IAN Murray’s rein got underway with a tough away tie to League One pacesetters, Stenhousemuir.
The Scottish Cup had been kind to Morton in the past, but the one-time winners were up against it with Gary Naysmith’s side boasting one of the longest unbeaten runs at home in the country.
And Murray heeded this, naming a strong line-up full of experience which started the game in an encouraging manner.
Straight from kick-off James Storer launched a ball forward and, although Eamonn Brophy couldn’t win the ball, he did enough to put off former Morton defender, Gregor Buchanan, who accidentally produced a perfect flick on for Michael O’Halloran to run onto, but the veteran saw his shot blocked in the box.
Moments later Kris Moore found Owen Moffat in space and the diminutive figure zipped a ball low into the box from the right, where Brophy made contact but sent the ball wide.
Then Brophy was almost on the scoresheet, as a throw-in deep in the Morton half was picked up by O’Halloran, who galloped through the Stenny midfield and found Arron Lyall.
The midfielder slotted the ball through to Brophy, who worked the angle for the shot with his first touch but conspired to curl his effort by the post with the goal gaping.
Although the Ton seemed to be pinning the Warriors back, a corner-kick offered a rare opportunity for Stenhousemuir, and the capitalised, as Nicky Jamieson’s header cannoned off a Morton defender, back onto him, taking another deflection before finding the back of the net to give the League One leaders the advantage.
Ian Murray’s team aimed to respond quickly and put together their best passing move of the half in search of the equaliser–with Moffat jinking inside and linking up with Brophy, who did well to avoid a challenge and send O’Halloran through on goal.
The former Rangers man lined up his shot but was wiped out by Jamieson, who’d had a brilliant game up until then, leaving the referee in no doubt in pointing to the spot.
Brophy took on the responsibility from 12 yards, but his effort was tame and Darren Jamieson guessed correctly to keep the ball out of the net.
Murray’s misery was compounded when Stenhousemuir’s second corner was flicked on at the front post by Matty Aitken, who found the far corner with a superbly placed header to double the Warriors’ lead.
The second-half began in a similar manner, with Morton nearly grabbing a goal back when Brophy’s low effort was spilled by Jamieson, but just as O’Halloran looked likely to tap in, Archie Graham cleared off the line.
Then Cameron Blues saw his glancing header from a corner well saved from Jamieson, as Morton turned the screw looking for a route back into the tie.
But Morton lacked that clinical edge in front of goal, which was all too evident when Michael Garrity found Lyall in the box.
The on-loan Ross County man was composed under pressure, but saw his shot deflected, taking the sting out of the shot but also wrong-footing Jamieson.
But the goalie was in inspired form and managed to scramble down to his left to scoop the ball away from the goal.
Though Morton threatened, Stenny’s game plan was clear–to frustrate the Ton defensively and pick them off at the other end—and it worked a treat as just after an hour of play they had their third.
A free-kick was looped into the back post, where Jamieson bullied his marker and found his defensive partner Buchanan–who gave Storer no chance sending his header back where it came from.
The day went from bad to worse when Jamieson’s punt wasn’t dealt with by the Morton defence.
Number nine, Aitken, occupied the centre backs, but peeled off into space before being found one-on-one with Storer and dispatching for his second and the Warriors’ fourth without reply.
That would be how it ended as Murray’s Morton got off to the worst possible start, falling 4-0 to Stenhousemuir and exiting the Scottish Cup in spectacular style ahead of Friday night’s crucial encounter with Arbroath.
