Match Report: Airdrie U-20s 1-2 Morton U-20s
Airdrie Under-20s 1 – 2 Morton Under-20s
Scullion (36) – McWaters (75), Purdue (90+1)
Jack Purdue netted a dramatic, last-gasp winner as Morton Under-20s came back from behind to claim a well-deserved three points away at Airdrie in the Development League West this afternoon.
The victory saw Andy Millen’s men maintain their unbeaten start to the season, which now stretches to three games, and move within two points of league leaders Ayr United.
Although it was a fairly even contest in the first half at the Ravenscraig Sports Facility in Motherwell, the visitors carved out the better goal-scoring opportunities, with hitman Thomas Orr passing up a hat-trick of reasonable chances.
They would rue those misses when, on 36 minutes, Diamonds wideman Conor Scullion waltzed off the left wing and into the Ton box before bending a beautiful finish round Jamie McGowan into the top right-hand corner.
The second 45 minutes saw one-way traffic head towards the Airdrie goal, and the Ton teens eventually levelled things up with quarter of an hour left on the clock.
Largs Thistle loan star Alex McWaters was the goalscorer, pouncing on Mitchell Duffy’s sublime scooped pass over the Diamonds defence and turning into the net at the second time of asking after goalkeeper Matthew Kerr blocked his initial attempt.
It looked as though all their hard work would go to waste when the hosts were awarded a penalty six minutes from time after skipper Ruaridh Langan was adjudged to have fouled Ciaran Reilly inside the box.
Striker Reilly dusted himself down and took charge from 12 yards and sent Ton shot-stopper McGowan the wrong way, but the spot-kick was lacking in accuracy and cracked the outside of the right-hand post and rebounded to safety.
In the space of five minutes, Morton went from facing up to the despair of a potential defeat to the unbridled joy that accompanied a fantastic injury-time winner from Purdue.
The talented attacking midfielder was a real goal threat right through the second half, and it was no surprise when he peeled off to the left and met McWaters’ precise floated pass with a controlled left-foot volley that flew back across goal and into the net.
Morton (4411)
1. McGowan
2. Hynes 4. Tennent 5. Langan (c) 3. Strapp
11. Duffy 12. Eardley 6. Anderson 7. McWaters
10. Purdue
9. Orr
Subs used: 8. Trialist [Robbie Crawford] (for Eardley, 46), 14. Armour (for Orr, 68), and 16. Docherty (for Anderson, 68).
Subs not used: 15. Miller, 20. Connor (gk).
Booked: Langan (86).
Images: Jonathan Mitchell
