Morton 2 - 0 Stirling Albion: Morton pile on misery for Stirling

Published on Tuesday 5 April 2011 21:22

TWO first-half strikes were enough to earn Morton all three points and send Stirling to within touching distance of the relegation trap door.

Despite the incessant deluge of rain which swept across the ground, the Cappielow surface was in superb condition. Morton had to wait just nine minutes before edging in front when David O'Brien whipped over an outswinging cross from the left which was met perfectly by Derek Lyle, who outjumped Ross Forsyth, his header flying past Calum Reidford, who was left exposed by his defence.

Stirling were unfortunate not to be level in 22 minutes when Michael Mullen let fly with a 30-yard free-kick which crashed back off the left hand post.

Stewart came to Morton's rescue in 34 minutes when Ryan Borris slipped the ball through to Mullen, but the keeper made a terrific block to turn the ball round. The save was proved to be all the more crucial when Allan Moore's side went two up two minutes later when Peter Weatherson controlled the ball inside the area after a cross from the right by Lyle and knocked the ball to his left for O'Brien to drill the ball home from six yards. They almost added a third one minute from the interval when Lyle's 20-yard drive was turned on to the top of the bar by Reidford. Morton continued to dominate after the break and Michael Tidser was just off target with his 18-yard drive on the hour mark.

Only two superb saves in the space of 30 seconds, ten minutes from time, by the overworked Reidford, from substitutes Brian Graham and Allan Jenkins respectively, prevented Stirling from suffering further damage.

Stirling were reduced to ten men when Chris Aitken, who had only been on the park eight minutes, was red-carded for an off-the-ball incident.

Morton: Stewart, Evans, Monti (McKinlay 73), Smyth, McCaffrey, Tidser, Lyle, Bachirou, Weatherson (Jenkins 62), Holmes (Graham 62), O'Brien. Subs not used: Kane, Deans.

Stirling Albion: Reidford, Doyle, Forsyth, McHale (Aitken 77), Robertson, Kane, Welsh, Borris, Smith (Brighton 73), Mullen, Brown. Subs not used: Stirling, Gibson, Jackson.

Referee: E Smith. Attendance: 980