Morton fly the flag in Glasgow

Jan 21 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

CONSIDERING the poor weather yet again, there was only one game off in Saturday’s Amateur Football programme.

This was partly due to the excellent liaison between the teams in switching fixtures to parks that were playable.

However, the day’s big heroes didn’t play in the region but in Glasgow where Morton Thistle beat Moorcroft to go through to round five of the West of Scotland Cup.

It’s many years, indeed, since any local side reached this stage and they deserve great praise.

In the end, Morton went through on penalties. The game was very even throughout; 1-1 at half time, 2-2 at full time and after extra time, before it took 17 penalties to find a winner.

Twice, Morton took the lead, both scored by Mikey Devlin only for Moorcroft to peg them back. Finally, though, Morton made it.

Locally, Maxwelltown Thistle, the leaders, moved six points clear after a 4-3 victory over YMCA.

Early on, it looked easy for Max and they were two up within quarter of an hour. Craig Lavan’s cross was headed in at the back post by Graeme Carling in the fifth minute. After three saves in quick succession by YM’s keeper, Ross Halliday finally found the net from close in to make it two.

Gradually, though, YM came more into it. They were rewarded four minutes before the break with Nicki Broadfoot’s 12-yard shot and, in another two minutes, John Wells put them level.

Now YM had the upper hand.

After a goal was disallowed for a push, they went in front 10 minutes into the second half when a poor clearance enabled Broadfoot to score his second as he calmly stroked the ball into an empty net from outside the box.

Another goal would have killed off Max but the leaders equalised with 10 minutes left with Carling netting in a scramble.

Good work by Johnny Banford then saw Sean Kearney get the winner five minutes from time. This was really tough on YM who had played so well in very difficult conditions.

Second placed Lochmaben surrendered their unbeaten league record as they went down 4-1 to Lochar Thistle. The prolific Mike McGauchie put Lochar in front midway through the first half but a good finish by Cameron Thorburn had Lochmaben all square. Five minutes before the break, Chris Rogerson’s mazy run took him past several defenders before he slipped the ball past the advancing keeper. Lochar dominated in the second half. After James Rogerson was fouled in the box, McGauchie made it three from the spot. Ally McKenna rounded off a good display with a long run and fine shot from the edge of the area.

The first half of the First Base Dynamos – Kirkconnel match was pretty even although Kirkconnel were two up by the interval. In the second half, though, First Base had to play into an increasingly strong hurricane and crumpled as Kirkconnel took full advantage to end up 10-1 winners. Ian Bell hit a hat trick, Alec Boyle and Chris Gallacher had two each and there were singles for Scott Gallacher, Martin Milne and Rory Kirkpatrick. First Base had one crumb of comfort in a penalty by keeper Peter Hastings.

Saturday’s results:

West of Scotland Cup – Round 4: Moorcroft 2, Morton Th 2 (aet) Morton won 9-8 on penalties.

Metrik Office Supplies League: First Base 1 Kirkconnel 10; Lochar Th 4, Lochmaben 1; Maxwelltown Th 4, YMCA 3.

Fixtures for January 24:

South of Scotland Cup – Round 3: Carluke Baptist v Upper Annandale; Leithen R v Lochar Th; Maxwelltown Th v Stow, Troqueer (ref I Brack); Winton v Kirkconnel.

Metrik Office Supplies League: Lochmaben v FC Dynamo Star (ref S Grier); Terregles Ath v First Base Dynamos (ref S McGill); YMCA v Morton Th, Kingholm (ref J McEwan).

Quaker