MATCH REPORT: Morton 2-2 Queen of the South
Morton 2-2 Queen of the South
McHugh (59 pen), Nesbitt (76); Petravicius (18), Hamilton (73)
By Ewan Boyle
As Storm Ciara battered Britain on Saturday, this didn’t stop the football on Saturday as Morton earned a 2-2 draw with Queen of the South at Cappielow.
With the wind proving some difficulties for both teams, the points were shared as the Ton came from behind on two occasions in the match.
After it’s postponement in mid-December, the rescheduled game proved to be a spectacle for both sets of supporters as Bob McHugh earned his 100th appearance in the blue and white hoops.
Queen of the South had the ball in the net after 3 minutes when a cross into the box was slotted into the net but the referee had noticed a foul on Danny Rogers and meant the goal would not stand.
There was big calls for a penalty in favour of Morton on 8 minutes when it looked like the ball had hit off the hand off the opposition defender but referee Willie Colum waved away the protests.
Sean McGinty’s header towards goal could not be directed towards goal on 14 minutes after a throw into the box from Lewis Strapp found the centre half who’s header went beyond the post.
It would be Queen of the South who would break the deadlock on 18 minutes when Deimantas Petravicius sent an effort from range towards goal which hit the bottom right corner to give Queens the lead.
Lewis Strapp’s long throw proved to be a danger to the Doonhamers once again on 21 minutes as his throw into the box found Jack Baird once against who powered above the Queens’ defence at around the 6 yard line and sent a header towards goal which went just wide of the post.
Morton continued to show promising signs of attacking on 25 minutes when Bob McHugh had an opportunity to curl the ball around Lee Kilday and towards goal but the former Morton defender was able to block the ball and deny the chance.
Ton striker Bob McHugh remained a threat to the Queens’ defence on 36 minutes when he turned the defender in the opposition box and shot but the chance was held by Queen of the South goalkeeper Ross Stewart.
Jack Baird showed great defensive work on 44 minutes when Gary Oliver found space in the Morton box but Baird was able to slide in and stop the shot to deny Oliver of his chance.
There was another big shout for a penalty on 49 minutes as the ball looked to have hit off the hand of Danny Devine but the decision was made that no penalty would be awarded.
But after a foul on Nicky Cadden, Morton were awarded a penalty on 59 minutes which, on his 100th appearance for the club, Bob McHugh made no mistake as he rifled his shot into the left side of the goal for the equaliser.
Within 5 minutes of their first penalty of the match, the referee awarded Morton’s second penalty of the game as Cameron Blues was fouled whilst racing through on goal.
However, it would be a penalty missed second time around for Bob McHugh as his penalty was saved by Ross Stewart on the left side of the goal.
Aidan Nesbitt had an excellent effort on goal denied by a great save on 71 minutes when he sent a low and hard effort from the right side of the box across the goalkeeper but Queens goalkeeper Ross Stewart got his fingertips to the ball to send the ball out for a corner.
Around two minutes after this chance for Morton, Queens would go ahead for the second time in the match on 73 minutes as a pass across goal found Jack Hamilton who finished the ball into the back of the net.
Luca Colville went so close for the Ton on 76 minutes when his well-hit effort looked to have been sailing in as it forced Ross Stewart to dive however the ball just went narrowly past the post.
It would only take a mere 2 minutes after this until Morton would get a deserved equaliser on 77 minutes when a magnificent pass across goal from Nicky Cadden found Aidan Nesbitt at the back post waiting to knock the ball home for the Ton.
New signing Kris Doolan was given his first experience of the Cappielow life as he wore the blue and white hoops for the first time since joining last Thursday.
Willie Colum’s whistle was blown to bring an end to the game in difficult conditions as Morton now sit 7th place in the Ladbrokes Championship.
To come from behind twice shows that Morton are never giving up in matches and this has been shown over the last few weeks as there have been numerous times when their desire to keep going and persevere has shone through the Ton.
Morton (451)
20. Rogers
2. Tumilty 5. McGinty 30. Baird 16. Strapp
19. Cadden 7. Millar 8. McAlister (c) 29. Colville 10. Nesbitt
11. McHugh
Subs used: 12. Kalvin Orsi (for Strapp, 57), 18. Cameron Blues (for Millar, 64), 26. Kris Doolan (for McHugh, 78)
Subs not used: 15. McGuffie, 1. Ramsbottom, 4. McLean, 21. Sutton
Booked: N/A
Queen of the South (442): Stewart, Ledger, Devine, Kilday, Holt, Lyon, Wilson, Pybus, Petravicius (Paton, 65), Oliver (Hamilton, 73), Dobbie
Subs not used: Kidd, Semple, Leighfield, Irving, Gourlay
Booked: Devine (66), Stewart (77)
Referee: William Colum
Attendance: 1,380
⭐️ Star Man: Aidan Nesbitt
image: Gary Bradley
