Al’s relief as Queens hold on for vital win
QOS 2
Obileye (15), Fitzpatrick (27) MORTON 1
Orsi (58)
Allan Johnston believes his Queen of the South team learned their lesson from last week’s draw against Arbroath as they held on for a massive 2-1 victory over Morton.
First-half goals from Ayo Obileye and Aidan Fitzpatrick put the Palmerston Park side two goals to the good.
But, when Kalvin Orsi struck for the Ton on the hour mark, Queens had to dig deep to secure the points and continue their recent upturn in form.
A delighted Johnston said: “We played really well in the first half and got ourselves a two-goal lead.
“After last week against Arbroath, it was always going to be in the back of their heads if they got a goal.
“But, credit to the boys, they saw the game out and had a chance to finish it but when you don’t take them, you’re always going to be under a wee bit of pressure.
“We got the win and we’ve
closed the gap on the teams around us.
“This week we’ve been tested to the limit with the number of injuries we’ve had.
“Three of our most experienced players in Stephen Dobbie, Joe Mckee and Gregor Buchanan all picked up injuries but the young guys have come in and did a great job.”
The hosts scored from the game’s first real opportunity when defender Obileye bulleted a header from a Rhys Mccabe corner that left Morton stopper Aidan Mcadams no chance on 14 minutes.
Queens continued to cause Morton problems and deservedly doubled their lead after a superb team move on 26 minutes.
Dan Pybus did well to fend off Jim Mcallister from a throw-in and laid the ball to James Maxwell.
The left-back nutmegged his marker and fed the ball through to Fitzpatrick who still had a lot to do, but showed his mettle to drive past two defenders and place his low strike into the net.
After a lacklustre opening period, Morton started the second 45 on the attack and halved the deficit on 58 minutes.
Aidan Nesbitt breezed past Rhys Breen into the box and his shot was parried by Rohan Ferguson but only into the path of Orsi, who tapped home.
The visitors then controlled the match and could’ve been level two minutes later but Orsi’s shot was blocked by Breen.
The Ton looked destined to score an equaliser but, after a slack pass, Queens broke up the park with Connor Shields picking up the ball outside of the 18-yard box. However, Mcadams pulled off a tremendous save to deny the hitman his eighth goal in six matches.
Morton had a late chance to salvage a point when Craig Mcguffie’s cross ball landed to the feet of Nesbitt, but the attacker ballooned his closerange effort over the bar and brought an end to his side’s five-game unbeaten run.
Ton interim manager Anton Mcelhone said: “It wasn’t acceptable in the first half; we’ve got to be stronger.
“We pride ourselves with being good defensively and from open play we were but from throw-ins and corners we have to do better.
“We made changes in the second half and caused them problems but we didn’t take our chances.
“These guys have been fantastic. Out of six games we’ve lost one.
“They’ve done everything right and what I’ve asked for.
“The undefeated run is over, which isn’t great, but it lets us know where we are.”
Shields and Fitzpatrick