Published: Monday, 10th November, 2008 12:30
Pete at the double for Ton
By Erik Geddes
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ACE: Peter Weatherson strikes his first of two.
PETER Weatherson netted twice as Morton overcame Queen of the South at Palmerston Park to earn their first away league win of the season.
In a record which stretched back to December of last year, Queen of the South had only lost one home game in the past 17 — ironically enough also against Morton in the Alba Cup.
Indeed, the Cappielow men enjoy a decent record at Palmerston Park, having not lost in Dumfries since 2002.
Yet, despite these statistics, Morton went into this fixture still propping up the table and with the Doonhamers heavily fancied to enhance their promotion prospects with another home success.
Dominic Shimmin, Morton’s Irn- Bru First Division young player of the month, had to sit this game out through injury but the hosts had selection issues themselves.
They were without suspended captain Jim Thomson following his sending off in the defeat against Partick Thistle.
The home side were also denied the services of Bob Harris and Craig Barr, but the bookies still put them as favourites to return to winning ways following their defeat at Firhill.
Queen of the South started well, pressing Morton back, and in the ninth minute a Paul Burns shot from seven yards flew just wide.
Five minutes later, Morton tried to break through as Jim McAlister fed Weatherson, but he was unable to control the ball and the chance was gone.
However, the home side failed to heed the warning signs and in the 18th minute the Ton deservedly took the lead.
A careless attempted back header to Cameron Bell was picked up by Weatherson, who burst into the box before slotting it past the keeper.
Queens might have hit back when David Weatherston found himself in good position, but the former Queen’s Park and St Johnstone winger was a victim of his own indecision.
And the Doonhamers paid the penalty in the 28th minute when Weatherson doubled the Greenock side’s lead and sent the 250-strong away fans into dreamland.
A high pass was met by Allan Jenkins who headed into the middle where an unmarked Weatherson coolly nodded home.
Davie Irons’ men piled on the misery for the Doonhamers in 37 minutes when a scorching Jenkins volley put them three up.
A McAlister corner was headed to relative safety by the Queens back line, but Jenkins had ideas of his own, blasting home from 32 yards.
The second half was characterised by a more direct and resurgent Queen of the South, but a stuffy and determined Morton side were not for lying down.
The home team sparked excitement among their supporters, when they pulled a goal back four minutes after the re-start.
Stephen Dobbie ran past two Morton defenders before passing to Sean O’Connor in the box and the big striker turned his man and shot low past Kevin Cuthbert from 12 yards.
Dobbie, a handful at the best of times, came close to getting a goal of his own with an expertly struck free-kick from 28 yards. However, a finger-tip Cuthbert save maintained the two-goal lead.
In 55 minutes, McAllister picked up a yellow card when whistler David Sommers booked him for persistent fouling.
But the travelling fans will have appreciated his dogged and determined display.
Former Hibs man Dobbie again tested Cuthbert on the hour mark, but his volley from the corner of the penalty area was tipped away by the Morton stopper.
Cuthbert was soon called on again, this time palming over a right-foot angled drive by Weatherston.
It was a top drawer display by Cuthbert who has quickly made the Number 1 jersey his own.
Queens rang the changes in a desperate bid to get back into the game with Gary Arbuckle and Stewart Kean on for Tom Parratt and Weatherston.
Irons responded by sending on Brian Wake for the hard-working James Grady, the diminutive striker having earned his wages after hustling the Queens defence at every given opportunity.
Wake did well to hold the ball up and was unlucky to be booked for what looked like nothing more than a hard challenge on Stevie Tosh.
Queens never gave up but Morton stuck to their game plan, soaking up the pressure.
With the clock ticking down, Stewart Greacen powerfully headed home from an Erik Paartalu crossed ball from close range.
This goal killed any hopes of a Queen’s revival and Morton nearly scored a fifth through the impressive McAlister.
The win sees Morton move off the foot of the table, leap-frogging Clyde.
And more performances like this one will surely make talk of relegation a thing of the past.
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