MATCH STATS ALLOA ATHLETIC 1
STAR MAN: Morton’s MARKUS FJORTOFT was a tower of strength for his side and capped an outstanding display with a typically dominant header to open the scoring.
Thomson (83) MORTON 1
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 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.
“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 we didn’t and the players are all absolutely gutted after we dominated the ball and created the better chances.
“It’s still a real positive to pick up a point and it keeps us moving up that league table.”
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.