Ton doon hammered
Jonathan Mitchell • Published 19 Sep 2011 12:00
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CONSOLATION: Peter MacDonald races through to score a late goal for Morton.
LEAGUE leaders Morton were served a startling wake-up call on Saturday as they lost 4-1 in a top versus bottom clash against Queen of the South at Palmerston.
In what was a remarkably similar match to the Cappielow men's victory over Ayr United last weekend, the home side rattled their opponents with three goals in rapid succession.
Peter MacDonald was the architect behind his side's stunning start against Ayr. And, in Kevin Smith, Queens had their own hero as he completed a remarkable 18-minute hat-trick to fire his side into an unassailable 4-0 lead.
The eventual outcome could have been very different had MacDonald's early curling effort from the edge of the box nestled in former Ton loan player Lee Robinson's net rather than clipped the outside of his right-hand post. But Queens regained their composure and gradually began to put Morton on the back foot before taking the lead in the 19th minute.
Former Scotland international Allan Johnston's in-swinging corner was woefully defended by Ton as Mark Campbell outjumped Andy Graham to head down to Smith, who had time to cushion the ball with his thigh before slamming a volley into the net from six yards.
Ton regrouped and Andy Jackson forced Robinson into action with a swerving left-footed effort, but it was the hosts who would score again on the half hour.
Stephen Simmons retrieved an overhit cross wide on the left, turned and whipped over a centre of his own, which Tom Brighton sent into the net with a glancing header from close range.
Ton's defending was proving woefully inadequate, with any sort of long ball, cross or set piece causing mayhem.
And it was no surprise when the Doonhamers extended their lead just four minutes later via another Johnston flag-kick.
This time, the veteran midfielder fired over a deep corner from the opposite side which found Smith all alone at the far post, and the former Dundee United hitman bulleted a header straight at Colin Stewart.
However, in the first of two goalkeeping gaffes the Ton custodian failed to get a strong enough hand up and weakly pushed the ball into his goal. Unfortunately, it was another Stewart blunder which gifted Gus MacPherson's side a fourth goal in the 37th minute. The increasingly influential Johnston picked out Smith's angled run with a neat slide-rule pass, and the Queens number 10 took the ball in his stride and quickly unleashed a low drive which somehow managed to squirm through Stewart's grasp and then his legs before skidding into the back of the net.
Those three goals in seven first-half minutes meant that the match was effectively over as a contest, and so it proved as Queens did exactly as Ton did against Ayr last week in taking their foot off the gas.
They did, however, twice threaten to extend their lead early in the second half. In the 54th minute, Stewart raced from his line to block from Johnston, who had been left in acres of space inside the six-yard box.
Then 10 minutes later, Andy Graham made a remarkable interjection when he slid in and flicked the ball away from the in-rushing Smith just as he looked absolutely certain to convert substitute Nicky Clark's low cross.
Morton had failed to adapt their style of play in line with the weather conditions. The playing surface was drenched, ensuring it was not conducive to playing their customary passing game. And they only began to threaten after the introductions of Peter Weatherson and Fouad Bachirou, who added a target for a more direct approach and drive and determination in the midfield respectively.
In the 74th minute, Bachirou snatched possession and surged forward before sliding the ball to Paul Di Giacomo on his right. The wide-man didn't even have to break his stride before firing off a low drive which was on target until the ball flicked off Chris Higgins' heels and behind for a corner.
For his part, Weatherson was getting himself into threatening positions, but without managing to find the quality of finish needed to open Ton's account.
He did, however, provide the assist when the visitors netted an 88th minute consolation goal. And it was little surprise that, when they did get their reward, it was from a route-one approach.
Stewart sent a long free-kick downfield and Weatherson flicked on for MacDonald, who sprang the Queens' offside trap and took a touch before firing high past Robinson to score the goal his performance merited.
Besides that strike, the only real positive on a day of negatives was that results elsewhere ensured that Morton would remain two points clear at the top of the table.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 19 Sep 11
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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kimmiebaxter
26 posts
Sep 19, 12:35
Report commentWas ridiculous! Hopefully this will teach our defence they are not untouchable! We may still be at the top of the league but theres a long way to go!
Recommend?
Yes 3
No 0
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JackBlack
11 posts
Sep 19, 14:58
Report commentWhy, oh why did we let Kevin Cuthbert go?
Recommend? Yes 3
No 2
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kimmiebaxter
26 posts
Sep 19, 15:09
Report commentDid you see Cuthbert when we played Ayr? Atleast Colin won us a game.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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JackBlack
11 posts
Sep 19, 15:15
Report comment -
Alibi8
19 posts
Sep 19, 16:05
Report commentWe need a taller central defender and a hard man in midfield. We also need to have Freddie in the starting line up. The difference when he came on was substantial.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 1
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vanislexpat
8 posts
Sep 19, 16:59
Report commentI was at the Ayr United game ( wee visit home from Vancouver Island ) and it seemed to me that Stewart was somewhat reluctant to come off his goal line for crosses. Now back across the Pond and reading reports of the Q.O.S. it looks like goals came from cross balls/corners.
He's a big lad and you would think that he should have no trouble taking command of his goal area, unless of course he is just following coach's instructions.
'Mon the Ton!
Recommend? Yes 4
No 0
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