Match report - Greenock Morton V Partick Thistle
Greenock Morton V Partick Thistle Irn-Bru Scottish League 1st Division
Cappielow Park Greenock Tuesday 30th December2008
Kick-Off 19.30
Reporter Alan Murray
At this time of year I need a pick me up and this wasn’t it. I am
afraid the celebrations of New year and the result of this match make for a
late and short report. Manager McCall made a couple of changes to the
side he had fielded on saturday; out was the suspended Twaddle along
with Donnelly and Storey, and at the start of the match the team looked
brighter and faster. However it was only to take a quarter of an hour
before the home side had taken the lead.
After dealing with a dangerous Morton free kick from 20 yards out the
jags failed to deal with another from the same spot minutes later with
Masterton beating Tuffey to make it one nil. Thistle could have had the
equaliser minutes later from a Buchanan shot but the ball went wide of
the Morton post.
Morton had a nother couple of chances in the minutes that followed one
from Masterton and another from Grady. Thistle did follow up with some
good work from McKeown and Harkins but the chances were missed and
the signs began to show that any idea of a Thistle New year party was
about to disappear. I had a feeling at the half time whistle that things
were not going to improve. It was cold and it was cold football.
The manager began the second half with one change to the side - Storey
coming on for McKinlay. Thistle again started brightly and nearly
levelled after only a minute with a Rowson and Roberts one two but the
final shot lacked power and the Morton keeper saved comfortably. When
Morton scored in 64 minutes I knew I should have stayed at home. A simple
Weatherston header from the corner kick was enough to end Thistle’s
2008 in depression.
Although Lennon came on for Buchanan in 68 minutes Thistle failed to
make any further impression on the game. Indeed, we were lucky not to
drop further behind
when a Weatherston shot hit the crossbar and bounced out to be headed
into the Thislte net with Tuffey helpless. Luckilly for Thistle the
linesman had already flagged for offside and the goal did not stand. The
final whistle cam as a relief and it was back home to ‘celebrate’ the
last of the festive season. Roll on 2009.
Morton: Stewart, McGregor, Shimmin, Greacen, Walker, Finlayson,
Masterton, Jenkins, McAlister, Grady (Wake 87), Weatherson.
Players not used: McGuffie, Paartalu, Russell, McWilliams.
Booked: Masterton.
Goals: Masterton 17, Weatherson 65.
Partick Thistle: Jonny Tuffey, Paton, John Robertson, Kinniburgh,
Archibald, McKinlay (Storey 46), McKeown, Rowson, Harkins (Chaplain 61),
Buchanan (Lennon 69), Roberts.
Players not used: Donnelly, Hinchcliffe.
Booked: Kinniburgh.
Att: 2,385
Ref: J McKendrick (Scotland).