Scottish 2nd Division
Sat 27th Sep 03
Gayfield Park, Arbroath

A far superior Morton team to their hosts gave Arbroath a lesson in football in a joy to watch (for visiting fans anyway!) stroll in the park.

The play was so one sided that the scoreline could have been so much worse for the Red Lichties as the Ton totally dominated for the 90 minutes and created chance after chance.

Morton started with an attacking line-up, with Williams retaining his place from Tuesday night. Indeed Alex could have opened the scoring in the opening seconds but Peat started his busy afternoon with at save from the strikers shot.

Arbroath were hardly touching the ball never mind creating chances and they relied on a set piece to give them their only shot on goal in the first half. Mel Botiglieri was adjudged to have fouled on the edge of the box but John McGlashen's resulting free kick was saved by Coyle.

Despite Morton's continued pressure it took until the twenty ninth minute to get their reward. John Maisano picked up the ball from defence and took it on a journey up field before passing to Paul Walker. The winger found Peter Weatherson on the edge of the box. Spoonsy looked as if he knew there would be no chance of missing and casually slotted home past the 'keepers left.

This was the start of a ten minute spell before half time that saw Ton get the goals their play merited. Just six minutes later a John Maisano corner was hit to the far post looking for Greacan, as has been attempted on a few occasions at corners this season, this time the towering defender headed home for Tons second. The big stopper has been immense this year and it was good to see him get his name on the scoresheet again.

Just three minutes later Morton scored again. Chris Millar took the ball down the left and crossed into the box from the byline and Spoonsy was there to head home for his second and Morton's third.

And so an impressive display by Morton was brought to an end at half time with all hoping ,and justifiably expecting, more goals to come in the second half.

The play was identical to the first half with Morton dominating with their possession and chances. Mel had a chance to extend his goals tally for the season when he picked the ball up in the left hand side of the box from John Maisano, however he drilled the ball into the side netting.

Morton continued to push for more goals with chances falling to Marco, Alex and Peter. The goal was to come though in the 59th minute and this time Mel ensured the finish. John Maisano found Alex on the right of the box and his pass across goal was fired in by Mel for his third of the season.

Morton were under no pressure in this game whatsoever and they kept possession and created chance after chance. Any time Arbroath got the ball they simply responded with a thump up the park to no-one.

It looked as if Peter had scored his hat-trick after he back heeled the ball into the net inside the six yard box from a Walker cross but the linesman adjudged him offside. He was also clear on a couple of occasions with Williams on the ball but Alex decided on long range shots when perhaps Peter was in a more advantageous position. Obviously Alex would have been desperate to get back among the goals.

Bannerman, Hawke and Uotinen were brought on for a run out replacing Marco, John and Paul respectively.

Overall it could easily have been 6 or 7 to Morton and not even Arbroath supporters would dispute that. Their team were under the cosh from start to finish by a vastly superior and highly entertaining Morton side.

With East Fife drawing Morton increased their lead at the top of the table to four points.

Arbroath: Peat, Henslee(61), Dow, Rennie, Browne, Denham, Durno, Cargill(46), Ross Graham, McGlashan, McAulay(56).Subs: Newall(46), McMullen(61), Herkes(56), Euan Graham, Mitchell.

Morton: Coyle, Collins, Bottiglieri, Macgregor, Greacen, Marco Maisano(76), Millar, John Maisano(82), Williams, Weatherson, Walker(88).Subs: Hawke(82), Bannerman(76), Uotinen(88), Gaughan, McGurn.

Referee: E Mack