Gable Endies give boss Petrie reaction he wanted
Montrose will take a 2- 1 lead into Tuesday’s second leg of the Championship play- off semi- final after they roared back from the loss of an early goal to beat Morton.
A delighted Montrose manager Stewart Petrie hailed his side’s display, but warned that it is only half-time.
He said: “We were excellent in the second half. We gave away a poor early goal from our point of view.
“However, I got the reaction I expected against a Championship club.
“We scored two superb goals, but we won’t get carried away.
“Two years ago, we took on Queen of the South in a semi-final second leg and the game was over after 20 minutes.
“It was a couple of great finishes from Russell Mclean and Graham Webster and they both have that in their locker.
“Russell got the break of the ball for the first, but the second came after a super move and it was a great cushioned header from Cammy Ballantyne that put Graham in.
“We will rest up and go again on Tuesday. We have given ourselves a chance by going to Greenock still in the tie and we will give our all.”
Morton took the lead on five minutes as Gary Oliver burst into the box and fired an angled drive past Alan Fleming.
Montrose hit back and a Martin Rennie free-kick was easy for Aidan Mcadams, then the keeper saved at the feet of Mclean in 24 minutes.
Morton had another chance in 37 minutes when Markus Fjortoft headed over from a corner. A minute later, a shot from Rennie looked netbound until Lewis Strapp managed to block.
In the second half, a Kyle Jacobs shot was deflected wide of the Montrose goal.
Montrose levelled in 57 minutes. A mistake by Fjortoft let Mclean race clear. His first effort was blocked, but he then sent a glorious curling effort just inside the post.
A Cammy F Ballantyne effort was put out for a corner by Mcadams.
However, Montrose made it 2-1 in 78 minutes when Webster collected a Ballantyne header and shot into the bottom corner.
Morton boss Gus Mcpherson said: “We didn’t deal with the conditions in the second half. We lost a poor goal which gave them a lift.
“When we lost that goal I looked for a reaction and didn’t get it.
“We made a good start and got our goal, but Montrose used the conditions that bit better.
“We have made things difficult for ourselves, but we must go out and win a game of football.”