Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Ton topple Hibs

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 27th August, 2008 12:30

Ton topple Hibs

By Alastair Watt

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MORTON 4 HIBERNIAN 3

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Cup cheer: Morton players celebrate Ryan Harding's extra time winner against Hibs.

Pic by: James McFadden/David Bell

MORTON 4 HIBERNIAN 3

After extra time

(Hibs: Keenan 79, Shiels 85, Pinau 91. Morton: Russell 29, 114 pen, Masterton 67, Harding 117)

MAGNIFICENT Morton produced a courageous performance to claim a 4-3 extra-time win over SPL side Hibernian in a mesmerising CIS League Cup second round tie at Easter Road.

Defender Ryan Harding, who his manager later described as ‘a colossus’, clinched an historic victory with a dramatic 117th minute winner.

Having thrown away a two-goal advantage, jubilant Ton boss Davie Irons felt his heroic side had effectively won the game twice. He said: “With 10 minutes to go we had the game won, but Hibs fought back and, in the dressing room before extra time, I told the boys they had to win it all over again now.”

Irons went on to praise the strength of character his side had shown in an epic encounter: “At the end of last season it was tough, but we showed a lot of resilience then, as we did tonight, and I’m proud of every single one of them.”

An immaculate Easter Road pitch and some light Edinburgh drizzle provided perfect conditions for a scintillating two hours of football.

Both goalkeepers were forced into early saves, with Morton’s Iain Russell and Hibs’ Steven Fletcher looking particularly threatening.

However, it was Morton who took a shock lead after 29 minutes through Russell who rounded McNeil before clipping home from the tightest of angles.

Moments later, Harding struck the Hibs’ crossbar before McNeil limped off injured to be replaced by Hungarian teenager David Grof.

The hosts introduced Moroccan playmaker Merouane Zemmama at the interval and he made an instant impact, producing two sensational stops from Kevin Cuthbert in the Ton goal.

But Morton were coping admirably with their high-flying opponents and grabbed an incredible second goal in the 67th minute. From 30 yards, midfielder Steven Masterton unleashed a ferocious free kick into the net to send the vociferous travelling support wild.

The visitors were cruising until Joe Keenan pulled a goal back for Hibs 10 minutes from time with a glorious long range effort, and Dean Shiels soon levelled matters with a wonderful solo effort to send the tie into extra time.

When Frenchman Steven Pinau put the Easter Road side in front in the 91st minute, brave Morton looked down and out.

But they were handed a lifeline with six minutes remaining as referee Iain Brines pointed to the spot after Shiels was deemed to have handled Allan Jenkins’ net-bound volley.

Man of the match Russell stepped up to lash home the equaliser, and galvanised Morton were not finished there.

Three minutes later, Peter Weatherson’s free kick was fumbled by Grof and Harding reacted instinctively to stab home from close range, sparking chaotic celebrations among the Morton support.

At the final whistle the elated Irons hoped that this stunning result could kick-start Morton’s season after a stuttering opening to the campaign: “It’s been a poor start but this can give them a lot of confidence. Some of the passing and movement was exceptional and the quality of the goals will be hard to beat all season.”

Hibernian: McNeil (Grof 42), Van Zanten, Hogg, Murray, Fletcher, Nish (Pinau 73), Morais (Zemmama 46), Keenan, Stevenson, Rankin, Shiels.

Subs not used: Campbell, Canning

Booked: Stevenson, Hogg, Pinau.

Morton: Cuthbert, Shimmin, Walker (Weatherson 46), McManus, Paartalu, Harding, McGuffie, Masterton (Jenkins 82), Wake (Newby 110), Russell, McAlister.

Subs not used: Stewart, McAnespie.

Booked: Paartalu, McManus.

Referee: Iain Brines.

Attendance: 14,874.

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