Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Rovers are left to pay the penalty
Albion Rovers .. 0 Morton .. 0 Colin Paterson (Morton won 4-3 on penalties) Darren Young was pleased Albion Rovers made their point on the opening day of the Betfred Cup.
The League One side held full-time Morton at the Exsel Group Stadium on Saturday before the visitors banked a Group H bonus point with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win.
Player/manager Young said:“I thought as a defensive unit we limited them to very few chances. I don’t think they had a shot on target in the second half.
“I’m pleased with certain aspects of the game. We got a point and a clean sheet but, going forward, we maybe lacked that wee bit of quality and a killer touch.”
Rovers had two strong penalty shouts. Firstly, Scott McBride went down in the box under a challenge from Ton keeper Andy McNeil.
In the 67th minute, former Inverness Caledonian Thistle youngster Calum Ferguson was felled by Greenock defender Lewis Strapp but referee Craig Napier was unmoved on both occasions.
“I felt we had a couple of penalty claims,”Young said.“I think the first one was a penalty because the keeper hasn’t got to the ball as our guy has got his foot to it first.
“I don’t know about the second one as Calum might have been too quick for him.”
Rovers had the best chances in the first half. Ferguson headed wide from a Ross Davidson cross before McNeil parried a fierce strike by Paul Willis.
A superb run and shot from Willis was kept out by McNeil which led to Strapp’s risky challenge on Ferguson as the hitman attempted to convert the rebound.
Some fans headed for the exits when the full-time whistle blew with PA announcer Daniel Mossie reminding them that a spot-kick shoot-out was about to be held. McNeil was Ton’s hero as he saved from Alan Reid and Gary Fisher.
Rovers stopper Ross Stewart denied Ross Forbes but Lee Kilday netted the clincher for the Championship team.
Ton boss Jim Duffy was satisfied and said:“The positives are we’ve won, got a clean sheet and the bonus point.” ALBION ROVERS: Stewart; Reid, R Dunlop, M Dunlop, Turnbull; Fisher, Davidson; Ferry (Shields 78), Willis, McBride; Ferguson. SUBS NOT USED: Potts(gk), Gilmour, Young, Cappie, Johnston. MORTON: McNeil; Doyle, Kilday, O’Ware, Strapp; Stevenson (McAleer 60), Forbes, Tidser, Scullion (Tiffoney 84); McDonagh (Quitongo 73), Oliver. SUBS NOT USED: Gaston(gk), Lamie, Tennant. BOOKED: Stevenson. REFEREE: Craig Napier. ATT: 431.