Hamilton 1 - 2 Morton: Jai Quitongo knocks Accies out of cup

Morton's Jai Quitongo hit the winning the goal in the Betfred Cup match against Hamilton. Picture: SNS

Jim Duffy’s side did it the hard way, coming from behind to claim a thoroughly merited victory against Hamilton, whose impressive display against Rangers at the weekend was quickly forgotten by their disgruntled fans.

The home side were slow out of the blocks but, once they began to move through the gears, they found themselves in front.

Ali Crawford’s incisive pass released Dougie Imrie on the right and, while the winger looked unlikely to score from such an angle, Lee Kilday took him out anyway.

Referee Stephen Finnie had an easy decision to make and Imrie drove the resulting penalty kick behind Derek Gaston.

However, the Championship club were playing the better football and Remi Matthews made fine saves to deny Jai Quitongo and Michael Tidser, with the latter also striking the crossbar with a shot from 15 yards.

It was also a feisty affair and Finnie, who administered four first-half cautions, would have been even busier if he had been able to review some of the  off-the-ball encounters.

Morton continued to look the more impressive side and Quitongo ought to have done better when Gary Oliver sent him clear straight from the restart.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the striker took his eye off the ball and allowed it to run away from him: when he did manage to get his shot away the angle was too acute to trouble Matthews.

However, Morton’s pressure was relentless and the dam finally broke in the 58th minute. Georgios Sarris rugby tackled Oliver on the edge of the 18-yard box and Ross Forbes smashed the inevitable free-kick beyond Matthews.

Accies were never allowed to settle and further hustling by the visitors saw them take the lead. Mikey Devlin, under pressure from Quitongo, fluffed a simple clearance and the teenager raced on to fire high past the advancing  goalkeeper.