Extra-time sickener for Ton

William Dick - William Dick • Published 24 Sep 2008 12:30

MORTON may have failed to claim a second SPL scalp after going down to Inverness Caley Thistle at Cappielow last night.

However, manager Davie Irons believes the performance in an agonising extra time defeat in the Co-operative Insurance Cup could provide the catalyst that will see Ton pull themselves away from the foot of the Frst Division table.

It is not often the Greenock players have walked away from a game this season with the praise of the boss ringing in their ears.

But that was their consolation as they trudged dejectedly out of the ground following 120 minutes of pulsating cup tie action, during which they gave as good as they got.

Irons declared: 'The dressing room was pretty quiet after the game and the players are obviously a bit down.

'You are always more disappointed when you feel you have matched a team from a higher league and you maybe don"t get that wee break that perhaps you deserve.

'But I"m proud of the players tonight. Their attitude, commitment and everything was there for everyone to see.'

Morton started brightly and it was clear from early on that the Caley defence would be in for a tough evening, especially with Erik Paartalu pumping a series of long throw-ins deep into their box.

However, it was Kevin Cuthbert who was forced into the first genuine save of the match, the Ton keeper scrambling to his right to save Don Cowie"s snapshot following a slick Caley build-up.

Such threats were rare, though, as the Highlanders, despite good movement off the ball, were unable to find a cutting edge.

Indeed, one of Morton"s most anxious moments of the opening exchanges came when Chris Smith"s powerfully struck passback had Cuthbert backtracking desperately before the keeper calmly controlled the ball on his chest just a couple of feet from his goal-line.

That sort of poise was frequently absent in the visiting defence, particularly as Paartalu continued to test them at every opportunity.

However, there was also a threat from the boot of dead-ball specialist Stevie Masterton, and in 25 minutes the midfielder"s powerfully struck free kick from the left flashed across the face of goal with Iain Russell just inches from connecting.

Fittingly the opener in 33 minutes was provided by a Paartalu thrown-in which was nodded on by Brian Wake for Jim McAlister to ghost in and apply an unconventional finishing touch - apparently with his knee.

Morton twice had the chance to extend their lead before the break, but on each occasion corner kicks from Masterton were headed over the bar by Ryan Harding and Paartalu.

It was a similar story on the restart and only desperate Caley defending prevented them from falling further behind after McAlister produced some dazzling wing-play before crossing for the in-rushing Russell.

However, the combined efforts of Ryan Esson and Grant Munro somehow managed to scramble the ball behind.

Inverness, with the experienced Barry Wilson on for Rory McAllister, gradually began to impose themselves on the match, and a promising position was squandered when Imrie fired a 25-yard free kick into the Greenock side"s defensive wall.

Morton were denied a second when Masterton"s raking free kick was athletically turned behind by Esson.

It was a lifeline which Caley accepted when Richard Hastings headed home a scarcely deserved equaliser from a Ross Tokely cross 10 minutes from time.

Both sides went close to settling it in the 90 minutes but it went into overtime before Dougie Imrie spared Caley"s blushes with a dramatic winner.

The ex-Clyde player was on hand to give Cuthbert no chance with a firm volley from Adam Rooney"s knock-down.

Irons added: 'The players have got to take encouragement from this performance and, if we can play like that in the league, we will turn it round.'

Meanwhile, there was a sense of relief in the Caley camp, with boss Craig Brewster confessing: 'We got there eventually but it"s always difficult when you go a goal behind.

'Morton had a real weapon from the long throw-ins but we gradually grew in confidence as the game went on.

'I don"t know where Richard Hastings came from for the equaliser and it was a tremendous strike by Dougie Imrie to win it.'

Morton: Cuthbert; Walker, Smith, Shimmin, Paartalu, Harding, McGuffie (Finlayson 84), Masterton (Jenkins 75), Wake, Russell (Weatherson 86), McAlister. Unused Subs: McManus, McWilliams.

Inverness CT: Esson; Tokely, Black (Rooney 90), Imrie, Duncan, McAllister (Wilson 46), Munro, Cowie (Vigurs 70), Hastings, Wood, Duff. Unused Subs: Djebi-Zadi, Fraser.

Referee: M. McCurry.

Attendance: 2,023.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 24 Sep 08

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