Bells Challenge Cup
Sat 2nd August 03
Cappielow Park

On a day when a fine team performance from Morton ensured their name will be in the hat for the next round it was new recruit Peter Weatherson who stole the show with a hat-trick.

Morton looked to have the tie sewn up in the first half with an impressive performance which saw them go in at the interval 3-1 to the good, however Arbroath pulled themselves back in to the game after the interval and almost ensured extra time.

Enforced absences in Stewart Greacan and Alex Williams both carrying a suspension from previous outings and Marco Maisano who was injured meant that their places were filled by Robbie henderson, Warren Hawke and Scott Bannerman respectively.

The match sprung into action almost immediately as Peter weatherson was pulled in the box in the fourth minute, the forward took the resulting penalty and calmly placed into the net giving the Ton an early lead.  John Maisano almost doubled the lead soon after but his 25 yard free kick came back of the crossbar.

Morton were hungry but despite the almost one way traffic towards Mark Peat's goal it was Arbroath who claimed the games next goal after 8 minutes. Andy Cargill sent over a cross from the right and with the Morton defence posted missing it was easy enough for McGlashan to get his head to the ball and direct it into the net past Coyle for Arbroath's undeserved equaliser.

The Red Lichties joy was only temporary however as Morton regained their lead four minutes later with Warren Hawke heading past Peat from a Derek Collins free kick just inside the Arbroath half. Hawkie showing yet again just why he is regarded as a hero to the Ton fans.

Arbroath almost equalised after McGlashan's header from  an Andy Dow corner was directed towards goal only to be saved by the legs of Craig Coyle and then on the line by Mel Botiglieri.

Morton continued to control the game creating chance after chance, John Maisano having another superb free kick turned away by Peat and Weatherson firing just wide of the goal from the edge of the box. Peter and Morton were to get their reward soon after with the Geordie collecting a long clearance and firing into the net beyond Peat in 36 minutes for his second and Morton's third.

It was no more than Morton deserved for their total control of the game which produced many chances for the home side while ensuring their visitors were always chasing the ball and producing very little efforts on the Morton goal. And so Morton left the field at half time 3-1 up with the home support , quite rightly on the first half display, expecting more of the same when play resumed.

Arbroath were more in the game in the second half and subsequently created more chances, a succession of corners had to be dealt with by Morton and an Andy Cargill shot was well saved by Coyle as Arbroath continued to press.

Morton brought on Phil Cannie for Hawke and Jani Uotinen for John Maisano for the last 20 minutes .A few minutes later Arbroath were that gifted a lifeline after a freakish mistake. The ball was played back to Coyle when there was ample opportunity to get it clear instead, Coyle booted his clearance off the back of Ross Graham and the ball rebound into the net.

Arbroath now had a chance to snatch a draw from what had seemed at half time as a comfortable day out for Morton and indeed did just that in the second minute of injury time. In what looked to have ensured an extra 30 minutes of play at Cappielow John McGlashan met a John Herkes cross to fire into the net.

Before the Ton faithful had time to let the disappointment truly settle in their emotions swung full circle as Peter Weatherson endeared himself further to an already support by firing into the top of the net to complete his hat-trick and give Morton a 4-3 win.

On the game Morton manager John McCormack commented " We had a superb first half but fell away in the second. I was disappointed at their second goal and their goal in extra time shouldn't have happened. Nevertheless, Peter Weatherson was great and I am pleased to have given the fans a victory. We want to do well in this tournament."