Battling Morton cool down hot Ayr
IMRIE’S SIDE MAKE THEIR POINT BUT HONEST MEN STILL TOP OF THE TABLE
IT’S as you were at the summit of the Championship after leaders Ayr United maintained their three-point advantage, while Morton stretched their unbeaten run to six games.
Jai Quitongo earned Morton a point they could not be grudged when he cancelled out Alex Kirk’s early headed opener for the hosts.
Morton are one of four sides on Ayr’s coat tails but, with only five points separating the top seven teams, the title race looks set to be a drawn-out affair.
Somerset Park head coach Lee Bullen said he had no qualms when Ayr were denied a penalty claim when Jack Baird appeared to bring down Dipo Akinyemi while a late goal was disallowed for handball by Kirk.
Bullen said: ‘The game was 100-per-cent what I expected — Ayr and Morton going at it like that. I don’t think any team deserved to lose the game although we probably worked their goalie slightly more.
‘It was all about concentration levels and avoiding mistakes. Credit to both sets of players.
‘It would have been a soft penalty while it was a clear handball. A point is so important in this league given that it was first against second. It’s a good point and we move on and go again next week.’
Ayr took only three minutes to take the lead. On-loan Livingston winger Josh Mullin swept over a free-kick from the left and top scorer Akinyemi sent in an effort which Morton goalkeeper Brian Schwake was unable to hold.
The loose ball fell perfectly for Kirk (right) and the on-loan Arsenal teenager nodded home from point-blank range.
It was the first goal Morton had conceded in 385 minutes as their run of four clean sheets shuddered to a halt.
The Greenock side, who included a trio of ex-Ayr players in Jack Baird, Grant Gillespie and Robbie Crawford, took only 13 minutes to equalise. Crawford fired over a deep corner and Quitongo climbed above Akinyemi at the back post to head home.
Substitute Jaze Kabia almost had an instant impact for Morton. Four minutes after entering the fray on the hour, the on-loan Livingston striker sent in a swerving shot from 20 yards which crashed off the outside of Charlie Albinson’s post.
Morton boss Dougie Imrie claimed: ‘A point was fair, I don’t think Ayr deserved to win nor did we.
‘The only thing I am disappointed in is the way we lost the goal but the way we came back into the game first half especially to get the equaliser — it shows the character we have.
‘We penned them in at the start of the second half but we never got that final bit right today which was disappointing.
‘I’m delighted to keep the unbeaten run going and that’s now six games. This team are doing brilliantly for me and I’m proud of them every week.
‘Ayr is a tough place to come at the best of times so I’m delighted to get a point. The boys are all battling their corner.’