Tuesday 31st December, 2024 at 6:36pm
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
