GREENOCK MORTON headed north in search of a second successive win for the first time this season, as they faced an underperforming Ross County side looking to arrest their poor start to the season which
left them languishing in ninth place.
With a revolving door of players coming in and out due to injury, Dougie Imrie named another new starting XI, bringing Nathan Shaw and Grant Gillespie in from the start.
And it wasn’t long before Imrie was vindicated for his choices, as Morton countered quickly from a dangerous County corner, sending Shaw through on goal who wrong- footed Ryan Duncan as he cut inside from the left and slotted the ball into the net.
Although the shot was aided by multiple deflections, it was the culmination of a superb sweeping move by the Ton, with quick feet from Cammy MacPherson and Owen Moffat key to ensuring Morton went in at half-time ahead.
Morton could’ve been further ahead before the interval, though, with set- pieces causing the Staggies problems, including a Tomi Adeloye effort from a tight angle that forced Scott Carson into action.
The Highlanders showed spirit to try and get back into the game, but were hit with a gut punch just shy of the hour mark when MacPherson doubled his side’s lead.
Nathan Shaw’s free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box, but the midfielder showed composure to set the ball and stroke it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box and make it 2-0 to the visitors.
By Darren Adams [email protected]
With the Ton firmly in the driver’s seat, County struggled to create any chances, and their misery was compounded with 15 minutes left.
Cammy Ballantyne won the ball back on the left, before quick interplay from Adeloye and Ian Wilson allowed the fullback in behind.
Last year’s player of the season did well to pick out sub, Michael O’Halloran, in the box, who saw his shot pinball off both County centre backs and land at the feet of fellow substitute, Michael Garrity, who gratefully accepted the invitation to score from point blank range.
Despite Ross County’s best efforts, they failed to trouble James Storer’s net in any meaningful way, meaning Morton left with three goals, three points and their first win in Dingwall since 2003.
The victory moved the Greenock side up to sixth place, with only two points between them and fourth place, whilst a win for Airdrieonians meant the Staggies sit only one point off the foot of the table.
Next up for Dougie Imrie’s side is a trip to Dunfermline to face Neil Lennon’s fifth place Pars, as the division’s average teams thus far go head-to-head, vying to push into the top four.
