Diamonds fail to sparkle but Morton men are heroes

AIRDRIE 1-1 Morton

IF you thought Airdrie had troubles, at least their players get paid. Brave Morton fought out a battling draw yesterday with demotion rivals Airdrie hours after the entire Greenock side threatened to strike. As it turned out, their wages arrived and the players took to the field where they went on to earn every penny.

Manager Alan Evans commented afterwards: "After the circumstances of the last 24 hours, I've just said to the players they can hold their heads up and stick their chests out because they've done themselves proud. The fans who came today showed their appreciation for the players and the players also appreciate the fans' efforts. Now it's a case I think personally that we have to look at the situation every day as far as the club's concerned."

That is a situation with which opposing manager Steve Archibald is very familiar. These two once prominent clubs are now fighting to stave off extinction and it is not a nice place to be. When asked if the players would remain united, Evans was adamant: "Very much so. I'm proud of my players. Other than the players, the staff and the supporters, no one else gives a damn about Morton. So we have to stick together."

Airdrie's possession in the opening half was relentless, dominating their guests without being able to fashion any noteworthy opportunities. The visitors, in direct contrast, played the patience game, sucking their opponents in or attempting to succeed on the counter-attack.

After victory at Falkirk last Saturday, the Diamonds were expected to defeat a side that, like them, appears to be teetering on the edge of despair, but predicting what the Lanarkshire side would do from one week to the next is a near-impossible task. They found themselves a goal down after only 10 minutes when a decisive break from Morton mid-fielder Ross Matheson was followed by a defence-splitting pass which Stephen Aitken coolly slotted home.

Obviously buoyed by their first pay cheque in a while, the visitors were far more threatening in the danger areas with Steven Whalen twice troubling Sanchez Broto with powerful shots.

His side went close once again when Eddie Forrest clattered the ball off the goal-line near the interval before referee Tom Brown incurred the Airdrie supporters' wrath when Jesus Sanjuan blasted an ambitious ball off his back. It was indicative of the home support's frustrations.

Steve Archibald must be greatly disappointed with his side's dismal home form. David Fernandez and Martin Prest both entered the fray early in the second half. There was improvement with Andy Carlin called upon to make three commendable saves, all from low driven volleys. The home side did have the ball in the net close to the hour mark but the linesman raised his flag after Stuart Ingram had deposited a lipping header past Carlin. Some dreadful challenges ensued, culminating in a booking for Derek Anderson after a lunge on opposite number Darren Brady.

Morton's dedicated following grew louder in voice with every passing minute and Gary Tweedie should have secured the points for them five minutes from time when Karim Boukrra played a perfect ball into his path 15 yards out. His shot was not wholehearted but Broto should take credit for deflecting it wide. It proved a costly miss when warning shots were fired by Antonio Caldaron and Prest producing two more confident stops from Carlin. Sadly, however, his good work was wasted in the final minutes when he parried a Fernandez strike out to Eddie Forrest and the gangly defender prodded home to become the unlikeliest of heroes. He joins the entire Morton squad.

Copyright 2000
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