Match Report: Airdrie U-20s 3-5 Morton U-20s
Airdrie Under-20s 3 – 5 Morton Under-20s
Boateng (3), Loudon (50, 55 pen) – Mitchell (15), Orr (36, 68), Langan (56), Scullion (70)
Morton Under-20s came out on top in a rollercoaster Development League West match against Airdrieonians at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell yesterday afternoon.
On a sunny day in North Lanarkshire, a topsy-turvy encounter saw Andy Millen’s side concede early on, go 2-1 ahead, then let that slip to fall 3-2 behind before going on to score three more times and win the match comfortably in the end.
Former Arsenal defender Daniel Boateng broke the seal with just three minutes on the clock, heading home a Conor McLaughlin corner that was adjudged to have crossed the line despite Jamie McGowan getting a touch and Mitchell Duffy attempting to hook clear.
The Ton levelled things up in similar fashion on 15 minutes, although there were no doubts about this one as John Mitchell’s emphatic downwards header from a Jon Scullion header crashed into the net.
Striker Thomas Orr then put his side in front on 36 minutes, poking home on the stretch at the second attempt after his initial attempt to convert Scott Tiffoney’s low cross from the right was blocked.
The visitors dominated the remainder of the first half, but found themselves pegged back fives minute into the second half, Murray Loudon sweeping a fine, first-time half volley over McGowan into the top-right corner.
Midfielder Loudon was Airdrie’s most impressive performer on the day, and he won and then converted a spot-kick on 55 minutes, sweeping low into the bottom-left corner despite McGowan guessing correctly, to turn the game back on its head.
But the lead lasted last than a minute thanks to Ton Under-20s skipper Ruaridh Langan, who burst a gut to get himself to the front post in order to stab Tiffoney’s low centre past home keeper Matthew Kerr.
The goal of the day, however, belonged to Orr. The hitman, currently on loan at BSC Glasgow, latched onto Lewis Strapp’s clipped pass down the inside-left channel and arrowed a stunning, angled strike into the top corner with his left boot.
Development squad talisman Scullion rounded off the victory on 20 minutes, sweeping another Tiffoney pull-back from the right flank beyond Kerr’s despairing dive despite not getting the cleanest connection on the ball to take his tally to 12 goals in eight starts.
The victory pulled Morton to within one point of league leaders Queen of the South, but only on a temporary basis due to the fact the Doonhamers later recorded a resounding 5-0 win over Stranraer later in the evening to restore their four-point advantage.
Morton (442)
1. McGowan
2. Duffy 5. Mitchell 4. Hynes 3. Strapp
10. Tiffoney 6. Eardley 8. Langan (c) 7. Oyenuga
11. Scullion 9. Orr
Subs used: 14. Purdue (for Oyenuga, 61), 15. Docherty (for Scullion, 80), and 17. Armour (for Tiffoney, 86).
Subs not used: 12. Anderson, 16.Miller, 20. Connor (gk).
Images: Ross Cameron
