Ex-Ton keeper points to 'soft' penalty

Chris Tait • Published 12 Jan 2012 12:00 2 Comments

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A FUNNY OLD GAME: David McGurn in his Morton days.

FORMER Cappielow hero David McGurn admits he tried to put Peter MacDonald off after the Morton striker won a penalty on Saturday.

The hitman found the target to set up a Scottish Cup fifth round tie with Motherwell.

The Raith Rovers goalkeeper had already been beaten by Archie Campbell before substitute MacDonald converted a spot-kick to end the Fife side's cup hopes. And while McGurn, who will attempt to thwart the Cappielow strikeforce in the league this weekend, concedes his mind games were not enough, he questioned whether the penalty should have been awarded at all.

McGurn told the Tele: "I don't really think it was a penalty to be honest with you. I thought it was a bit soft when it was given.

"But that's what happens isn't it? Peter has struck his penalty well and if it had happened to us then I would have been screaming for a penalty as well.

"I wasn't convinced it was a penalty at the time, obviously, but that happens in football and you just need to get on with it when it happens.

"I went up to him before he took it and tried to put him off but unfortunately it didn't work too well.

"To be honest I can't remember what it was that I said to him, but he struck it well and obviously it hasn't affected him too much.

"I think it will be another close one this weekend at Cappielow, you just don't know how it will go but we are looking forward to it."

McGurn spent six seasons at Cappielow before joining Raith Rovers, helping them lift the Second Division title in 2009.

It was an accolade he helped to win during his time with Ton just two years earlier, where he competed for the gloves with Paul Mathers.

The goalkeeper remained part-time so that he could continue a career as a college lecturer - a double-life he concedes can be tough.

McGurn added: "It's not too bad, but it can be hard putting all the hours in at night when we train while working a full-time job.

"It's not too bad. It's been a little crazy over the past couple of weeks, but I still enjoy doing it."

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 12 Jan 12

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Waterfoot
18 posts
Jan 12, 14:01
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l couldnt understand why we let David go,l thought he was a smashing keeper who never let us down

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Grant85
5 posts
Jan 12, 14:53
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The only reason David left was because he wanted to work as a lecturer during the day. Given that Morton train during the day, it wasn't possible to keep him as he would miss all training sessions.

Agree, would have been nice to keep him, but guys don't earn too much playing in the 1st division so it's the sensible ones that keep a career for after football.

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