Scottish 2nd Division
Sat 30th Aug 03
Cappielow Park

Morton deservedly collected all three points from this top of the table clash to reclaim top spot from opponents East Fife.

The Fifers put so little into the match but until the end it looked as if they be taken something from it back up the road to Methil. That would have been a clear injustice to the Greenock men who totally dominated this encounter throughout, The style of play paraded by both sides was as great a contrast as you will find at a football match with the home side playing a passing game to open up the away team throughout while their counterparts resorted to their preference for a long punt up the park. With a tall team with possibly limited skill it is obvious to see why this tactic is used but as a footballing spectacle it is definitely not pretty.

Morton started the game with changes to last weeks starting line up. Robbie Henderson relinquished his place to David MacGregor while manager John McCormack decided to beef up the midfield and played with a solitary striker in Peter Weatherson. Last years top scorer Alex Williams who has scored in the opening three fixtures this season was given a place on the bench with Scott Bannerman wearing the No 9 shirt in midfield.

Morton dominated throughout and created many chances from the off. The Maisano brothers both had chances with first John firing wide after Banneman chested a Chris Millar pass into his path. Younger brother Marco then saw his effort fly over after receiving a header from his brother.

Kenny Deuchar had an excellent chance to open the scoring after captain Derek Collins failed to control the ball with his thigh in the penalty area. Luckily for the captain and home team the big striker uncharacteristically shot wide. The home team have a prolific scorer in their ranks also in Peter weatherson and he too would have been expected to bury his effort in the away net after he kept control in the box , presenting a chance with only the keeper to beat. The striker however shot wide of the target.

Weatherson had an excellent game and had many efforts on goal, two of these hitting an upright. The first of these was created after Peter collected a David MacGregor pass and his angled drive agonisingly hit the far post before being cleared for a corner.

It was totally against the run of play then the away side took the lead. A Greg McDonald corner was only cleared as far as the edge of the box by the home side and this allowed Euan Donaldson the chance to shoot goalward.The shot wasn't particularly well taken but with the aid of a deflection the ball somehow made it's way through the defence and past Coyle into the net. The 100 or so traveling support at this point feeling a win which will keep them at the top unbeaten and against a side who took 10 points from 12 and pipped to the championship may be on the cards.

So Morton went in at half time a goal down. A goal that the visitors play did not deserve. The home side were playing good football and did not deserve to be going in a losing side but the home fans obviously feeling an injustice will have no doubt felt that the creative play will pay dividends in the second half.

Manager John McCormack told his players to be more ruthless in the second half and they didn't let him down. Morton continued to be the only side playing good football and so it was inevitable and a huge relief when Ton equalised in the 54th minute. Chris Millar played the ball to John Maisano on the right wing, the Aussie played a perfect pass onto the head of the diving Weatherson who bulleted into the net. It was certainly a deserved goal not just for the player who was having an excellent game creating many efforts including a shot over the bar a couple of minutes previously but for all of Morton's fine play.

Morton continued to control the game and were keeping control of the ball for long periods building up attacks. Alex Williams was brought on in the 69th minute to aid the cause for a winner. The young striker and Weatherson both had chances but the goal wouldn't come until near the end.

In the 83rd minute Paul Walker was fed the ball wide on the right and his cross into the box flew over the head of Williams, Weatherson and their markers to be met by the advancing Mel Botiglieri who fired home low into the net. Morton deservedly were in front. Weatherson had another chance late on but his effort struck the post for the second time in the match.

And so the Ton collected a well deserved three points which sees them sit proudly atop the rest with ten points from a possible twelve. Anything less than maximum points from this game would have been an injustice for Morton for all their creative play, skill and endeavor. Anything more than a trip up the road to Fife with nothing from the game would have been daylight robbery for an undeserving unimaginative East Fife team.

Morton: Coyle, Macgregor, Collins, Greacen, Millar, Bottiglieri, John Maisano(69), Bannerman, Marco Maisano, Weatherson, Walker(90).
Subs: Williams(69), Hawke, Uotinen(90), Henderson, McGurn.

East Fife: O'Connor, McMillan, Hall, Kelly, Miller, Mitchell(84), Russell, McDonald, Donaldson, Deuchar(53), Stewart(32).
Subs: Love(84), Gilbert(53), Blair, Fairburn(32), McKeown.

Referee: J Gilmour

Attendance: 3270