ANNAN ATHLETIC 1 MORTON 1 (Morton: Masterton pen, 37; Annan: Cox, 75) DAVIE Irons had to settle for a share of the spoils as he returned to his old Galabank stamping ground as Morton stepped up their pre-season preparations.

The match was a decent workout played in baking heat but Morton were short on craft and a draw was a fair result.

Ton fielded a strong side and included ex-Rangers youngster Willie McLachlan and former Hibs youth Oliver Russell as two of three trialists.

It took five minutes before they fashioned their first chance, when Allan Jenkins sent in a cross which Brian Wake headed on to the roof of the net.

Annan responded with a right-foot shot from Mike Jack which flew wide of Kevin Cuthbert"s goal. Morton were showing little in the way of enterprising football and both Stevie Masterton and Peter Weatherson resorted to long-range drives from distance which caused Craig Summersgill no alarm.

With 14 minutes gone Allan McManus presented the home side with a great chance, when he shelled a poor clearance straight to Jack.

The midfielder bore down on goal but chose to shoot when a pass looked the better option - and his right foot effort curled inches wide.

Just when it looked like the half was drifting towards stalemate, Annan gifted Morton the lead in 37 minutes.

Jenkins was needlessly cleaned out just inside the box by Kevin Neilson and referee Beaton had no option but to award a penalty, which was smartly slotted home low to the Summersgill"s right by Masterton.

Annan could have levelled on half-time when Jack swung in an inviting cross, but a posse of attackers only succeeded in crowding one another out at the back post and the chance was gone.

The second half saw the customary flurry of pre-season friendly substitutions and Davie Irons made seven changes, with Colin Stewart, Ryan Harding, Erik Paartalu, Kevin Finlayson, James Grady and two more trialists introduced.

Morton almost went further ahead in 48 minutes when Jim McAlister"s cross was met by the inrushing Finlayson, but his volley was deflected over.

Paartalu should have made it 2-0 minutes later, but glanced a free header over from Masterton"s pinpoint delivery.

Annan then made a series of substitutions and the switches seemed to unsettle a disjointed-looking Morton.

First Colin Stewart got himself into a fankle by trying to dribble out of danger and had to boot the ball into touch under pressure. He had to rush off his line again minutes later and only a last-ditch clearance stopped Jack Steele restoring parity.

But the equaliser arrived with 15 minutes left and was no less than the Third Division men deserved. One simple through ball from sub Lee Hoolickin sent David Cox scampering clear and he showed fine composure to draw Stewart and bury a low shot into the net.

Harding was then caught out by Cox on the touchline and the little striker"s dangerous cross had to be desperately turned away, before Colin Stewart flapped at a corner and was relieved to see no one capitalise.

Morton almost snatched a winner in the last minute when Grady sent Ton"s third trialist clear, but the contract hopeful dragged his right foot shot wide.

Now Ton will look to step things up when they take on English Blue Square Premier League outfit Crawley Town at Cappielow tonight. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Annan: Summersgill, MacBeth, Inglis (Hoolickin 63), Muirhead, Neilson, Jack (Trialist 2, 66), S Sloan (Steele, 63), Trialist 1 (Jardine, 63), Cox, Bell (Storey, 63), L Sloan.

Morton: Cuthbert (Stewart, 46), McGuffie (Finlayson, 46), Trialist 1, McManus (Harding, 46), Greacen, MacFarlane (Paartalu, 46), Jenkins (Trialist 2 46), Masterton, Wake (Grady, 46), Weatherson (Trialist 3, 49), McAlister.

Referee: John Beaton (Motherwell).