Morton 1 Saints 3
Team : Cat, Irvine, Stanic, McInnes, McManus, Anderson,
Quinn, Sheerin, Deuchar, Jackson, McLaren
Subs: Main, Lawrie, Stewart, Peaso, Moon
There must be some unwritten law which dictates these days that to progress in any cup tournament you have to make a trip west and suffer physical torture in a rotten stadium and the delights of traversing the Wonders of Wegie in rush-hour to get here. Cappielow last season along with the Death Star and Fir Park was followed up tonight by a return trip to the delights of Greenock once more. The pigeon shit was still in plenty evidence off the park while down at pitch side, the medical teams were on full standby after the last bruising encounter between the teams ten days ago - and in an inspiring burst of originality not seen since most of the locals had jobs, we even had the Wurzels over the tannoy for the half- time entertainment. Talk about pseudo-Scumdonians. Mind you, in this wonderful sporting society, no one was expecting the fans or players to carry any grudges into this game - aye right. More likely we were going to have another blood 'n' snotters affair that would make Arthur Montford feel like he was back in the 1930s and the referee with one of those games that he would actually have to earn his fee for.
The result from the weekend (well the second half anyway), meant that there was plenty to be optimistic about for Saints fans with Jack n the Doc banging them in on a regular basis now. But with the game now approaching the serious stage of the competition and an important trip to Livi awaiting us this weekend, Owen's latest dilemma was whether to go for a full-strength lineup knowing that a win would put us in with a chance of silverware or else stick by the younger and fringe players that had done so well in recent rounds. Injuries also played a part in his decision as well as the knock-on effects from the Accies game and how to handle a good Morton side on their own turf. Leaving aside the final verdict that the referee was almost as bad as anything we'll see this season, and the worrying injury inflicted on Jacko which curtailed his involvement in the match, Saints had plenty to take from the game tonight not least that the home side were limited in their chances on goal while we took ours with a vengeance to set up a nice wee cup final day out in November. Rusty hadn't been risked on Saturday as we went for a 4-4-2 but with Weatherston joining the injury list there wasn't that much room for some flexibility in the Saints lineup. Owen decided to go for an unchanged outfield side with the Cat coming in to replace Main who dropped to the bench. Morton didn't have their troubles to seek with Gardyne still injured and Russell cup-tied and even having to resort to a chubby Kieran McAnespie on the bench. Even so they should have fancied their chances on their home pitch where we had a less-than-impressive record in recent years.
The game started at a hectic pace with Saints managing to knock the ball around on the deck for the opening stages. No real chances for either side in the first few minutes with Saints restricted to a few crosses with no yellow shirts on the end of them, with Stanic and Irvine providing a steady supply of crosses into the box. Irvine and Wullie linked well on the right wing in the sixth minute but the final ball was well marshalled by the Ton defence. A minute later the more direct approach through the middle found Jacko rising up the head the ball down into Rocco's path and his volley went just over the bar. But there was no stopping us a couple of minutes later when we took the lead with another classy finish. Rocco was fouled in the middle of the park and from the freekick Sheerin went for a low drive into the box which took a deflection. The ball broke loose behind the defence and Jacko was in there to get on the end of it for a cool stroke into the net to make it 1-0.
The next chance also fell for Saints with Irvine making a good run down the right and linking with Rocco before playing a lovely dipping chip which went just over the bar. So time for the big mistake and after breaking a harmless Morton attack up, the defence were slack with the ball which broke loose allowing Graham the home striker to latch onto it and run into the box for a good finish past Cat who did his best to narrow his angle. That sort of took the wind out of our sails and the home fans began to liven up a bit. The niggles started as well with Graham and Ando clashing with the Ton player having a sneaky kick out at Pamela which the referee failed to spot. Saints were resorting to the long ball with the Doc flicking a good one on for Wullie but the ball broke too far in front of him.
Morton managed to get the ball in the net again in the 20th minute when a corner was floated back in and despite the Cat managing to block the eventual shot, the rebound was poked home only for the referee to chalk it off for offside. Another slack pass from the Saints defence a couple of minutes after that allowed the lanky figure of Templeman to come in for a shot that Ando blocked for a corner. The Cat punched that one clear and Saints broke out only for McInnes to be fouled on the halfway line - not that the referee was giving us the decision. A similar lack of authority when McAllister blatantly fouled the Doc from behind in the 24th minute began to really annoy the Saints travelling support.
That anger really boiled over in the 27th minute when a good Saints break from defence saw McInnes play the ball forward for Jacko in the middle of the park only for Wetherston to simply scythe him down leaving him in agony. The referee waived play on but eventually Del put the ball out so the striker could get treatment (cue Wetherston running to the corner flag to hide from the ref). Yet again we had a chance to witness the lack of response from the Cappielow first-aiders as Jacko was eventually carried off by the physio and the Doc with what looked like a bad ankle injury certainly he couldn't walk on it. Peaso was quickly stripped to replace him as the Saints players focussed on the game once more. Within a minute the referee was trying to make amends as we were awarded a freekick on the left side of the park after the Doc was sandwiched between two home defenders. The freekick into the box ended in a good shot that Robinson did well to get down to save but unfortunately despite getting to the loose ball, the Doc couldn't make room to turn and get the shot back in.
Rocco created our next chance with a run and pass to Wullie who fired in a low drive which went out for a corner. From that the ball was crossed back in by Quinn for Ando who headed down for Peaso but the sub's decision to go for the spectacular overhead kick didn't quite pay off as the ball went just wide. Morton's best chance came with a long ball for Templeman but the Cat was alert enough to come out and put the striker off before a simple gather of the ball. We were pressing but unable to create any clearcut shots with the midfield not getting forward enough to support the front men. Peaso picked up a verbal warning for the referee for a late foul on Shields while McAllister had a decent long-range effort for the home side go wide of goal.
Our efforts in attack fell more foul of the referee's whistle with Rocco offside for one and failing to get a freekick when fouled at the edge of the box. Still the real entertainment was kept for last as Alan McManus almost got a nosebleed as he waltzed out of defence and went for a run up the park jumping over three attempted challenges before being brought down at the halfway line.
After the Wurzels on the tannoy got a wee singalong going amongst the Saints fans, the second-half eventually got underway although the referee took his time in making his appearance. Saints had an early chance with a deep throw-in flicked on by Peaso for Rocco at the back post only for the on-loan midfielder to suffer a poor first touch and sclaff the ball over the bar (known as Paddy Syndrome amongst the Saints fans). A minute later and Sheerin and Rocco linked well on the left before the ball broke to the Wing Wizard but his Pixie magic deserted him and his effort went just over the bar. Next up was a move on the other side as Wullie set Peaso up for a run into the box only for a wee shove to send the Saints striker tumbling - needless to say no spot-kick was awarded. Irvine tried his luck next getting onto the end of a lovely through ball from Wullie but the keeper came out to make a good save. Morton had another couple of players knocked eight minutes into the half when a deep ball in for the Doc saw him clash with the keeper and a defender, winning a corner into the bargain. From Sheerinho's floated ball in the Doc rose up to head home only for the ball to be cleared off the line.
Three minutes later and Rocco set up Peaso for a run but he was fouled from behind by Stevenson who picked up the first yellow card for his trouble. McInnes wasted the freekick though. Morton were straight up the park and a deflection off Anderson was crossed back in over the Cat's head and off the crossbar but again Gary Irvine was there to clear the danger. Irvine himself went on a good run in the 63rd minute but his final ball for Rocco was well intercepted by a defender.
Morton made a couple of substitutions with Templeman surprisingly going off. It didn't make much difference though as we got a just-as-classy second goal within a couple of minutes. Sheerin had the ball in the centre circle and despite a lack of movement up front sent the ball behind the defence for Peaso to latch onto and play a delightful chip over the keeper and in off the junction of post and bar to make it two-one. Suddenly we looked confident once more and began to look more settled in defence as well with the Cat comfortably dealing with a couple of loose balls and the Saints players tending to keep the ball more rather than play the first pass.
Sheerin was again at the heart of setting up the next chance in the 71st minute with a good through ball which sent the Doc free into the box. But with no support he opted for the shot and stuck the ball over the bar. Morton weren't done though and within a minute almost drew level with a good long-range drive from Stevenson which was wide of the goal. But defensively we were limiting them to snap shots as Irvine, Stanic and co. closed down the opposition at every opportunity - hell even Wullie stuck in a couple of tackles. He forced a corner a couple of minutes later out of nothing and from it the Doc was up for another header which the defence cleared.
Morton's Graham became the second player booked for a soft foul on Goran which left him needing treatment. The freekick was sent up the park for the Doc but he was blatantly elbowed when he went for the header although again the referee chose to ignore it. Deuchar was fired up now though and twelve minutes from time he sent a great crossfield ball for Peaso to run onto and send back in but despite controlling the ball well in the box, the Doc shot wide of target. That signified the start of a nervous last ten minutes or so as Saints began to really tire with Quinn, Sheerin, Del and the rest all starting to make simple mistakes and let Morton press back as they chased an equaliser. Ryan Harding, just on as a sub had a good chance in the 80th minute but managed to sclaff his effort wide.
The Doc was replaced by Stewart as Owen tried to freshen things up front .We had a corner courtesy of McLaren that ended up in a Pamela header deflected behind. But in general there was a real casual side creeping into our play and too many easy mistakes were being made. But three minutes from time with some of the home support already inexplicably leaving (must be that West Coast mentality), we wrapped up the tie with another good goal. A throw-in from the right was flicked on into the box for Rocco who turned brilliantly before a cracking finish from 6 yards out. That wrapped it up although Morton had a few chances towards the end - not helped by Ando and the Cat playing silly buggers at times in defence. Mooner came on to allow Wullie to get a deserved cheer off the park for the final chance but he had little opportunity to make an impact.
Given just ten days ago we were at Cappielow for a tough draw, the difference in the confidence in the Saints side tonight was more than apparent. Yet again there was hardly a weak link in the side with McInnes playing a good captain's role in midfield and the defence as solid as ever. MoM for me though goes to Rocco who despite being a fitness doubt before the game ran his arse off, set up plenty of chances, put the tackles in where necessary and capped it all off with a fine goal. Elsewhere Wullie, Sheerin and Peaso can take praise with the latter looking back to his best - possibly just as well given the injury to Jacko. As for Morton while the game didn't turn into a bloodbath, there was some niggly challenges that went in - the win made all the sweeter for them.
Maybe this year??????
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