Scottish 2nd Division
Sat 20th Sep 03
Cappielow Park

Morton extended their lead over their nearest rivals East Fife despite dropping points at home to Hamilton.
The Ton were the better team over the piece and had many chances to claim all three points but lack of luck and the woodwork ensured this would be a case of two points dropped.

The home side started with the same line-up as recent weeks with only Peter Weatherson up front meaning a place on the bench for Alex Williams. Joining him were Jani Uotinen and Warren Hawke.

The first half saw both teams creating chances. Morton could have opened the scoring after only two minutes when Paul Walker shot from the edge of the box, the small winger unlucky to see his effort smack of the post. The home side piled on the early pressure forcing consecutive corners but as Hamilton started to come into the game, Bailey had a chance on ten minutes when he met a Carrigan cross but he sent the ball over.

Both sides continued to create chances with a Walker cross just too high for Weatherson in the box, while Hodge saw his dangerous cross to McPhee cleared for a corner by Collins.Walker and Weatherson could have opened the scoring as Ton pressed. The former saw his effort saved only for John Maisano to pick the ball up and his effort was met by Weatherson who tried to back-heel the ball into the net.
Walker was definitely a goal threat today and could easily have added to his tally after last week’s winner at Forfar. The onrushing Walker agonisingly couldn’t reach an excellent ball across goal by Mel Botiglieri.

The post was again to come to the visitor’s safety as Weatherson touched the ball goalwards from a Walker cross.

It was Morton who were applying the pressure so it was undeserved when Hamilton opened the scoring with one of their rare efforts. A free kick was sent up the line by Whiteford who received it back from Carrigan . He delivered a cross into the box to be met by the head of Convery.

And so the first half ended. The home side creating most chances and the woodwork coming to the visitors rescue on two occasions yet they found themselves a goal down to the Lanarkshire side.

Alex Williams started the second half in place of John Maisano. This substitution is regular now but is expected with around twenty minutes to go. It is unclear if the manager performed this switch earlier than usual due to an injury to Maisano or if he was looking to apply more pressure up front to get back into the game.

It didn’t take long for the substitution to pay dividends as last seasons top scorer Williams added to this seasons tally as he pounced on poor defending to bullet home the equaliser seven minutes after coming on.

With Maisano off the job of delivering the corners was taken by Mel Botiglieri and the Canadian provided many excellent deliveries from that position. One such was met in the six yard box by Stewart Greacan who saw his header fly narrowly past the post.

The home side were pushing for the winner that they deserved and it so nearly came at the end. For the third time in the match though the woodwork saved the visitors. Walker sent in a cross from the byline on the right which was met by Williams whose effort whacked back off the junction of post and bar.

And so the game that the home side deserved to win was to end one apiece. With East Fife losing however the Cappielow side increased their lead over them to two points and still remain unbeaten in the league.

Morton boss John McCormack also saw it as two points dropped “ I think we’re very disappointed not to have taken all three points. We had probably about five chances-three fell to Paul Walker. We’ve got to accept things and that’s what happens in football.”
Cowboy added “I told my players to go away and not feel sorry for themselves. Hamilton know they’ve had a game on their hands today as most teams do when they come to Cappielow. We can take pluses into the game against Dundee United. I don’t think there’s a fan going away today unhappy about the way we played”.

Morton: Coyle, Collins, Bottiglieri, Macgregor, Greacen, Marco Maisano, Millar, John Maisano(46), Bannerman(84), Weatherson, Walker. Subs: Hawke, Williams(46), Uotinen(84), Gaughan, McGurn.

Hamilton: McEwan, Whiteford, Hodge, Steven Thomson, Lumsden, Sherry, Carrigan(82), Aitken(56), Bailey, McPhee, Convery(88). Subs: Fitter, Forbes(56), Corcoran(82), Gribben(88), Jellema.

Referee: J Downie

Attendance: 3255