A MORTON superfan who was stranded more than 200 miles away after a match hitched a once-in-a-lifetime ride home with his idols on the team bus.

Gourock teenager Martin Witherow was in dreamland when he found himself enjoying a quiz with goalkeeper Derek Gaston and chewing the fat with manager Jonatan Johansson on the long journey back to Inverclyde from Peterhead following the recent Scottish Cup replay between the sides.

The 15-year-old was among a hardy group of around 50 Ton diehards who made the near four-hour trip north to Balmoor Stadium for the midweek fixture but was left stranded when the car he was travelling in with four others failed to start after the Greenock men's 3-0 victory.

The breakdown company laid on a taxi to get them home but there was only room for four people.

To ensure all fans got back to Inverclyde safely, Morton offered Martin a lift on board the official team bus with the players, management and backroom staff and the Clydeview Academy pupils was delighted to accept.

Martin told the Tele: "It was very unexpected.

"I felt like a player. "I did quizzes with Gaston, spoke to Jonatan Johansson and was talking to the players about the match. "Thankfully they got a good result.

"It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

The players also chatted to the star-struck youngster about his Ton TV online Morton video blog - vlog - on YouTube and was invited to enjoy the post-match meal of rice and fish.

Club chairman Crawford Rae and son Stuart gave Martin a lift for the final leg of the journey back to Sinclair Street where he was met at 3.15am by relieved mum Anne.

Anne said: "He's been grinning like that ever since.

"I got a call at midnight from him saying he was on the players' bus because the car had broken down and the taxi could only take four of them.

"Someone approached Morton's media officer, Jonathan Mitchell, and Crawford said it was fine for him to go on the bus. "Martin came back beaming.

"He was so excited going through everything. "It was very good of the Crawford to allow this and most appreciated by us.

"This was definitely taking Morton in the Community to a new level."