Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Greenock Morton v Stenhousemuir at Cappielow Park, Greenock on 21.07.18
Betfred Cup Sectional Match Att 847
Morton 2 [MacLean 33, McHugh 41] Stenhousemuir 0

Morton – Scully, Tumilty, Strapp, Buchanan [Iredale 77], Kilday, Telfer, Millar [Oliver 56], McAlister, McHugh, Tidser and MacLean [Armour 78]. Subs not used – Gaston, Langan, Hynes and Purdue.

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Reid, Donaldson, Neill, Tena [b33], Gibbons [Cook h/t], McGuigan, Duthie [b40] [McMenamin 62], Ross [Johnston 74], Halleran and Dickson. Subs not used – McMinn, Ferry, Paterson and Sinclair.

Referee – Colin Steven Assistants – Ross Haswell and Blair Fraser.

This trip to the tail of the bank obviously didn’t entice the Stenhousemuir support and although the crowd was the biggest that Stenhousemuir have been involved in so far this season it was certainly not the Warrior’s contingent to thank for that as it is possible that the number of players in the squad outnumbered the number of supporters cheering them on.

There was a minute applause for ex-Morton chairman Douglas Rae before the game after his death in the close season. He almost had business interests in Stenhousemuir as had tried to buy McCowan’s and retain the jobs but the administrators decided to take another course of action.

It took a while for Stenhousemuir to settle down against the Championship side who not surprisingly had the bulk of the early play. There were few clear cut chances though and although Morton had a shot into the side net after only three minutes the closest that they came in the opening exchanges was a Bob McHugh header over the bar after the visitors had failed to clear their lines at a free-kick.

Morton were playing a high line most of the time and were almost caught out in the 24th minute when Lee Kilday missed a bouncing ball and Seb Ross was able to intercept, he couldn’t get the ball onto his favoured foot though to have a strike at goal and was eventually crowded out.

Morton took the lead in the 33rd minute though they were rather fortuitous that the goal was given. Steven MacLean stroking the ball into the net after being picked out by Michael Tidser. The controversy though was a clear cut foul in the build- up that was missed by referee Colin Steven. Jesus Garcia Tena was cautioned for his protests about the goal.

MacLean had another opportunity within a minute of the goal but shot over the bar after Stenhousemuir were caught out by a swift counter attack that left the defence flat footed. The second goal though wasn’t long in coming though as McHugh nipped in to meet a Tidser cross and headed home from close range. With the last touch of the half Graeme Smith saved a free-kick and luckily for Stenhousemuir hit McHugh and went over when it could easily have went in.

The Warriors made an enforced substitution at half time with Alan Cook replacing Kieran Gibbons who had struggled in the latter stages of the half. Cook was to have Stenhousemuir’s first attempt at goal in the 48th minute after he combined with Ross before forcing Ryan Scully into a save. Conner Duthie shot over a minute later in what was Stenhousemuir’s best spell of the game.

There was a major let off for the visitors in the 55th minute when Smith saved a Kilday header though there was a strong possibility that the ball had crossed the line before being scooped out. No goal was given though. Cook and McGuigan both had shots wide of the mark before Morton’s Ben Armour had the miss of the match in the 81st minute when he shot past the post with the goal wide open.