Queen of the South 1 - 1 Morton: Morton and Queens stagger towards safety

Published on Saturday 7 March 2009 18:50

Scorers - Queen of the South: Lancaster 73; Morton: Grady 43

HONOURS even at Palmerston as both teams staggered a point nearer to First Division survival. A classic this certainly was not, however both teams – Morton especially, as the away side – will be content to keep edging away from danger by adding to their tally.

The in-form Cappielow men enjoyed the better of a first half full of battle, but it was not blessed with a surplus of fantastic action. Only rare flashes of individual quality in the shape of a dazzling Steve Tosh run and a dipping Peter Weatherson strike interrupted what was otherwise a bogged-down midfield skirmish.

Throughout it all Morton's veteran striker, James Grady, had looked the most dangerous man on show, and so it proved two minutes from the break. He was left all on his lonesome to thump home a header from Jim McAllister's pinpoint delivery.

Morton continued to boss the game after the break with Queens fortunate to see Grady substituted, and those left behind lacking his clinical edge. Davie Irons will feel his charges should at this point have killed the contest off and such failings were to cost them.

With 17 minutes remaining Queens worked a short corner, and as Morton's defence napped, Bob Harris sent over a teasing cross to the back post where Martyn Lancaster arrived to force home from close range.

From here on in it was all Queens, who, buoyed by getting a leveller out of nowhere, suddenly sensed an unlikely victory. Stephen Dobbie twice came close and Harris knocked on the door also, but it was not to be as Morton held on for the point.