21/7/03 JonaTons Highland Adventure.

Buckie Thistle 1 Morton 1

Around 300 fans turned out at Victoria Park to watch Morton play their first game of the pre season tour, 100 or so of these being 'Ton fans. John McCormack sent out arguably his strongest side for the first match of the tour. This being the first match the game was played at a slow tempo and the most exciting thing early on being the singing of the Morton fans gathered
in the 'Centenary Stand' . A grand name for a smaller version of the Cowshed.

The first chance fell to new £30,000 signing Peter Weatherson but he headed wide. Buckie took the lead around the 10th minute with 17 year old striker Steven Bartlet smashing home from close range. Not long afterwards the lively Weatherson came close to equalising but his shot came back off Jags keeeper Kevin Main's post. The action wasn't exactly ebbing and flowing but there were chances at both ends Alex Williams had a shot well saved by
Main and Buckie's Paul Lamberton headed against the crossbar.

Half time came and Morton made five substitutions , the game however stayed fairly similar mostly a fitness exercise. Weatherson worked a chance turning a defender insideout before shooting wide. Buckie thought they had made it 2 -0 but Scot Taylor was offside. The impressive Buckie keeper Main was forced to pull of a good save from a low drive by sub Jani Uotinen.

In 63 minutes Morton equalised, Mel Bottiglieri worked a great one-two with Phil Cannie who flicked the ball perfectly for Mel to hammer his shot low into the bottom right hand corner of the Buckie net. The last chance of the game fell to Thistle's large bald striker Colin Milne but he headed wide.( Incidentally Milne's aggressive, strong style gave Dave McGregor a tough time which he will make him all the better for the experience) All in all
this game was a fitness exercise with nothing much being take from the game apart from a lively debut from Peter Weatherson.

Buckie Thistle - Main, Small, Lamberton, Gairns (J.Milne), Wilson, Munro,
Shewan (Grant), Taylor (Craik), C Milne, Bartlet (Moir),McDonald Sub not
used Flannigan.

Morton - Coyle, Collins , Bottiglieri, McGregor, Henderson, M. Maisano,
Millar, Bannerman, Williams, Weatherson, J.Maisano. (3-5-2) Sub (all used)
McGurn, Uotinen, Walker, Hawke, Greacen, McDonald, Gaughan, Adam.

Ref - R Main My Man of the Match - Emilio Bottiglieri

Keith 1 Morton 3

Despite setting out with the best of intentions of covering the games as accurately as possibly as you would expect of a three day tour, drinking took it's toll and and from here on in the the memory is a little hazy. The day started witfh many of the same faces from the Buckie game gathering on a hill in Keith for a few refreshments .

As you would expect the banter was flowing and a woman from the tennis club who were practising in front of us
came up to remind us of our language. Morton fans being Morton fans we were
well behaved but still singing and shouting without the expletives and a wee whip round instigated by big Andy Morrison put some money in the local tennis club coffers as a 'thanks for putting up with us' gesture. From there the crowd moved to the social club ,conveniently located inside Kynoch park, just in time for the fans to greet the players and officials coming off of
the team bus.

In the second game the team lined up with a mostly reserve look to it. Keith took the lead early in the second half (i think) from close range. With around twenty minutes left Warren Hawke won a penalty when he was tripped in the box by a late challenge from a Keith defender. Phil Cannie, who has missed a couple of penalties for Morton in the past, duely stepped up a dispatched a fine penalty into the top right corner. Sub John Maisano curled a fine effort towards Ivor Pirie's( formerly of Peterhead and Elgin, who if i remember correctly put in a fine performance against us when we won 1-0 at Borough Briggs last season) top corner only to see it rebound
back off the bar.

With a few subs on Morton started to pick up the pace and Peter Weatherson looked in the mood when he slammed a stunning left foot strike into the top corner. Weatherson completed his brace shortly after
with a close range header after a pin point cross by ... someone. The last chance fell to John Maisano a chance which was very similar to Weatherson's second unfortunately John headed wide. Especially for myself as i'd stuck a wee bet on us to win 4-1 in the Keith bookies, money which would have come in very handy after the game in the social club. Wherein the Morton fans were in fine voice after the game, a few songs in the repetoire seemed to amuse the locals at any rate. Of special mention was the appearance of Morton legend Joe Caven (striking partner to Allan McGraw in the highly successful 'Ton side of the 63/64 season) who informed us he hadn't seen a game in a long time and how his favourite memory was when Morton beat Kilmarnock 5-1. A historic scoreline or so it seems. However being based at a considerable distance in Inverness we had to leave early to let the rest of the 'Ton fans enjoy their night.

Morton - McGurn,McGregor, Henderson, Greacen, Gaughan, McDonald, Uotinen,
Adam, Hawke, Cannie, Walker

My Man of the match - Peter Weatherson

Deveronvale 1 Morton 4

Morton saved the best for last. Which made a day of terrible travelling worthwhile. We arrived in Banff around 2 hours before kick off. Hunted for digs and then visited the local pub where the other Morton fans were to be
found already enjoying themselves. After a few pints we headed to the ground, Princess Royal Park which had a nice stand but the feel of a sports complex not the tradition or history of the other two grounds visited previously.

Although the crowd seemed to be higher than the previous games. Again Cowboy rotated the squad and started with what could be felt to be close to a first team eleven. Morton threatened early John Maisano again striking the crossbar, i think he aims for it rather than the goal sometimes, and Weatherson incredibly hitting the post with his follow up .

Morton took the lead when Alex Williams slotted home the rebound from a keepers parry. Morton were most impressive in this game with neat build ups and quick decisive passing. Walker was particularly impressive with his dribbling on the right wing. Morton doubled their lead when Mel sneaked in at the back post to head home. It was three before half time when the ever impressive Walker was played in and he drilled his shot low at the keepers near post where it rattled into the back of the net. Williams was looking lively and he completed his double soon after half time when he collected a Weatherson knock down and prodded the ball past the keeper.

Throughout the game the team seemed to gel the passing was sharp and crisp with plenty of movement . Both strikers were lively and it looks as if we may have seen the start of a beautiful relationship up front. To give the home fans something to cheer about deadly striker Ian Murray finished well when one on one with McGurn. In relation to another of my articles a must admit i was disappointed with the 'Vales perfromance but you cannot really judge a side by a pre - season friendly performance especially when the opponents are the third division champions who have been bolstered by three excellent signings.

Coyle (McGurn),Collins,Bottiglieri (MacDonald),Henderson (McGregor),Greacen
(Gaughan),M.Maisano (Adam),Millar,J.Maisano (Bannerman), Williams,
Weatherson (Cannie), Walker (Hawke)

My man of the match Paul Walker

The tour was a very worthwhile exercise with the team gelling not only on the field but most probably off it aswell. Player of the tour went to much improved Mel Bottiglieri, a worthy winner however my personal vote went to
Peter Weatherson, who has the makings of being a very shrewd piece of business and hopefully the catalyst for the Division 2 championship.

My Player of the Tour - Peter Weatherson.

JonaTon