linesman's flag had been up for a while and those who did celebrate quickly realised the goal wouldn't count. I'm afraid this disallowed goal - and a decent long range shot from the same player - were the highlight of our second half.



Those who spout nonsense saying the first division is the best in Scotland would do well to go to matches like this one. Then they'd realise that the league is only tight and competitive because most of the teams are terrible. I watched Airdrie against Clyde on BBC Alba on Sunday and this was another borefest with a standard of football that wouldn't look out of place in a pub league.

As a Morton fan it is doubly frustrating because we actually play a long ball game that makes the Wimbledon sides of the 1980s and 1990s look like Brazil. In last month's FourFourTwo magazine an article called 'Hooooof! The Long View Of Direct Football' analyses long ball tactics. The article concludes by saying:

"For the truth of the long ball football, as of any tactical system, is neither that it is evil nor that it is a panacea: it simply is effective only with the right players and in the right curcumstances."

This is our whole problem; the circumstances might be right but we don't have the right players (being tall isn't enough) and we don't play long ball football with any direction or purpose therefore the system is ineffective. The defence hoofs aimless long balls up at Brian Wake who cannot win a header and Peter Weatherson who refuses to jump. Even if one of those two does win a header Ryan McGuffie and Stevie Masterton haven't bothered to get up in support looking for knockdowns or defensive clearances. The evidence that our football is ineffective lies in the league table. Crowds are on the wane as people wont pay the extorionate first division prices to watch shocking long ball football, a style that isn't even proving effective, during a credit crunch. In my opinion it's time Irons changed his footballing philosophy or leaves Cappielow as I for one am sick to the back teeth of watching his team. TTG?


Morton (4-4-2):

1. Cuthbert - 7
2. Walker - 6
3. Smith - 5 (16. Grady - 64 mins)
4. Shimmin - 7
5. Greacen (c) - 7
6. Masterton - 5
7. Finlayson - 6
8. McGuffie - 4 (14. Paartalu - 71 mins)
9. Weatherson - 6
10. Wake - 5 (15. Russell - 79 mins)
11. McAlister - 6

Subs Not Used:

12. McManus
20. Cannon

Booked: Finlayson

Cuthbert
Walker Greacen Shimmin Smith
Finlayson Masterton McGuffie McAlister
Weatherson Wake

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, Storey, Robertson, Archibald, Twaddle, McKeown (Chaplain 76), Rowson, Harkins, Buchanan (McKinlay 67), Doolan (Donnelly 86).

Subs Not Used: Kinniburgh, Hinchcliffe.

My man of the match: Dominic Shimmin

Sponsor's man of the match: Kris Doolan


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

BBC match report

The Greenock Telegraph - match report

The Greenock Telegraph - match reaction

The Scottish Sun - match report

The Daily Record - match report

ptfc.co.uk - match report

Tontastic pictures

Baldacchino's Appearance Was Just A Favour

Former Gretna winger Ryan Baldacchino (pictured, left: running on to a loose ball against us in our 2-1 win in March 2006) has been training with Morton but wont be signing for us according to Davie Irons.

Irons told the Greenock Telegraph's David Christie that Baldacchino's appearance in a bounce game with Dumbarton was a favour to the player - just like the way he allowed Kenny Deuchar to play against Rangers. He said:

"Ryan has been training with us for a week or so. He is someone I have known for a while. He has been in Australia since Gretna folded and has just come back. He asked if he could come and train with us and I have given him that facility. He is a wee bit away from having the necessary match sharpness. He is a talented player. He had a bad injury a couple of years ago and it has taken him a while to get over that. We keep in touch with ex-players and we have to keep our options open. Having these guys who are currently out of contract is maybe us looking with a view to next season."

Full Name: Ryan Baldacchino
Age: 28 (13.01.1981)
Position: Right Midfield

Born: Leicester, England
Nationality: English (eligible for Malta through his grandfather)
Height: 5' 9"

Former Clubs: Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Carlisle United, Gretna, Ayr United [loan], Altona Magic (Australia)

Greenock Telegraph - Ex-Gretna Isn't Signing (19.02.2009)

Clyde Match Rearranged

Morton will play Clyde at Broadwood on Tuesday the 3rd of March with a 7.45pm kick-off.

The original match on the 14th of February was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

gmfc.net - Clyde -v- Morton

clydefc.co.uk - New Date For Morton Match

McCall Went 4 Months Unpaid

Former Morton manager Ian McCall has claimed that he went 4 months unpaid by chairman Hugh Scott.

In an interview in today's Greenock Telegraph McCall (pictured, above left) talks to Roger Graham about Saturday's match between Morton and his Partick Thistle side. Graham then asked about McCall's spell at Cappielow under Scott (pictured, below) and McCall said: “I think the Morton fans maybe blamed me for some of what went on. It’s a great club, with great fans, and we had a great set of players, but what we were put through was terrible. I had four months when I managed the club without being paid.”



McCall was appointed Morton manager on the 14th of January 2000 but only spent 4 months in charge as his contract was not renewed at the end of the season - according to Scott this was due to financial reasons. In his column in the Scotsman on the 21st September 2003 McCall stated that he was owed 'not inconsiderable sums' by current chairman Douglas Rae. However, Rae denied this and issued a statement saying that he had been in discussion with lawyers about McCall's claim.

Greenock Telegraph - Firhill For Thrills (17.02.2009)

Harding's Season Is Over

Morton defender Ryan Harding will miss the rest of this season after he was advised to rest until April to allow him to recuperate from a groin injury (involving bone and muscle) that he has been suffering from, on and off, for six years.

Harding told the Greenock Telegraph's Roger Graham: "I was speaking to physio Paul Kelly through the week. He has been talking to Gordon McKay, the surgeon dealing with me, and asking him what is the best way to go from here on. I’ve been told to rest and, if by April, there is no improvement then I will probably need an operation. I’ve had the problem on and off for about the last six years. It is apparently one of these things where it responds to rest if you get it early enough."

Harding has been absent from first team action since our 4-1 hammering at Ross County on the 11th of October. Until now his absence was a bit of a mystery; in team lines news he was usually simply described as 'injured' or in most cases not even mentioned. The ex-Hibs man wasn't having the best of seasons but did provide one of the highlights when he scored the winning goal in the League cup victory against his old club at Easter Road (pictured, above left).

Greenock Telegraph - Harding Out For Rest Of Season (16.02.2009)