Greenock Morton beat Hamilton to keep league hopes alive

The Cappielow men moved within three points of Ayr United in fourth place, making the most of their game in hand against the SPFL Trust Trophy winners, as second half strikes from skipper Grant Gillespie, his tenth of the season, and academy star Alexander King sealed their first win in more than a month.

It was yet another case of win or bust as Ton's chances of getting into those play-offs dwindled by the second.

And in their way was a resurgent Hamilton Academical, who'd managed to get themselves off the foot of the Championship.

Dougie Imrie was forced into one change from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Ayr United. Focal point in attack George Oakley was forced to watch on from the stands after his sending off against the Honest Men at the weekend.

He was replaced by Calvin Miller, who took his place on the left-hand side and allowed Ali Crawford to move into the No.10 position, where he was hoping to have his best impact in a Morton jersey to date.

But in a more worrying development, Jai Quitongo was bombed out of the squad completely after his cameo at Somerset Park.

Accies came to Cappielow fighting for their lives, and they were looking to build on Saturday's draw against Arbroath as the surgery of their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Dundee continued.

However, Ton felt that they were due a result against John Rankin's men, given the nature of January's defeat at New Douglas Park.

And they got the win they so badly craved, ending a run of six games without a victory.

The weather did its best to make any sort of football scarce inside the first ten minutes as both sides tried to suss each other out.

It should have been Accies who went ahead inside 12-minutes after Dan O’Reilly won an aerial duel with Jack Baird from a corner, but his header flew just the wrong side of the post.

This seemed to wake the home side up and Robbie Muirhead went close with just over a quarter-of-an-hour played.

Baird won his header on halfway, which allowed a fast move down the middle.

Ali Crawford played a delightful ball in behind for Muirhead to take into the box and try his luck from a tight angle. He opted for the near post, and power, and saw his effort fly over the bar.

The hosts looked to click into gear and again saw a good chance go begging with just over 20-minutes played.

Grimshaw played a brilliant ball over the top for Ali Crawford to run free on the right-hand side and the midfielder had time to send a low cross into the box, which found Waters on the edge of the 'D', but his effort was blocked by a desperate dive from Dylan McGowan.

And right up the other end, some poor decision making from Grimshaw allowed Scott Martin to advance forward and play Andy Winter into the box.

The youngster tried his luck and went for the near post from the right side of the area. But Schwake in the Morton goal read the effort brilliantly and held onto the ball comfortably.

But the best chance of the lot was passed up by Muirhead.

A great one-two between Gillespie and Ali Crawford saw Calvin Miller played in on the right wing.

He took on O'Reilly and squared for Muirhead who found space on the edge of the six-yard box. His left-footed snapshot was initially blocked by Tom Sparrow, but spun back out to him only for the big forward to snap the ball back over the bar at the second attempt, and both sides went into the break goalless.

Ton would get their goal nine minutes after the restart after some good work from Robbie Crawford on the right won his side a corner.

Calvin Miller whipped in a brilliant inswinging ball for Grant Gillespie to lose his man at the back post and slam home from close range for his tenth goal of the season.

But Accies would make them sweat on the hour mark. Despite the best efforts of Alex King in the middle of the park, he lost out to Scott Martin around 25-yards out from his own goal.

This allowed the Accies man to slip Ashley-Seal in behind Baird and into the box, but his right footed shot from 15-yards flew over the bar.

Ton kept chipping away. Some quick thinking from Calum Waters saw him find second half sub McGrattan with a quick free-kick, playing the ball out to the left wing.

The playmaker drove to the byline and delivered an inch perfect ball for Muirhead to attack with his head but he couldn't find the target with an hour played.

Imrie's subs would combine as Ton got a deserved second with 66-minutes on the clock. Some great work from McGrattan on the left wing saw him drift infield, beating De Bolle and Martin, before playing a slick reverse pass in behind McGowan for Alex King to run into the left side of the area and arrow a first time shot into the far corner beyond Fulton.

The Accies goalie would keep his side in the game with two stunning stops in as many minutes as he kept Calvin Miller out.

Initially the winger sought the ball on the left and cut in onto his right foot at the edge of the box. He tried his luck and watched his right-footed effort sting the palm of the Englishman. 

He would be on hand again to deny the same man with a stunning fingertip save, sprawling to the top left-hand corner to keep out his header from 18-yards.

But Ton would charge on to live another day and keep their fight going, and they now head to Dens Park looking to tighten the gap at the top of the tree.