The game started off with a lively pace and Morton's first chance came through David Hopkin, when he was played through. Despite being 500 miles offside the linesman didn't flag, and Kris Robertson got down well to save. Unfortunately he picked up an injury, but was fit enough to continue after some treatment. Hopkin also picked up an "injury" and the Morton phyiso ran on without even asking he he could. Hmmm.
Saints first chance was when Martin Cameron was sent through and was unlucky to see his effort come off the post. Sadly it didn't come straight back and Morton cleared easily, before scoring shortly afterwards.
Morton won a free kick, which was taken quickly, layed off to someone else who hammered it home from the edge of the box. It was the second game running where Saints had been caught out by a quickly taken free kick, but this time it was all goalkeepers Kris Robertson's fault. The shot was straight at him! He might not have been able to get to it because of his injury but when a shot is straight at you, you should score.
Morton kept pilling on the pressure, although Saints did have a few chances from the trickery of Junior Mendes, and eventually got their second thanks to the incompetence of Chris Kerr. He just backed off instead of tackling, the Morton man crossed in and, with several players in the box, Hopkin hammered home. He then celebrated with the Saints fans, blowing kisses or something at us, and was rightly booked. Wouldn't have cared if he'd done that in front of Morton fans, but he didn't.
Morton deserved their two goal lead, and a few times had chances when they should have scored. Cameron should have pulled one back from Saints and how he missed from 6 yards is anyones guess. Brian McGinty was lucky to stay on the park after an assault on the goalkeeper, and received only a yellow from the shocking referee.
Half time came with Saints trailing 2-0, but there was improvement from the previous week. The team were actually trying and looking interest, mainly down to the change of manager. If Cameron had been on form it would have been 2-2 no problems. Half time also saw the exit of Denham, as he became injured once again, to be replaced with Ricky Robb.
Saints fought back in the second half and after a few chances, finally scored. Andy Dow had been replaced with David Lowing, and when someone crossed in (can't remember who), Cameron was there to head home, admittedly with the ball hitting a Morton man on the way. 2-1, and we were back in with a shout.
Morton had a few chances to go back 3-1 in front, but Robertson was in fine form after his earlier mistake. Ricky Gillies was looking not bad up front, having taken over the captaincy from Denham, but his shooting was woeful. Another shocking refereeing decision came when Junior Mendes was clean through, was tripped at the back and went down. penalty? No chance, a booking for Mendes. Obviously when any player is clean through with the chance to make it 2-2 they will dive, it's common knowledge ;-) Shortly afterwards goalscorer Cameron was replaced with Mark Yardley, and the equaliser wasn't long in coming.
Saints took a quick free kick, the ball going to Simon Lappin who cut in and hit a superb shot, for his first senior goal for Saints. The shot was so hard the net neaded reparing afterwards! Unfortunately when Lappin ran over to the Saints fan (who were behind the goal all 5 goals were scored in today) some eejits an on the pitch and the ref wasn't happy. Once order was restored, a beachball bounced about in the Saints support, accompanied with cries of "You're not singing anymore". The cowshed was indeed silent, the Morton fans obviously shell shocked by this team, who had lost their manager midweek, fighting back. You had to wonder though, why were they signing "Hendrie, whats the score?" at times when they were winning? He's gone, he wouldn't care! It was after the second goal that it was noticable for the first time that Junior was knackered as he couldn't be bothered running over to celebrate.
With the game heading towards extra time Brian McGinty picked up his second booking. For winning the ball. Hmmmmm. No way was it a red card, but after Lappin had scored the equaliser my dad said "He'll send someone like McGinty off now to let Morton win, just wait and see."Doh!
The first period of half time passed without much incident, Morton mainly pressuring. With Mendes there for nuisance value alone, and with one striker less, it looked like being just a matter of time before Morton scored.
In the second period of extra time, Morton levelled things up when one of the Maisano brothers got sent off for elbowing Chris Kerr (he does have a use, he gets people sent off). The funny thing was, his brother (who looked very like the guy just sent off) was about to go over and nut the linesman, who'd flagged for the elbow, before the referee got in the way. It took Saints just two minutes to take advantage.
Mark Yardley got the ball, and proceeded to turn/skin (yes, take the ball past people) about foru or five defenders. After about the Saints support screamed at him to score, but he kept going before burying it in the net. The Saints fans behind the goal went absolutely ballistic as the big man ran over to us. Amazingly the ref gave him a talking to, despite it being his own fans! Sorry for doubting you Yards, as that was the goal of the season already, and your best Saints goal ever. Unfortunately the cameras probably weren't there to record it!
The remainder of extra time passed without much incident, except a Morton player being booked for winning the ball of Yards who was trying his time wasting tactics. The referee really was that bad, worse than some already this season.
After full time the Saints players who were left on the park linked arms and came over and celebrated in front of us. It was a much better performance than last week, 100% effort from everybody, the only poor players being Andy Dow and Chris Kerr. Simon Lappin received the man of the match award, despite not playing for Morton! He was superb, a call up to the Scotland under 21 squad can't be fair away. For Yardley and Cameron, a call up the full Scotland squad could be on it's way after that rubbish against the Faroes today. Thankfully, because of extra time, I missed most of the game :-) Robb, Lowing and Mendes were great as well today, Yards and Cameron being pretty good too. Robertson did well after his mistake.
If John Coughlin can produce performances like that give him the job. There is no way Tom Hendrie would have been able to make his team fightback like that, he'd have tried for some drawing the second half rubbish. Well done John, a job well done.