Match Report | Morton 0-0 Dunfermline

Greenock Morton 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic

by Brendan McEleny

Morton and Dunfermline could not be separated after an uneventful goalless draw at a freezing cold Cappielow Park on Friday evening.

Interim manager Anton McElhone made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Alloa Athletic on 2nd January with Rabin Omar coming in for Club Captain Jim McAlister. Youth development graduates Alexander Easdale, Darren Hynes and Lewis McGrattan also received call-ups to the bench.

The visitors would have the first real chance of the game on 20 minutes when a ball across the edge of the box found Iain Wilson who side-footed a low, driven effort which Aidan McAdams comfortably smothered into his hands

It would prove something of a quiet afternoon for both custodians, however, with chances at a premium until the closing stages of the encounter.

The best opportunity of the half fell to Dom Thomas on 41 minutes who picked up the ball from the left and from around 35 yards out hit a shot that looked like it was curling towards the top right corner of the goal until Aidan McAdams remarkably got one hand to the ball to tip it over the bar for a corner kick.

Declan McManus tried his luck from distance on 56 minutes but McAdams again proved that nothing was going to get past him so easily and made a strong save to deny the former ‘Ton striker.

Morton would remain solid at the back as they looked to keep their unbeaten run going and they dealt with every attacking threat posed by the Pars as the final whistle neared.

The game had opened up as both teams had a late push for all three points and McManus passed up on a chance to break the deadlock on 89 minutes as his shot from close range was held by McAdams.

It meant a first clean sheet on league duty since last month’s 2-0 victory over Queen of the South and a point on board that sees the ‘Ton ascend into a play-off position.

After the match, Anton McElhone said “The boys are disappointed in the Dressing Room as they feel they should have got more out of the game but it’s another point, another clean sheet and we continue to move forward.”

Morton (4-2-3-1)
McAdams
Ledger Fjørtoft McGinty Strapp
Lyon Omar
Salkeld Nesbitt Colville
Orsi

Subs used: 11. Gary Oliver (for Kalvin Orsi, 59), 15. Craig McGuffie (for Rabin Omar, 73), 6. Kyle Jacobs (for Reece Lyon, 82)

Unused Subs: McAlister, Easdale, Hynes, McGrattan

Dunfermline: Fon Williams, Comrie, Watson, Murray, Edwards, Dow, Whittaker, Wilson (Turner, 67), Thomas (Murray, 76), McCann (O’Hara, 82), McManus

Unused Subs: Gill, Mayo, McInroy, Todd

Booked: Wilson (60)

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Image: Gary Bradley