Match Report | East Fife 2-1 Morton

 East Fife 2 – 1 Morton

Dowds (10), Watson (76) – McHugh (8)

 

Morton were knocked out of the William Hill Scottish Cup this afternoon after League One outfit East Fife came back from behind to win 2-1 at Bayview.

Ton boss Jonatan Johansson rang the changes for fourth round tie following last weekend’s 2-1 league loss away at Alloa Athletic, naming a starting line-up comprising 10 of the 11 players who won 3-0 at Peterhead to get to this stage.

Ryan Scully, Rory McKeown, Jim McAlister, who would make his 300th appearance as a substitute, and Charlie Telfer made may for Derek Gaston, Jack Iredale, Dylan Dykes, in his first start for the club, and Robert Thomson.

And left wing-back Iredale made an instant impact by firing over the undefendable low cross that top scorer Bob McHugh turned home at the back post to net his ninth of the season on eight minutes.

However, that lead lasted all of two minutes after East Fife’s Anton Dowds was afforded far too much time on the edge of the six-yard box following a short corner routine and slammed past the exposed Gaston.

Although the visitors continued to get into promising positions, there was a lack of conviction about their play, particularly in their final ball, and they failed to restore their advantage.

And they were sent tumbling out of the tournament when defender Craig Watson rifled home at the back post on 76 minutes as ex-Ton midfielder Darren Young’s side booked their place in the fifth round at his former club’s expense.

 

Morton (352)

1. Gaston
2. Kilday 4. Buchanan 5. Waddell
14. Tumilty 15. Dykes 7. Millar (c) 12. Tidser 3. Iredale
11. McHugh 10. R. Thomson

Subs used: 8. McAlister (for Tidser, 72), 6. Telfer (for Dykes, 77), and 18. Oliver (for Kilday, 82).

Subs not used: 25. McKeown, 28. Purdue, 32, R. Lyon, 23. Scully (gk).

Booked: Iredale (54).

East Fife (4141): Long; Watson, Dunlop, Meggat, Slattery; Docherty (Currie, 74); Linton, Davidson, Agnew (Kane, 83), Watt; Dowds (Smith, 64).

Subs not used: Dunsmore, Court, Bell, Couser (gk).

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 903

⭐️ Star Man: Dylan Dykes

 

Image: David Bell