DENNY Johnstone marked his debut with a goal as Morton eased into the second round of the League Cup with a 5-0 win over Elgin City this afternoon.

Following a goalless first half, Ton took the lead three minutes after the restart when Stefan McCluskey turned home Bobby Barr’s clever low cross.

Derek Gaston preserved his side’s lead with a truly astonishing stop five minutes later, shooting up an arm to claw clear Brian Cameron’s rising drive from close range.

It was a save that gave the hosts a platform to go on and cruise to a comfortable victory with four goals in the space of 15 minutes.

Birmingham loanee Johnstone opened his Cappielow account with a backheel that squeezed over the line on 68 minutes.

Diminutive frontman Jon Scullion teed up Ton’s newest recruit, and he then got his name on the scoresheet, firing a left-footed drive into the bottom-right corner to make it 3-0 two minutes later.

The fourth followed on 74 minutes and came via Ross Forbes, who rifled a penalty past Elgin keeper Stewart Black after he himself had been fouled by Matthew Cooper.

Scullion wrapped up the scoring and his side’s spot in Monday’s second round draw by placing the ball inside the right-hand post seven minutes from time.

Morton (4-4-1-1): Gaston ©; Pepper, Kilday, Lamie, Russell; Barr (McKeown, 82), Miller (Stevenson, 75), Forbes, McCluskey; Scullion; Johnstone (Orr, 80).

Subs not used: Cairnie, Tennent, Adam (gk).

Booked: Miller (24).

Elgin City (4-4-2): Black; Cooper, Duff, Gordon, McHardy; McKenzie (McPhee, 63), McLean (Hunter, 63), Nicholson, Moore (Halsman, 76); Cameron, Gunn Subs not used: Bruce, Storrier.

Booked: McKenzie (23), McLean (61), Cooper (74), Gunn (89).

Attendance: 1,052 Referee: Barry Cook