Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Weather and errors dominate key clash

Thursday, 16th October, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 12th March, 2008 12:00

Weather and errors dominate key clash

By Chris Fitzgerald

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CLYDE 1-1 MORTON

Image related to story, see caption or article text

GET IN THERE: Peter Weatherson puts pressure on Clyde keeper David Hutton, but full back Neil McGregor puts through his own net.

Pic by: David Bell.

WHERE’S that snarling DCI Burke from Taggart?

There’s been a murder. The victim? Football. The perpetrator? Mother Nature.

Yes, what was supposed to be a thrilling key relegation six-pointer at Broadwood last night turned instead into a turgid battle against the elements.

Clyde, in second bottom spot and a point behind Morton with a game in hand, had home advantage, but the Greenock men arguably had the better squad. The winner of this clash would certainly take a real step towards First Division safety.

However, that mattered little and the game was ultimately decided by a combination of Mother Nature’s tempestuous gusts and a dash of misunderstanding.

With Clyde taking on bottom club Stirling on Saturday, Morton really need to take the maximum from their own game against Partick to keep hold of the upper hand.

Ton boss Davie Irons abandoned his cautious 4-5-1 approach from the weekend’s Hamilton defeat and put out a more positive 3-5-2 last night, no doubt aided by the fact the club lack any genuine full backs.

But, as the squall descended over Cumbernauld, both sides struggled with their first touch on a soft pitch, and aerial balls found the stand more often than they did their mark.

The game didn’t really have anything going for it until Scott McLaughlin, restored to the holding role, broke away on the left and cut low into the box. The ball was cleared, but only as far as Allan Jenkins, whose vicious shot from 18 yards was headed from the line by Clyde centre half Chris Higgins.

Then Ryan McGuffie played Peter Weatherson through on the other side of the box, where the forward was crocked. McLaughlin sent the resultant free kick fractionally over David Hutton’s crossbar.

Morton were looking the better side by now and they broke the deadlock in 26 minutes. Michael McGowan’s poor clearance cost his side a corner on the left and Jim McAlister used the wind to arc an effort into the 18-yard box. Weatherson leapt to add pressure, but then he didn’t really need to. Hutton and Bully Wee full back Neil McGregor both rose and the ball glanced off the latter to end up in the back of the net.

While the spectators were retreating to the backs of the stands to shelter from the ravages of the swirling monsoon, McLaughlin was using it to his advantage on the pitch. He sent a 40-yard free kick scorching toward goal and a surprised Hutton was forced to dive and parry the effort to safety. McLaughlin then tried a similar dipper just before half-time, while Ryan Harding found himself in the book of inconsistent referee Steve O’Reilly for a late challenge.

Clyde boss John Brown rung the changes at half-time with a double substitution, both Masterton and David McGowan entering the fray.

But it was Morton who continued to pressurise. A neat Jim McAlister turn on the D resulted in a cynical hack from Michael McGowan and Weatherson sent the consequent free kick round the wall, but just past the right-hand post.

Then disaster struck for the visitors. A harmless looking punt upfield from Clyde territory swirled and spun in the powerful winds. As it dropped earthward both Dave MacGregor and Harding, under pressure from the persistent Pat Clarke, failed to deal with it, leaving keeper Lee Robinson the task of gathering some 10 yards from his goal. Sadly, he too misjudged the bounce of the ball and Clyde forward Clarke lapped up his gift to tuck away the equaliser into an empty net at his near post.

After that, the home side managed to put some chances together. Masterton shaved the post with a venomous free kick, before Clarke forced Robinson into a spectacular sprawling tip-over from close range.

Morton continued to press, Jenkins and Millar both being felled in key areas, but it was again Clyde who went closest to snatching the win when, at the death, Masterton sent a David Beckham-esque punt goalward from his own half, which only just missed the left-hand post.

No doubt Morton will rue not making more of their first half chances, something they’ll really need to do on Saturday.

Clyde: Hutton, Neil McGregor, Billy Gibson, Higgins, Bestvina, Wilson (David McGowan 46), Bradley (Masterton 46), Smith, Clarke, Ruari MacLennan (McKay 80), Michael McGowan. Subs Not Used: Campbell, Cherrie.

Booked: Wilson, Clarke, Smith.

Morton: Robinson, MacGregor, McLaughlin, Millar, Greacen, Harding, McGuffie, Jenkins, Weatherson, Russell (Graham 62), McAlister. Subs Not Used: Stevenson, Finlayson, Walker, McGurn.

Booked: Harding, MacGregor.

Att: 1,265 . Ref: S O’Reilly.

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