Written for Pure Fitbaw by Scott Rawlings

Ray MacKinnon was full of praise for his Greenock Morton side as they thrashed Albion Rovers five-nil at Cappielow Stadium in their Scottish League Cup Group E tie on Saturday. MacKinnon said;

“We could’ve created a little more in the final third and our performance maybe deserved a little more but overall it’s a great result. We won’t be getting carried away with it but it’s five goals and a clean sheet so it’s good.”

It was Rovers who started the brighter of the two teams at Cappielow with Lewis McLear curling an effort just wide after two minutes. The away side failed to build on this and nearly fell behind a few minutes later when Ross MacLean’s effort was deflected onto the Albion crossbar. Morton really should’ve been ahead after 20 minutes when Connor Bell rounded the goalkeeper and somehow missed with the goal gaping. Jack Iredale then had a header tipped over by Gareth Halford before Gary Oliver fired just wide.

A Morton goal was coming and it arrived on the 35th minute when MacLean’s cross from the right fell to Robert McHugh at the back post who finished first time.
Two minutes later and it was two-nil Morton. Bell made up for his earlier miss by drilling an excellent low strike into the bottom corner of the Rovers net.
An Albion substitute clumsily fouled McHugh at the back post to give the home side a penalty after 74 minutes which Michael Tidser dispatched. Within a minute of the restart it was four-nil to the home side as youngster Ben Armour raced through on goal and calmly slotted under the keeper. Finally, just five minutes after his first goal Tidser grabbed another by rounding the keeper and passing into the empty net to make it five-nil to the home side.

When asked about his goals Tidser said;

“In the first half I was a little deeper but second half I started to try and play further up the park. It was good to score the penalty and I managed to get myself a second which was pleasing.”

Pure Fitbaw’s Three Players To Watch

Michael Tidser:
Morton’s very own midfield dynamo. Tidser has started the season in fine form and was instrumental in the five nil thrashing of Albion Rovers, grabbing himself two goals in the process. Everything good about Morton’s performance seemed to flow through the midfielder. His industrious performances could be vital for Morton’s promotion push this season.

Ben Armour:

The youth academy graduate was a second half sub against Albion and grabbed himself his first professional goal as well. The youngster was lively, energetic and if he can build on this showing could well be a good option for Ray MacKinnon to have.

Mark Greene:

The 18 year old only played the first half against Morton at the weekend but showed glimpses of what he has to offer. With his pace and direct style of play Greene has the ability to trouble defences and he could be one to keep an eye on.