Morton U20s keep pressure on leaders Queen of the South

In what turned out to be a turbulent afternoon at Ravenscraig in Motherwell, the game ebbed and flowed into the final scoreline that moved Ton to within a point of the Doonhamers before their late kick-off against Stranraer at Palmerston Park.

Queens went on to win their fixture 5-0, leaving Ton trailing by four points with a game in hand, but for a brief moment, Andy Millen’s men were breathing down their neck as they bid to retain the league title.

Ton started with Jamie McGowan, Lewis Strapp, Kudus Oyenuga, Jon Scullion and Scott Tiffoney in their ranks.

Airdrie took an early lead on three minutes through a header from ex-Arsenal kid Daniel Boateng. The lead didn’t last too long, though, and Ton defender John Mitchell nodded in the equaliser from an inswinging Scullion corner 12 minutes later.

Thomas Orr gave Morton the lead for the first time in the game after 36 minutes with a toe-poke before the half-time whistle sounded.

The young Diamonds levelled through Murray Loudon on 50 minutes before he bagged his brace from a spot-kick five minutes later.

Ruaridh Langan celebrated his recent spot on the first-team bench against Falkirk with an instant reply from a Tiffoney delivery 60 seconds later, before Orr notched up his second of the game with a terrific volley after the hour mark to make it 4-3.

The scoring was completed on 70 minutes by Scullion, pictured, from close range, before a spectacular block by Strapp prevented Loudon netting his hat-trick with eight minutes to go.

The win keeps Millen’s side hot on the tails of Queen of the South, with the Doonhamers on 42 points and Ton four points behind.

MORTON’S postponed Championship clash with Hibs at Easter Road has been rescheduled for Wednesday March 29 (kick-off 7.45pm).

The fixture was originally set to be played on Saturday, but had to be cancelled after the Edinburgh outfit reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.