PETER Weatherson bagged a deadly double to secure a 2-0 win and end Morton’s 22-year home hoodoo against Queen of the South.

Queens had not lost a league fixture at Cappielow since a Rowan Alexander goal saw Ton triumph 1-0 on 24 September, 1988.

However, former Doonhamers striker Weatherson tucked away a penalty five minutes into the second half, then smashed home a wonder goal 20 minutes later to finally break the Cappielow curse.

A bleak injury-strewn first 45 minutes offered absolutely no indication of the excitement to come in the second half.

The injury pile-up began when Sean Fitzharris dislocated his shoulder in the 11th minute and was replaced by Ryan Kane.

A spate of head knocks followed as Stewart Kean, Kevin McKinlay, Stewart Greacen and Allan Jenkins all received treatment for the home side, while the opposition’s Derek Holmes and Bob Harris also required medical attention.

Elsewhere a game was trying to break out. Morton had Queens penned in their own half and manufactured their first chance in the 18th minute.

Stewart Kean met Michael Tidser’s dangerous cross with a bullet header but Queens goalkeeper David Hutton flew to his left to make a stunning save.

Seven minutes later, Weatherson curled a free-kick inches wide of the post as Ton upped their game.

Tidser had only one thought in mind when he picked the ball up 30 yards from goal in the 32nd minute, but his rising drive went just over the bar.

And with that, the first half drew to an uneventful conclusion, despite the seven minutes of added time.

The game exploded into life after the break and Ton won a penalty just four minutes in when Kean was bundled over in the box by Harris after Tidser had burst forward and played him in with a neat pass.

Weatherson has been designated the club’s regular penalty taker by Allan Moore and repaid his manager’s faith when he coolly rolled the ball down the middle to give his side a precious lead.

Morton had Colin Stewart to thank for preserving that lead when he expertly flicked Willie McLaren’s low drive around the post in the 64th minute, after the forward raced on to David Weatherston’s flick on.

Stewart had to look lively again three minutes later when he dropped to gather Ryan Conroy’s side-footed effort.

The Cappielow side refused to buckle under the pressure, however, and extended their lead in the 73rd minute.

Stuart McCaffrey’s long clearance found Weatherson 35 yards from goal and, instead of trying to outrun ex-Ton team-mate Ryan McGuffie, he elected to let the ball bounce once then thunder an unstoppable shot over the stranded Hutton to make it 2-0.

Morton had the chance to put the result beyond doubt seconds later when Brian Graham put Kean through on goal with a smart pass, but he fired into the side netting.

The final opportunity of a pulsating second half fell to Queens’ substitute David Carmichael, but the youngster headed Weatherston’s inviting centre over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

In the end, it was a much deserved win for the Ton and although it failed to lift them off the bottom of the table, results elsewhere in the division meant this victory was a significant one.