Such has been their luck in their winless run, the returning Curtis Main was ineligible to play against his parent club after returning from suspension, leaving the squad bereft of firepower for another game.
The Ton’s cause was only hampered further by injuries to Michael O’Halloran and Eamonn Brophy and multiple defensive suspensions, as Ian Murray named three wingers in his front three.
However, Morton were coming up against an equally out of form Ayr United side, with Scott Brown coming under increasing pressure to walk after a lacklustre run of form despite substantial investment in the club’s squad.
With five points separating the teams prior to kick-off, the match-up became a fork in the road for the pair, with a win for either side dragging the other into a scrap at the wrong end of the table.
And it was the Inverclyde outfit who started with the necessary intensity, as they took the lead after just three minutes of play. Makeshift striker, Michael Garrity, drifted wide to his favoured left wing, stretching the Ayr defence, before teeing up Nathan Shaw to cross towards the back post with his weaker right foot.
Arriving late was right- back, Aaron Comrie, who left the keeper helpless by heading the ball back where it came from as it kissed the post on its way into the back of the net.
The Honest Men looked rattled after such an early blow and Shaw almost capitalised, winning the ball in the final third and forcing Max Thompson into tipping his low effort onto the post to
prevent his side going further behind.
But the Morton defence had to remain on their toes as Anton Dowds provided a threat up top for Ayr.
The big man rolled the inexperienced Fergus Owens on the edge of the box and ran through on goal, but Murray Johnson was alert to smother the striker’s effort.
Perhaps he should have scored with his next opportunity, though, as he picked the ball up on the edge of the box, cutting inside to curl an effort towards goal, but his shot was tame and easily collected by Johnson.
It was an open encounter for the first half an hour, exemplified when Iain Wilson broke from his own box, skipping by several Ayr players before slotting Garrity through on goal.
The winger’s effort was tame in the end, but the front man rolled his ankle in the process, forcing him off the field and altering the Ton’s approach for the rest of the game.
With little-to-no attacking options left on the bench, Murray changed tactic by bringing on Jackson Longridge and reverting to a back five.
The alteration had a clear impact on proceedings as Ayr became more dominant, but the Ton were equally resolute.
Marco Rus was Ayr’s most threatening player, but the Ton posed an equal threat from speculative crosses – the best of which falling to Cammy Macpherson whose diving header was blocked.
The midfielder had another chance minutes later after Owen Moffat’s sweeping counter-attack eventually found its way to Zak Delaney. The defender disguised his cutback to the midfielder but his effort was again blocked
to keep the game at 1-0. However, the Greenock side kept the attack alive and fashioned another opportunity for Moffat from six yards out, but the wee wide man took a swipe of fresh air as he attempted to finish off a golden opportunity on the
swivel.
But despite lacking a cutting edge, Ayr continued to probe and should’ve found the equaliser through Dowds.
The striker got to a looping ball in between the defence and Johnson – who’d come rushing out his goal – but his lofted shot went well over the bar with the goal gaping.
As the game wore on, Murray opted for fresh legs but due to his lack of attacking options ended up with two midfielders up top. To their credit, Ian Wilson and Arron Lyall caused Ayr problems, with the latter fashioning a great chance for himself by flicking the ball over the hapless Kevin Holt before leaving much to be desired with his finish, but defensive solidity was Morton’s main aim in the closing stages.
And it was enough to see out the win as the travelling support erupted amid a chorus of abuse aimed at Scott Brown from the home end.
The result brings the Ton within two of the Honest Men and although they remain in eighth place, five points now separate them and the bottom to heading into another bumper fixture against Arbroath at the weekend.
