Click here, or read below for my match report of Greenock Morton v Raith Rovers which took place this afternoon. The report was published on the official Raith Rovers website.
Table Topping Rovers Send Morton Rock Bottom
Greenock Morton lumbered to a narrow defeat against table topping Raith Rovers at Cappielow Park this afternoon. Apart from numerous long range efforts, the home side struggled to threaten the Rovers goal and despite throwing men forward at the end, the Fifers held on.
Raith were the better team in what was a fairly scrappy affair and would have been disappointed to go in at half time without a goal to show for their efforts.
The second half failed to see an improvement in quality but Allan Walker snatched the points away from Morton on the 61st minute as he belted the ball past Colin Stewart. His strike condemns Morton to bottom while it keeps Rovers on top.Rovers tried to pass the ball around right from the start, but Morton had an early chance headed over by Allan Jenkins.
Raith had their first opportunities through a powerful Grant Murray header and a Jamie Mole cross which caused problems for Stewart in the Morton goal.
The Kirkcaldy side then tried to convert their possession into goals on 15th minute as Mole cut a ball across goal but Morton crowded out the onrushing Walker.
Gregory Tade drilled a ball across goal without any takers before Stewart pushed a rasping Iain Williamson shot up in the air and Stuart McCaffrey headed the ball over for a corner.
John Baird had two chances as first Walker and then Craig Wilson aimed two crosses at the striker. Baird's first effort failed to find the target but after Tade did great work down the right hand side to release Wilson, the receiving Baird met the ball perfectly but lashed it into the side-netting.
Despite Morton being on the back foot for the majority of the half, they still managed to carve open a great opportunity on the 37th minute. Brian Graham had the beating of Laurie Ellis in the box and from a tight angle stroked the ball inches wide of the post, but credit must go to Raith keeper' David McGurn who looked Schmeichel-like as he made himself as big as possible.
Rovers fans were shouting for a penalty as the half drew to a close when Baird’s run into the box was halted by a blatant body-check by Smyth.
Morton came out in the second half looking to cause a few problems in the Rovers defence with Michael Tidser curling a shot over the bar and Allan Jenkins heading over from a corner.
However, on the 57th minute Rovers went close again when Baird drove a fierce shot only to see a Morton defender block the effort away on the six yard line.
Baird then stung the palms of Stewart moments after McGurn had dealt with a Tidser shot comfortably.
The next attack saw Raith finally take the lead. Wilson's deflected pile-driver fell to the unmarked Walker who drove the ball at goal and despite a strong palm thrown in the way, Stewart couldn't keep the ball from nestling in the back of the net.
Graham Weir, who replaced Tade had an effort saved on the 86th minute, before Allan Moore pushed his team forward in search of a dramatic late equaliser.
Marc Smyth and Tidser hit long range shots over the bar, but the best chance for Morton to equalise came on the 89th minute. With Rovers defenders scrambling around Graham, he turned and watched his shot crawl inches past the post with McGurn scrambling.
However, it wasn't to be Morton's day and the result means they now prop up the rest of the division. On the other hand, Rovers keep up their lofty position and hold Dunfermline in second place below them in the league table.
Picture © Jim Foy
written by Will Lyon
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