The unpredictability of this fixture matched the day’s weather where rain, snow and sunshine fell on the Hampden pitch before the match kicked off in ideal conditions under a blue sky. Morton ensured the blue theme continued for Queen’s at the end of the game having grabbed all three points from their grasp after scoring 2 goals in a 10-minute spell in the second half to win the game.
Queen’s made 2 changes to the starting eleven from last week’s cup game against Montrose, Rudden replacing McLeish and Drozd replacing Rocco Hickey- Fugaccia who both made the bench.
Opening exchanges from both teams looked promising with creative approaches developing in the midfield areas only to peter out in the final third with moves from both teams breaking down at the opposition’s penalty areas.
Queen’s looked to be the team that settled first into the flow of the game and began to dominate possession down the flanks for its overlapping full backs and forced a number of corners in the opening 15 minutes of the game from a resolute Morton defence.
From a corner on Queen’s left the ball was cleared to Duncan who fired a goal bound left footed volley from outside the penalty area only to see it deflected past the post by a desperate clearance from the Morton defence for another corner which came to nothing.
Morton began to gain some traction in the game midway through the first half. Continuing to probe down Queen’s right flank, Morton’s Lyall combined with teammate Davies who fired a dangerous ball across goal with no takers.
The breakthrough for Queen’s came in the 23 minute. A forward pass in the middle of the park was fed to Queen’s Welsh who made a slide rule pass inside the full back to the overlapping Duncan on the left wing, who crossed it first time across goal for Rudden to tap into the net to round off a great passing move by Queen’s.
Queen’s continued to exert pressure on the Morton defence only for efforts by Turner and Scott to be blocked in quick succession. Turning up the pressure, Queen’s created what could have been a match winning opportunity. A forward pass out of midfield found Rudden who neatly flicked it right to the onrushing Longridge who broke past the left back on the inside right position and looked certain to score one on one with the Morton keeper only to shoot wide of goal when a goal beckoned. A chance that would prove costly later in the game. Further attacks towards the Morton goal were put behind for more corners to Queen’s who were looking to double their lead prior to half-time but the Morton defence held firm and repelled the set pieces.
Half time: Queen’s Park 1 Morton 0
Expectations were high for the second half as Queen’s had the best of possession and chances in the first half and more goals were anticipated. The opening minutes of the second period saw Queen’s Park looking to make an early impact with some tidy interplay from Tizzard and Scott on the left, linking infield with Rudden to Turner and putting Mauchin in on the right to cross for Rudden only to see it deflect off the Morton defence safely into the arms of keeper Mullen.
Queen’s Scott tested keeper Mullen’s reflexes with a stinging shot from outside the box that was pushed over for yet another Queen’s corner. This was followed by another opportunity where a cross from Mauchin on the right saw Rudden leap unchallenged to direct a header towards the Morton goal only for it to go over the bar.
Morton made the first changes in their formation withdrawing Davies for Garrity on the left wing 10 minutes into the second half, a sign of the pressure Queen’s were exerting on Morton. On the 60th minute an injury to Queen’s Mauchin saw a change of formation in the Queen’s set up with Longridge dropping back to full back, Duncan switching to the right midfield position and Hinds coming on to occupy the left flank.
A mazy run by Rudden from centre of the field down the left flank resulted in a corner being conceded by the overworked Morton defence. From the resultant corner Queen’s Ujdur managed to head the ball from close range into the arms of the Morton keeper who was stranded on his line and grateful Queen’s squandered another chance to go 2 up in the game.
Missed chances tend to come back and bite you and this proved to be the case. In the 66 minute Morton were beginning to pick up second balls in midfield and threaten on the odd occasion the Queen’s defence. A missed challenge from Queen’s Hinds in the left back position saw a low cross put across goal behind the Queen’s defence for Morton’s Reynolds to slide home from close range to beat keeper Ferrie and equalise for Morton.
Queen’s appeared rocked by this with Keeper Ferrie not having to make a save of note in the entire game. Worse was to follow in the 76th minute. A kick upfield from Keeper Ferrie was won by the Morton defence and helped forward in midfield trying to release Garrity on the left flank. Queen’s Longridge, was caught out by the flight of the ball allowing Morton’s Garrity to stride forward unchallenged and calmly slotting the ball behind the outrushing Ferrie to put Morton in front.
Queen’s response to chasing the game was to withdraw Duncan for Rocco Hickey- Fugaccia. A number of corners followed for Queen’s as the Morton defence doggedly defended their lead towards the end of the match. In added time a late chance fell to Queen’s keeper Ferrie, upfield to attack a Queen’s corner, but saw his snatched goalbound effort rebound off a Morton defender and over the bar to safety.
Full Time: Queen’s Park 1 Morton 2
Queen’s Park: Calum Ferrie (C), Zach Mauchin (Josh Hinds 62mins), Nikola Ujdur, Will Tizzard, Joshua Scott, Jack Turner, Louis Longridge, Sean Welsh, Ryan Duncan (Rocco Hickey -Fugaccia 85 mins), Seb Drozd (Liam McLeish 76 mins), Zak Rudden.
Unused Substitutes: J. Wills, M. Thomson, B. Jackson, R. Evans, C. Kerr, T. Scott.
Morton: Ryan Mullan, Cameron Ballantyne, Zak Delaney, Jack Baird (C), Morgan Boyes, Cameron Blues (Alister Crawford 85 mins), Filip Stuparevic (Lamar Reynolds 65 mins), Jordan Davies (Michael Garrity 55 mins), Arron Lyall, Nathan Shaw (Grant Gillespie 85 mins), Iain Wilson.
Unused Substitutes: G. Woods, K. Broadfoot, N. McGinn, L. O’Boy
Referee: Steven McLean
Starting Eleven
