Match Report

Morton v Stenhousemuir at Cappielow Park, Greenock on 11.4.15

SPFL Division One             Att 1,568

Morton 3 [MacDonald 78, McManus 87, S.McCluskey 90] Stenhousemuir 2 [Meechan 35, McMullan 55]

Morton – Gaston, Kilday, Russell, O’Ware [b57], Crighton [Scullion 60], Lamie, S.McCluskey, Forbes, Caldwell [MacDonald 60]. McManus and J.McCluskey [McKee 76]. Subs not used – Adam, Miller and Ferris.

Stenhousemuir – Fleming, Meechan, Summers, Lithgow, McMillan, K.Millar, Fotheringham, Faulds, Grehan [Sutherland 90], McMullan and Watt [Moutinho 82]. Subs not used – Smith, McCormack, Duncan, Craigie and Gallacher

Referee – Barry Cook      Assistants – Stephen Mitchell and William Wilson

With Anthony Marenghi out through suspension and Colin McMenamin missing through work commitments there were two changes to last week’s team with Gregor Fotheringham and Josh Watt starting. This meant that Paul McMullan was pushed further up the pitch and for the majority of the game this had the desired effect.

With both teams at opposite ends of the table the pundits would have forecast a win for the Greenock outfit and although that was ultimately the result it was a far from comfortable day for the home team. Indeed Stenhousemuir were the better team until the last thirteen minutes of the game when they imploded and Morton ran out winners by three goals to two after being two goals in arrears up to that stage.

In fact up until the first Morton goal the Warriors put in one of their best performances of the season with everyone playing their part. In the opening exchanges Watt saw an effort tipped over by Derek Gaston and Paul McMullan had a dipping effort that just failed to hit the target. Morton came closest though when Jamie McCluskey timed his run behind the defence but Greg Fleming made a fine block save. Then Thomas O’Ware saw an effort scooped clear by the keeper.

The Morton player was caught out in the 32nd minute by the pace and endeavour of McMullan who dispossessed O’Ware but his shot was gathered by Gaston at the second attempt. It was not long though before Stenhousemuir took a deserved lead through an unexpected source. Ross McMillan won the ball and made a run towards goal, the Morton defence seemed to back off inviting the shot from 20 plus yards but they were to regret it when the ball flew into the net.  There were a couple of chances for Morton before the end of the half  with Declan McManus seeing an effort go out for a corner and an O’Ware effort over. In the 45^th minute another Stenhousemuir break could have paid dividents after an attack by Kris Faulds who fed McMullan on the left but McMullan’s shot was blocked by Gaston.

The Warriors were always a threat going forward and it came as no surprise when they extended the lead in the 55^th minute when a Josh Watt cross caused problems and McMullan pounced to smash the ball home. Two minutes later Meechan headed a corner just wide. Morton were getting shots in but they were usually blocked or deflected just wide

Morton made a couple of substitutions to try and get back into the game and certainly the subs were to have a major impact as the game progressed. Before that though they had Gaston to thank for keeping them in the game with a superb save to deny Kieran Millar.

It started to go wrong in the 77^th minute though when Peter MacDonald fired a Lee Kilday cross home and it got worse when Declan McManus pounced after the Warriors struggled to clear a cheaply conceded corner. This was in the 87^th minute but unbelievably Stenhousemuir had a great chance to take the lead when Pedro Moutinho was picked out by McMullan 12 yards out but he scuffed his shot wide when only the keeper to beat. Morton though had the final say as they eventually got their third goal in stoppage time. Greg Fleming brought off a superb one handed save from McManus and Stephen McCluskey reacted first to tuck the rebound home.

In the end a strange day with both Stenhousemuir and rivals Ayr United both losing two goal leads and Stenhousemuir actually improved their goal difference on the day and are not tied with Ayr who are ahead courtesy of scoring more goals.