William Hill Championship
Tue 31 December, 2024. Kick Off: - 15:00
Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology UK, Greenock
Tickets:
Jags fans will be housed in the Wee Dublin End and Sections F & G of the Allan McGraw Main Stand. All away supporters will enter through the Wee Dublin End turnstiles.
With no pay-at-the-gate option on matchday. all away tickets must be bought online.
Prices are as follows:
Adult – £22
Concession (Over 65s, student, supporters with disabilities)* – £16
16-21 year-olds – £16
12-15 year-olds – £5
Under 12s** (with paying adult) – £5
*Please note, proof of entitlement must be provided to purchase concessionary tickets.
**Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
For ticketing enquiries, please contact Greenock Morton on 01475 723 571 (option 1).
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick up:
Station Bar: 2pm
For seats call Duncan 07979 496 154 or e-mail
John Lambie Jordanhill (sharing with North-West Branch):
Pick-up at Jordanhill Station only at 13.50.
Drop-off at The Thornwood Bar on return if required.
Prices are £21 for adults and £14 for concessions.
Booking is essential. To make a booking contact Iain on 07779668357or .
North-West Branch (sharing with John Lambie Jordanhill):
Pick-ups:
Milngavie Railway Station – 13:05
Maryhill Community Central Halls – 13:25
Esquire House, Anniesland – 13:40
Jordanhill Station – 13:50
Please note order of pick-ups.
When booking it is essential that you state:
Fares:
Full fare – £20
Concessions* – £14
Primary School age – Free when accompanied by an adult
*Eligibility for concession fares:
Partick Thistle suffered last gasp disappointment as they went down 2-1 to Greenock Morton at Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology.
Jags manager Kris Doolan selected the same starting line-up for the fourth game running with Ben Stanway making his return from injury with a place on the bench in place of Steven Lawless who dropped out of things.
Though the skies dried up for Stuart Bannigan’s kick off, the match started off looking very sluggish as the sopping surface proved difficult to run and pass on with both teams on several occasions forced to take any hit of the ball they could manage to clear away danger as the conditions made it difficult to control movement.
With a mixture of passion and slippery turf, challenges were flying in from both sides early on in and end-to-end opening ten or so minutes.
The first real Thistle chance was for Logan Chalmers, who knocked the ball up the right before chasing it on and cutting into the box. Going with it, he took a touch in and had a pop low and left-footed which was blocked.
A cross from the right led to Brian Graham taking on a volley with his body at an unfavourable angle – the connection was as good as could be but again the shot was blocked.
A ball breaking out of the middle of the Morton box rolled to Stuart Bannigan who unleashed a curling left-footed shot from range aimed at the top-left corner, but it was narrowly wide.
By the 13-minute mark the Heavens had opened again, with both teams struggling to retain possession near the touchlines as the pitch squelched with every step. Though the rain continued to be on-and-off, the bounce of the ball was minimal and temperamental throughout.
The first instance of Morton really worrying the Thistle back line came after 20 minutes as Owen Moffat went on a central run and let loose a driven shot from the edge of the box which went slightly wide of Myles Roberts’ left-hand post.
Scott Robinson was able to slip Robbie Crawford in through the left-hand side of the penalty box, but his attempted ball across the face met the grasp of Ryan Mullen.
Jordan Davies was able to have a strike at goal as we approached 36 minutes, but the power wasn’t sufficient to cause Roberts worry as it came straight at his arms.
Robinson used all his speed to nick a pass between Morton defenders at the edge of their box, but the end product didn’t have enough in it to beat the goalie.
Moments later Moffat was breaking up the pitch with Morton fans on their feet, but his long range effort was too high.
Half time – Greenock Morton 0 Partick Thistle 0
Just a minute into the second half Charlie Sayers was able to swing a cross in from the left which met the head of Crawford. The connection sent the ball looping towards the far post but just off-target and with nobody on the other end to turn it goalward.
55 minutes in, Morton were the team to open the scoring as Filip Stuparevic was played through the left-hand side. Roberts came rushing out to close down the clear opportunity, but the striker was able to slot the ball home from inside the area.
Just past the hour mark it was all even again. Logan Chalmers had the ball on the right in with a lovely flick he got by his man to take it inside. Sending the ball in towards the six-yard box, a little diversion from AIDAN FITZPATRICK was all it took for the Thistle goal.
From restart of play Thistle’s first change was made – Robbie Crawford made way for Kanayo Megwa.
Morgan Boyes was the first name in the referee’s book as he made a foul on Fitzpatrick around 30 yards out. The resulting free kick led to a flurry of high balls into the Morton box, but the right contact failed to be found and an eventual offside put a stop to it.
Morton made a double change with just shy of 20 to go as Ali Crawford and Michael Garrity replaced Moffat and Stuparevic.
Chalmers and Megwa combined down the right but with a defender closing in Megwa had to get the cross away immediately. On the turn he tried to zing it in, but it hit the side netting on the outside.
Ten to go and we looked to the bench again as Scott Robinson made way for Luke McBeth.
Aidan Fitzpatrick took the ball on his own through the inside left, shifting inward a couple of times before opting for the shot which was low with good power but wide of the near post.
With Roberts’ fingertips fully outstretched to a Jordan Davies cross goal strike along the ground hearts were pounding, but it went narrowly wide without any influence from the ‘keeper.
Just five left of regular time and Logan Chalmers made his way off for Terry Ablade to enter the field of play after he picked up a slight knock.
Daniel O’Reilly was up there to rattle a ball along the ground into the Morton box from the left but a defender was able to turn it out for a corner. The resulting delivery hit the head of Lee Ashcroft and spun to the back past where an outstretched toe from Charlie Sayers couldn’t get the ball on target.
Niall McGinn and Austin Samuels came on for the home side as Jordan Davies and Arron Lyall exited and at the death also came a goal for the hosts to snatch all three points. Though Roberts could get fingertips on it in his left corner, Cameron Blues’ close-range header sealed the game.
Full time – Greenock Morton 2 Partick Thistle 1
Teams
Partick Thistle – Myles Roberts, Kyle Turner, Daniel O’Reilly, Lee Ashcroft, Charlie Sayers, Stuart Bannigan, Logan Chalmers (Terry Ablade 85’), Robbie Crawford (Kanayo Megwa 61’), Aidan Fitzpatrick, Scott Robinson (Luke McBeth 79’), Brian Graham
Unused substitutes – David Mitchell (GK), Liam Smith, Ben Stanway, Ricco Diack, Matthew Falconer.
Greenock Morton – Ryan Mullen, Cammy Ballantyne, Zak Delaney, Jack Baird, Morgan Boyes, Owen Moffat (Michael Garrity 73’), Cameron Blues, Filip Stuparevic (Ali Crawford 73’), Jordan Davies (Austine Samuels 89’), Aaron Lyall (Niall McGinn 89’), Iain Wilson
Unused substitutes – Gary Woods (GK), Lamar Reynolds, Grant Gillespie, Logan O’Boy.
Referee – Ryan Lee
By Connor Steel
Tue 31 December, 2024
William Hill Championship 
Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology UK, Greenock
A late, late goal means defeat for Thistle. A bitterly disappointing way to end the year.
McBeth is penalised for a foul at the edge of the box as Thistle try and get the ball into the Morton box.
Morton look to have won it at the finish. A cross comes over from left and Blues heads home.
Thistle try and break from the corner but Megwa's pass is too far in front of Ablade.
Ashcroft flicks on Turner's corner and at the stretch Sayers pushes the ball wide of goal.
Bannigan breaks up an attack and sprays a pass wide to Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick looks to get caught in two minds between shooting and crossing and ends up overhitting a cross looking for the head of Graham.
Morton are close to getting back in front with a Davies shot that goes across goal and narrowly wide of Roberts' right hand post.
After collecting a Graham pass, Fitzpatrick works himself into a good position for a shot but he drags his effort wide of goal.
Chalmers shoots from the right hand corner of the Morton box. It's a little too direct though allowing Mullen to make a fairly comfortable save.
The referee spots a push as a Crawford free kick comes into the Thistle box and its a Jags free kick.
Mullen does well to get a strong fist to Turner's free kick.
Fitzpatrick is fouled and Thistle will again have a chance to load the Morton box.
Ashcroft heads on but well away from the Morton goal.
Thistle try and keep the pressure on after Turner's free kick is cleared but Morton defend well.
Turner is fouled giving Thistle a chance to get bodies into the box at the free kick.
Big shouts for a Thistle penalty as a Robinson shot from a Megwa cross strikes a Morton defender.
Thistle are level. It's great skill down the right from Logan Chalmers that creates the opening and Aidan Fitzpatrick that provides the finish from inside the 6 yard box.
Graham tries to bend a shot into the top corner but isn't able to get sufficient curl on his shot.
Ballantyne lifts the ball over the bar from a tight angle.
The home side take the lead. Moffat slips a pass through to Stuparevic and he calmly shoots low past Roberts.
Turner's outswinger is met by the head of O'Reilly but he isn't able to get any power in his header and Mullen makes an easy save.
Crawford goes to ground in the box under a Morton challenge. His reaction tells you that he clearly feels he was fouled.
Hint of a chance for Morton but Roberts makes a comfortable save.
Sayers sends over a cross from the left that Crawford gets his head to. He's unable though to get his header on target and the ball drifts away from goal.
We're back underway with Thistle unchanged.
Goalless and largely chanceless at half-time.
Morton have probably edged it in terms of possession and did come the closest to scoring with a Moffat shot that just crept wide of target.
Into first half added time.
Conditions are getting worse as heavy rain continues to fall on the soft Cappielow surface.
Moffat lifts a shot high over Roberts' crossbar as Morton break.
Robinson picks up and misdirected pass in the Morton box. He can't make anything of it though.
Davies has a shot from just outside the Thistle box. It's cleanly enough struck but too straight to truly trouble Roberts who completes a routine save.
Crawford tries to cut the ball back for Chalmers but Mullen is there to intercept.
Moffat clips the free kick into the box where Ashcroft heads clear. Morton pick the ball up again and look for a corner when the ball drops wide of the Thistle goal but a goal kick is the decision.
Bannigan escapes a booking on this occasion but Morton have a free kick in a threatening position midway inside the Thistle half.
Moffat is close to opening the scoring for Morton with a low shot from the edge of the box that just creeps wide of Roberts' left hand post. That looked like as if it was going to sneak in at the post.
A tame Davies header from a Delaney cross goes wide of Roberts' right hand post.
Bannigan has a shot from long range but it drifts wide of goal.
Chalmers takes the corner aiming for O'Reilly at the back post. O'Reilly tries to knock the ball back into the danger area but the ball is cleared. Thistle pick the ball up again and Graham sees a shot blocked with the Thistle captain looking for a handball.
Chalmers gets away from Delaney down the right hand side. He cuts inside but his left foot shot is blocked.
Morton do a good job of defending Turner's free kick.
Bannigan is fouled and Thistle will have a chance to get the ball into the Morton box from the free kick.
The free kick goes deep into the Thistle box but Ashcroft is there to head clear.
First test for the Thistle defence as Morton win a free kick deep inside the Thistle half.
Thistle to kick-off. Defending the Wee Dublin End in the 1st half.
There is a familiar look to the Thistle side that rounds off 2024 with a trip to Greenock.
For the fourth game in a row Kris Doolan has selected the same starting eleven.
The only change is on the bench where Steven Lawless misses out through illness and Ben Stanway returns from injury.