MORTON suffered more Premier Sports Cup embarrassment as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against East Fife at Bayview.
The Cappielow side are almost certainly out of the competition after just two games following a convincing loss against League One opposition.
Alarm bells will surely be ringing among the Ton support, with Ian Murray’s side looking well off the pace during a second consecutive defeat.
There were two changes to the Morton side from their 1-0 defeat to Linlithgow Rose on Saturday.
Grant Gillespie and Eamonn Brophy both dropped to the bench, with Michael Garrity and Callum Sandilands handed starting places. In Gillespie’s absence, Jackson Longridge took the captain’s armband.
The visitors threatened early on as Jayden Gorman glanced Garrity’s free-kick wide inside the opening minute.
At the other end, there was an early scare when Laiith Fairnie misjudged a ball over the top, but Brian Kinnear was quickly off his line to avert the danger.
East Fife went close after 10 minutes. Cammie Ross tried his luck from range with a shot that drifted just wide of the post with Kinnear sprawling.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium, but the Fifers almost took the lead when a wayward cross from Mamadou Bah caused panic in the Morton penalty area as the ball almost dropped in at the far post.
Any delivery into the Ton box was proving a cause for concern. A long throw from Liam Newton was flicked on by Brian Easton and turned behind by Longridge, though referee Abbie Hendry instead awarded a goal kick.
East Fife hit the front after 32 minutes. Following a series of ricochets on the edge of the box, Bah teed up Tom Milne to lash high beyond the helpless Kinnear.
Morton were the architects of their own downfall as the home side doubled their advantage. Ross’ low effort appeared to wrong-foot Kinnear and, despite keeping it out with his legs, the rebound fell kindly for Nathan Austin to turn home.
Proceedings were going as badly as they possibly could for Murray’s men. A weak header from Sandilands did little to trouble Allan Fleming, while the small band of travelling supporters watched on in near silence as another deeply disappointing display unfolded.
Murray made a double change at half-time, introducing Brophy and Gillespie in place of Kris Moore and Sandilands. Iain Wilson dropped into the heart of the defence, allowing Gillespie to partner Harry Cochrane in midfield.
However, it was the hosts who continued to play on the front foot, with Ross bursting into the box before firing a fierce effort just wide.
Brophy smashed against the wall with a free-kick from a promising position after Bah clumsily fouled Gorman.
Frustration was building and Cammy Ballantyne picked up a yellow card for dissent in the 56th minute.
On the hour mark, Ross tried his luck with a low effort that was easily held by Kinnear.
Minutes later, Brophy followed Ballantyne into the book for petulantly throwing the ball away.
Michael O’Halloran worked Derek Gaston for the first time on 66 minutes with a low drive from distance.
A coming together between Cochrane and Newton resulted in yellow cards for both players — the final contribution of the former Hearts man, who was replaced by MacKenzie Carse.
Bobby McLuckie was also introduced for O’Halloran in Murray’s final attempt to rescue an evening that was rapidly slipping away from his side.
A flick header from Brophy sailed to safety, before a superb block from Bah prevented Ballantyne’s effort from finding the bottom corner.
East Fife remained the more threatening side, with Ross blazing over before Kinnear reacted quickly to parry away Jack Healy’s effort at the near post.
McLuckie almost caught out Gaston as the Ton desperately searched for a route back into the match, while Gillespie sent a header crashing against the bar in the final action — a moment that summed up a miserable night.
The Ton fans spilled out of Bayview will surely be pondering what comes next after a display that outlines the challenges facing the club ahead of the beginning of the Championship season.
Morton (4-2-3-1): Kinnear, Ballantyne, Longridge, Moore (Gillespie 46), Garrity, Gorman, Sandilands (Brophy 46), Wilson, O'Halloran (McLuckie 74), Cochrane (Carse 74), Fairnie
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Murphy, Black
