Super sub Thomson gives his boss New Year cheer
ALLOA ATHLETIC 1 Thomson (83) MORTON 1 Fjortoft (68)
Both managers – Alloa’s Peter Grant and Morton caretaker Anton Mcelhone – sang from the same hymn sheet after substitute Robert Thomson’s late equaliser cancelled out Markus Fjortoft’s opener to ensure that both sides left the Indodrill Stadium with a point.
“It was a good point for us in the end after being 1-0 down, although I still feel it was two points dropped,” said Grant after steadying the ship following two heavy defeats at Christmas.
“We looked more likely to score in the first half, but then we gave two silly corners away in quick succession through a lack of concentration.
“We deserved something from the game after all the effort we put in. We did well to come back from one down and I thought we could even have gone on to win it at the end.
“Morton had people out due to Covid, but we had six players out ourselves. Others didn’t train all week and only came through late fitness tests at one o’clock.
“We had too many good players not available today, but the ones who did play showed real guts and determination to get through the 90 minutes.”
Mcelhone, who remains unbeaten in four games since replacing David Hopkin, added: “We should have picked up all three points.
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t and the players are all absolutely gutted about that after we dominated the ball and created the better chances.
“Aidan Nesbitt had two really good chances at the back post before we went ahead with a really great goal from Markus.
“It’s still a real positive to pick up a point and it keeps us moving up that league table.
“We’ve not had the easiest build-up this week because we’ve not been able to train properly, just like a lot of other clubs.
“We have a young team and it’s still coming together. It’s a hungry team and everyone is desperate to play.”
The visitors began brightly and Jamie Mcallister went close early on, but Alloa gradually settled and proceeded to dominate the rest of the first half.
Defender Nicky Jamieson headed over from a corner and Innes Murray fired a free kick straight at keeper Aidan Mcadams, while veteran striker Liam Buchanan saw his shot blocked after Kevin Cawley had unpicked the Morton defence.
The same two home players were involved again in the 38th minute when Cawley’s drive hit Buchanan, who turned on a sixpence before shooting wide from point-blank range.
Alloa had a half-hearted penalty appeal waved away at the start of the second period, but Morton were showing greater intensity now and carved out their best chance so far when Kalvin Arsi narrowly failed to make contact with Aidan Nesbitt’s low cross.
Nesbitt then spurned an even clearer opportunity in the 65th minute, curling his finish over the top, but the pressure was building on Alloa and it was no surprise to see Fjortoft heading Morton in front barely three minutes later from Nesbitt’s corner.
Fjortoft almost made it 2-0 soon after, but the Greenock club then made the mistake of sitting too deep on their slender lead and ultimately paid the price.
Buchanan headed over and soon forced an athletic save from Mcadams before substitute Thomson eluded his markers to equalise from close range with seven minutes left.
ALLOA: (3-5-1-1) Parry 5; Dick 6, Graham 6, Jamieson 5; Hetherington 5, Robertson 6, Grant 4, Cawley 7, Murray 7; O’donnell 6 (Thomson 71 7); Buchanan 6. Subs, not used – Willison, Lynch, Evans, Connelly, Malcolm, Williamson.
MORTON: (4-5-1) Mcadams 7; Fjortoft 8, Mcginty 6; Ledger 5, Strapp 5; Mcallister 5, Nesbitt 7, Salkeld 4 (Omar 83 5), Lyon 5 (Millar 88 4), Colville 4 (Oliver 64 4); Orsi 5. Subs, not used – Wallace, Blues, Easdale.