Morton 3 Dunfermline 0

Saturday, 19th Apr 2008

Pars scuttled at Greenock as the Clydesiders launched a great fight to stay in the First Division

Jim McIntyre named a side with just the one change for the trip to Cappielow - Nick Phinn returning in place of Stephen Simmons while Morton now under the rule of Davie Irons made three changes from the team that faced St Johnstone the previous Saturday. David McGregor, Scott McLaughlin and Peter Weatherson were replaced by Alex Walker, Brian Wake and Iain Russell in what Irons hoped would be an attacking and winning formula.

Morton kicked off attacking the goal at the east end but the first real opportunity of the afternoon came from a fourth minute free kick at the other. Twenty yards out just to the left of centre, Stephen Glass ran over the ball to allow Darren Young to drill it around the defensive wall but keeper Lee Robinson held the low shot.

The home side were also awarded a free kick that could have caused danger. Stephen Glass dumped Kevin Finlayson out on the right but when that was launched over the defence cleared. Next Iain Russell managed to pop a shot from 18 yards but that fell wide left.

The side desperate for points went ahead in 14 minutes. A move down the left drew both the central defenders and when the cross came over Russell, just six yards out, failed to take the chance but the ball sat up sweetly for Brian WAKE who reacted before both Young and Muirhead to hammer the ball home.

There was a decent header that Robinson had to hold but that was from his own man, Finlayson. It was the 21st minute before Dunfermline got in a decent shot at goal, Phinn blasting a Muirhead cross narrowly wide of the far post.

Russell ran on to a through ball in 25th minute and Paul Gallacher pulled off a fine save to keep the score at just 1-0. Two minutes later Wake broke away from Calum Woods but yet again Gall was the hero, blocking a well struck shot from 15 yards.

McIntyre got in a good effort from a Crawford knock down but he was too far out to really tax Robinson. Morton piled forward again Russell chipped a ball across the face of goal but Phinn thankfully headed away at the right post. McGuffie followed up with a belter that was deflected for a corner. When that was delivered from the left Stewart Greacen`s header directed that wide right.

The home side were on fire as news came through that rivals Clyde were one down at Hamlton. A neat backheeler by Wake set up McGuffie for another crack at the Pars goal but fortunately that slipped wide again.

A 35 yard rocket from Glass skimmed the crossbar serving warning that Morton had to remember to defend. Indeed a neat pass from Macca next sent Phinn through in 40th minute, to switch the ball to Young as he advanced into the Morton box but Darren contrived to somehow send the ball outside the right post when it looked easier to score.

Davie Irons` side clung on as half time approached with a Glass free kick deflected for a corner. On 45 Alex Burke picked out McIntyre and he shot narrowly over the top from 25 yards. Morton had the better of the first half but Dunfermline finished it well giving some hope for the second.

Half Time: Morton 1 Dunfermline 0

Craw and Macca got the second half underway in bright sunshine but the Ton in the hoops were soon on the offensive. A long throw in from Erik Paartulu launched the ball into the Pars six yard box where Finlayson and Russell battled to convert the chance but the defence came out on top. Finlayson hit a 53rd minute chance low and wide of Gallacher`s right hand post.

There was a let off in 53rd minute when another Paartulu long throw, this time from the right, was headed on by Ryan Harding and Thomson thwarted Wake on the line. Six minutes later the home side increased their lead with a simple goal. Alex Walker lobbed in a free kick from the left touchline 40 yard out and Ryan HARDING ran in from the right to turn the ball into the Pars net with the greatest of ease.

The goal heralded a switch from the Pars; Sol Bamba came on for Alex Burke and the Pars went to 3-5-2 as well. Mark Burchill then replaced Stevie Crawford. Calum Woods received a head knock as he bravely headed away a cross from the right. Dunfermline survived the corner with Gallacher fisting away and Burchill taking the ball clear.

In 70th minute Muirhead spared Bamba`s blushes after Russell got the better of the sub out on the left to send over an inviting ball but the former Dons player just did enough to spoil the opportunity for Wake. Three minutes later however FINLAYSON won the ball off Glass on the right and seemed to beat the entire defence as he twisted and turned his route into the box before rifling the ball in off the base of the left goalpost. Lovely goal just a pity it was for Morton!

With quarter of an hour remaining, Simmons tested Robinson with a cracking free kick from 25 yards while at the other end Muirhead did well to stop the run of Jim McAlister before Finlayson rattled another shot inches wide. Russell threatened again with great individual play, racing away with the ball from a Paartulu header but tracking by Thomson and Wilson forced his shot wide.

Morton were denied a 86th minute fourth goal after Gallacher parried a stinging shot from Paartulu, Wake hit the crossbar with the follow up and then Wilson cleared Paartulu`s second bite off the line. An excellent show from Morton but a bad day at the office for the Fifers.

MORTON: Lee Robinson; Ryan Harding, Stewart Greacen, Alex Walker; Kevin Finlayson, Chris Millar, Ryan McGuffie, Erik Paartulu, Jim McAlister; Brian Wake, Iain Russell. SUBS NOT USED:
SUBS NOT USED: Peter Weatherson, Dean Keenan, Alan Jenkins, Scott McLaughlin, David McGurn (GK)
SCORERS: Wake (14), Harding (59), Finlayson (73)
YELLOW CARD: Paartulu (57)

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Muirhead; Nick Phinn, Darren Young (Stephen Simmons 71), Stephen Glass, Alex Burke (Souleymayne Bamba 60); Stevie Crawford (Mark Burchill 63), Jim McIntyre.
SUBS NOT USED: Iain Williamson, Sean Murdoch (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Wilson (37), Young (54), McIntyre (57), Simmons (75)

REFEREE: Euan Norris
WEATHER: Sunny Intervals, blustery 12°C
ATTENDANCE 2428

NEXT MATCH: SFL (home) v Queen of the South, Saturday 26th April 2008, kick off 3.00pm

Views : 3,872

ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.

Check out the Gallery for more photo's -- the images below will scroll through automatically.

Preview Morton

Wednesday, 16th Apr 2008

Pars bid to finish in fourth place

Dunfermline travel to Greenock on Saturday to face a Morton team under the stewardship of former Par Davie Irons.  The second bottom placed side must take points from this game and possibly their last fixture at Firhill to stave off the play offs with the sides from Division Two.  Clyde in eighth place are three points above them with a better goal difference but the Bully Wee are at New Douglas Park where Hamilton will be looking to seal their passage to the SPL.

Pars v Morton: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End	35	20	8	7	70	35
At Cappielow	33	13	11	9	41	35
Division One (up to 1975)	20	10	5	5	38	22
Division Two (up to 1975)	16	7	5	4	27	22
Premier League (since 1975)	4	3	1	0	10	3
First Division (since 1975)	26	10	8	6	34	22
TOTALS	68	33	19	16	111	70

Morton have won less of their home meetings with the Pars than they have lost but history doesn`t always matter.

Milestones v Morton (Away)
Last League Victory	26/12/07	1-0	SFL
Last League Defeat	06/05/00	0-2	SPL
Best League Victory	11/12/99 23/08/88 25/11/67	3-0 3-0 3-0	Div 1 Prem League Div1*
Worst League Defeat	14/08/26	0-3	Div 1*
*Pre league reconstruction

Dunfermline have won only four of the last twelve meetings but that includes the last two. There have been three draws and five Morton wins.

Last Twelve Matches v Morton
26-01-08	H	W	2-0	Scottish Division One
26-12-07	A	W	1-0	Scottish Division One
11-08-07	H	L	0-1	Scottish Division One
06-05-00	A	L	0-2	Scottish Division One
12-02-00	H	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
11-12-99	A	L	3-0	Scottish Division One
21-08-99	H	W	2-1	Scottish Division One
10-08-99	H	D	2-2	Scottish League Challenge Cup
19-03-96	A	D	1-1	Scottish Division One
02-03-96	H	W	4-1	Scottish Division One
25-11-95	H	L	0-2	Scottish Division One
23-09-95	A	L	0-2	Scottish Division One

Morton have collected only ten points since Dunfermline were last at Cappielow while the Fifers have won 27 points. Only Stirling have suffered league defeats by Morton this year but they did knock Gretna out of the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 victory at Palmerston Park.

Last time at Cappielow

Morton	DDunfermlinene
Current League Position
9	5
Last Six League Results
LDDDLL	DLWDWW
League Points
31	48
Goal Difference
-24	-11
Home/Away Record
P17, W3, D5, L9	P8, W1, D4, L3

Four points from the last twenty one points on offer tells its own story for Morton but with the Pars and Queen of the South separated by one point a win is imperative if they are to overtake the Scottish Cup finalist by beating them in the final league match.  Queens are at home to promotion hopefuls Dundee this Saturday.

Recent League Form
Morton Home				Dunfermline Away
Dundee	L	1-2		Partick Thistle	W	1-0
Livingston	D	1-1		St Johnstone	D	1-1
Partick Thistle	D	0-0		Stirling Albion	W	3-2
Stirling Albion	D	0-0		Queen of the South	D	1-1
St Johnstone	L	1-2		Clyde	W	2-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Clyde): Paul Gallacher; Calum Woods, Scott Wilson (c), Scott Thomson, Scott Muirhead; Stephen Simmons, Darren Young, Stephen Glass, Alex Burke; Stevie Crawford, Jim McIntyre (Mark Burchill 85).
SUBS: Sean Murdoch (GK), Iain Williamson, Souleymayne Bamba, Scott Morrison.

MORTON (v St Johnstone): Lee Robinson; David McGregor, Scott McLaughlin (Iain Russell 46), Miller, Stewart Greacen, Ryan Harding, Kevin Finlayson (Stevenson 87), McGuffie, Peter Weatherson (Brian Wake 46), Erik Paartulu, Jim McAlister.
SUBS NOT USED: David McGurn (GK), Walker

Referee for the match will be Euan Norris.

Webcast Morton v Dunfermline from £2.75

Views : 4,563