Sinking like a stone

GREENOCK MORTON knew a draw would be enough to prevent automatic relegation from the Championship as they travelled north to face bottom side Ross County in the penultimate fixture of the season.
With Airdrieonians being the other side capable of catching the Ton, and a last-day meeting with the Lanarkshire side up next, Ian Murray and his players were keen to quash any chance of taking it to the last day with a commanding display in the Highlands.
Due to the Staggies’ vastly inferior goal difference, it was unlikely prior to kick-off that both teams could catch Morton; however, the picture quickly changed after a frantic start from the Highlanders.
Ryan Duncan had his volley from close range dubiously blocked by the arm of Kris Moore, before the defender lost his man at the resulting corner and Akil Wright bulleted a header past James Storer to put the home side 1-0 up after just nine minutes of play.
Aiming to respond quickly, Curtis Main forced Scott Carson into action with a towering header from a corner, but the veteran goalie was alert to hold the effort.
But County had their tails up and swept the ball down the other end, where Connor Randall turned Jackson Longridge inside out and picked out Jordan White, who had timed his run to perfection to sweep the ball home for 2-0.
After 20 minutes, a difference of 12 goals had been reduced to eight, making County’s deficit more than half as difficult to overcome, but it could’ve taken a body blow when Owen Moffat streaked through on goal.
The winger was forced wide by the covering defender, but laid the ball on a plate for Main to tap into an empty net; however, the striker couldn’t get onto the ball as he threw himself into the post instead.
And any sentiment that a half-time break was a good thing for the Greenockians was quickly dispelled when they found themselves 3-0 down after less than five minutes of second-half play.
County broke down the left quickly and, despite a poor ball into the box, Cameron Blues failed to clear and the ball landed at Noah Chilvers’ feet to stroke home from 12 yards.
County continued to push, eager to turn the tables and close the goal difference gap to Morton, and found a lot of joy from throw-ins deep into Morton territory.
Kieran Phillips was first to be denied with a darting run across the front post, where he was unable to direct his shot on target, before Ryan Duncan was denied by the best efforts of Storer when his rasping shot from the edge of the box looked likely to burst the net.
But Duncan wasn’t to be denied for a second time as the Staggies swept through the Morton midfield to the edge of the box, where a cheeky backheel flick from Phillips teed the ball up perfectly for Duncan to bury into the bottom right corner.
Luckily for the Greenock side, that was the end of the scoring for the day, as bottom side Ross County ran out 4-0 winners over the Ton, pulling off a miraculous eight-goal swing in goal difference going into the final day.
This sets up a bumper last day of the season, as ninth-place Airdrieonians come to Cappielow on Friday night.
Had the Staggies scored once more, they would have had a higher likelihood of pulling off a dramatic escape, but as it stands, they require a four-goal swing in a win for themselves and a loss for the Ton to avoid relegation altogether.
There remains the threat of a ninth-place finish, which would guarantee a relegation play-off place against League One’s stellar performers.
But Morton’s fate still remains in their own hands, as avoiding defeat on Friday will secure their place in the Championship for next season.
Although some home fans would have preferred a tame end to the season, it ensures a dramatic end as three teams scrap for Championship survival on the final day.