Morton's play-off hopes now hanging by the finest of threads

THE championship is a fickle league.

It's also a ruthless one that now has Morton hanging on to any promotion play-off hopes by the finest of threads after a brilliant Airdrie were made to look even better against Dougie Imrie's side as the Diamonds ran out convincing winners in North Lanarkshire.

Two ferocious strikes inside the first 16 minutes had Ton having to climb a mountain to get back into the game - and there was little chance of coming back when Mason Hancock headed home with little over 20 minutes to play, making Michael Garrity's late strike a mere consolation as the Cappielow men now sit five points off the play-offs.

Imrie opted to go with the same side that beat Queen's Park last time around. It was a result that kept their play-off hopes alive.

They were two points off the top four coming into this weekend, a game that was the first of three season defining run outs in the space of six days.

Airdrieonians were the side in front of them on this occasion and a win against Rhys McCabe's men would see the Cappielow side leapfrog their North Lanarkshire counterparts, although it wouldn't be easy having not won on the road since February.

The Diamonds had gained a lot of plaudits for their demeanour in the build up to this one, plaudits that Ton boss Dougie Imrie didn't really agree with and he was out to prove that his side were no mugs either.

There was a bitter taste left in his mouth after the last meeting between the two, a 2-1 win at Cappielow that saw tempers flare and George Oakley rendered useless for over a month.

So he was looking to prove a point in his latest trip to North Lanarkshire, and the hope of doing that was boosted by the return of Iain Wilson, who took his place on the bench.

However, they'd get off to a nightmare start in blustery conditions at the Excelsior as they found themselves going a goal behind inside just 65 seconds. It was an all to familiar story of being the creators of their own downfall as Alan Power lost possession on his own accord when facing his own goal. This saw him surrender the ball to Nikolay Todorov who fancied his chances in a foot race with the irishman. But the Bulgarian was in no mood to hang about for long as he wound up his left foot and unleashed an absolute rocket of a shot from distance that caught Mullen off guard and flew into the top left corner.

Ton would respond though inside the first ten minutes and had a decent penalty shout turned away by whistler Don Robertson after Robbie Crawford tried to flick the ball away from Mason Hancock, who appeared to punch the ball, but the referee was unmoved.

As they tried to get a foothold in the game, they would be awarded free kicks from deep positions. Alan Power would be entrusted with the delivery and his second in the space of thirty seconds fell to Bearne in the box who saw his volley blocked and deflected for a corner

But it would get even worse for Ton despite their attempts to try and get themselves back on level terms. Alan Power once again squandered possession near the halfway line, which saw Hancock fizz the ball into the feet of Gabby McGill who'd occupied Broadfoot, backing into him. He did well to lay the ball off for Teller who's late run saw him arrive into a dangerous position at the right side of the 'D' before fizzing a shot low across goal, beyond Mullen into the bottom left corner.

Storm Kathleen might not've brought the floods that many had predicted to this part of the world but the wind was whipping up a horrible watch on the plastic surface. However, it helped Ton get their best chance of the half after Mullen's long ball got some distance on it, before being flicked on by both Muirhead and Oakley for Blues to run through on goal, but his shot from 10-yards was blocked by Hemfrey and Crawford's follow up was also blocked after rounding the keeper.

Ton were growing into the game though as time went on and they had the Diamonds rattled. What they were lacking though, was some composure at the top end of the pitch, despite all the nice passes they were producing. 

The deficit should've been halved with ten minutes to go until the break after Oakley found the run of Muirhead who ghosted in behind Fordyce, before doing well to shift the ball onto his left foot. But he could only poke an effort wide from 18-yards.

Although Ton pushed forward more, they weren't getting anything to stick within the final third and they were leaving themselves exposed with a disjointed display in the middle and defensive third. A great passing move saw Fordyce and McMaster combine well to release Todorov through the two centre halves, with plenty time to ease through the defence but he blasted his effort over the bar.

Airdrie would get their third with little over 20-minutes to play as Ton fell apart from a set piece. Adam Frizzell's deep cross evaded everyone and found the illusive run of Hancock who'd escaped his man to head back towards goal and beyond Mullen.

But Ton wouldn't go down without a fight though, as they got one back just five minutes later. A quick break saw Muirhead take a hit just beyond halfway, but he'd just managed to get his body there first to feed in Quitongo down the right. He beat Ballantyne with ease with both Oakley and Garrity to aim for. he opted for the latter and fizzed a ball across goal, which Garrity met, but cannoned off the post, before it bounced back off his hip and into the net.

It threatened to boil over with just under 10-mins remaining as Ton looked to reduce arrears to just one. Michael Garrity sent a ball into the box in the search of both George Oakley and Jack Baird with the Ton striker challenging Hemfrey for the high ball, which he spilled. This saw Baird and Hancock compete to clear the ball and end up in a heap. What happened next was like something out of a film after a brawl ensued in the Airdrie box. This saw five players go into the book after Baird appeared to have Hancock by the throat and from somewhere, fists thrown.

This didn't deter the visiting side though as they tried to get something from the game. But their afternoon was summed up after Robbie Muirhead's cross found its way to Quitongo in the middle eventually. But he couldn't keep his stabbed effort down as it sailed out of the stadium.

That summed up what was an afternoon to forget for Ton, with three poor decisions ruthlessly punished, but that wasn't the story of the day as Airdrie looked likely to score whenever they went forward.

They thought that any play off hopes were in their own hands, but they're certainly out of them now. If they're to resurrect a slim chance, they'll need to beat Ayr on Tuesday night to have any chance of dreaming now five points off the top four.

AIRDRIE(4-2-3-1)Hemfrey, Ballantyne, Fordyce, Watson, Megwa, McMaster, Telfer(Donnell), McGill(O'Connor), Frizzle, Hancock, Todorov(Gallagher)

Subs not used: Hutton, Taylor-Sinclair, O'Connor, McGregor, Gallagher, Dunlop, Lyall, Donnell, Gallagher

Booking: Megwa(79) Hancock(79)

Scorer: Todorov(2) Telfer(16) Hancock(68)

MORTON(4-2-3-1)Mullen, French, Baird, Broadfoot, Waters, Power(Gillespie,56), Blues(Garrity,56), Bearne(Quitongo,56), Crawford, Muirhead, Oakley

Subs not used: Murdoch, O'Connor, McGrattan, Wilson

Booking: Bearne(43) Broadfoot(66) Baird(79) Quitongo(79) French(80)

Scorer: Garrity(73)

Ref: Don Robertson

MOTM: Michael Garrity - direct on his approach after coming on. Got the goal his performances of the last few weeks deserved.