Airdrie United 2 - 5 Morton: Morton turn in five-star show

Published on Tuesday 25 January 2011 17:44

FIRST division Morton pulled rank to claim a fifth round trip to Inverness after this all-action clash at the Excelsior Stadium.

The Greenock men had too much firepower for an Airdrie side who were made to regret conceding a two-goal lead in the first tie at Cappielow. Perhaps still smarting from that memory, the Diamonds came flying out the blocks. However, it was Morton who soon took control.

Indeed, only two excellent saves by Mark Ridgers kept the score-line blank. The home keeper first made a brave diving block from Brian Graham who was bearing down on goal and then leapt high to claw Kevin Kelbie's netbound header away from danger. These chances provided the spur Morton needed to go on and take the lead and the opener came in 15 minutes through David O'Brien.

The winger only broke his scoring duck for the Greenock side ten days ago but he was quick to add to his tally when the chance arose. He seized on a poor pass from Jamie Bain and, although his first effort was blocked by Ridgers, O'Brien followed up to net the rebound.

Morton put the issue beyond doubt with a further two goals midway through the second period. The otherwise excellent Ridgers contributed to the first when he completely misjudged a through ball, allowing Allan Jenkins an easy finish. However, there was nothing the Diamonds keeper could do when Graham ran onto substitute Peter Weatherson's through ball fired home.

If the contest was over, the scoring was not and in a frantic finish Morton added to their tally through a Jenkins header and a Carlo Monti penalty while Airdrie, whose misery was compounded by a straight red for Eddie Forrest, grabbed some consolation through Gary Mackay-Steven and Scott Sally.

Airdrie: Ridgers; Bain, Goodall (Ferguson 67), Grant, Forrest, Devlin (Sally 61), Muir, Fisher (Donnelly 46), Johnston, McCord, Mackay-Steven. Subs not used: Lovering, Szpilcynski.

Morton: Stewart; MacGregor, McKinlay, Evans, McCaffrey (Monti 71), Tidser, Kean (Bachirou 76), Jenkins, Kelbie (Weatherson 61), Graham, O'Brien. Subs not used: Holmes, Cuthbert.

Attendance: 1,033.