Match Report: Morton 20s 6-1 Albion Rvrs 20s
Morton Under-20s 6 – 1 Albion Rovers Under-20s
Langan (2), Trialist O.G. (7), R. Lyon (9), Armour (11, 84), Purdue (20) – Trialist (55)
Morton Under-20s hit Albion Rovers for six after scoring an incredible five times inside the first 20 minutes of their emphatic Development League West romp at Cappielow last night.
After serving up a thrilling 3-2 win over Airdrieonians on Friday night, Derek Anderson’s youthful side followed up by producing another exciting display.
And they certainly weren’t hanging about in their efforts to claim the win, virtually nailing down three points inside the opening 10 minutes.
Ruaridh Langan set the tone by scoring with less than two minutes played when he controlled a Jack Purdue pass and opened out his body to slot a measured finish past Albion goalkeeper Lloyd Fallon.
An unfortunate own goal from the visitors’ perspective saw Ton double their lead on seven minutes, a trialist defender miscuing an attempt to clear Darren Hynes low cross and sending the ball spinning inside the post.
Those in attendance barely had time to catch their breath before Reece Lyon added a third by rifling a left-footed drive into the bottom-left corner into after accepting an Alexander Easdale lay-off on the edge of the box.
It was proving hard to keep tabs on the action as the Greenock side continued to rack up the goals, Ben Armour drilling a searing drive into the net to add a fourth on 11 minutes.
And a breathtaking opening 20 minutes culminated with Purdue, who picked out Armour for the fourth, scoring an exquisite fifth by bending a brilliant finish into the net via the right post from the left side of the box.
Despite so much of the scoring being condensed into the opening quarter of the match, there was no let up in the hosts’ search for goals.
Only the woodwork – he almost dislodged the Sinclair Street goalframe with a thunderous effort – and good goalkeeping prevented the ever-dangerous Armour from adding to his and the team’s tally until the 81st minute.
The 20-year-old, who is currently on a development loan at Annan Athletic, pounced on a precise Ben Eardley through pass inside the box and slipped a cool finish past Fallon.
The Coatbridge outfit had pulled one back through a trialist striker 10 minutes into the second half, but it could barely be described as a consolation on a night to be savoured by the Ton teenagers.
Morton (3412)
1. Farrell
2. Hynes 4. Watt 5. Eardley
7. Brophy 6. Langan (c) 8. R. Lyon 3. Rodgers
11. Purdue
9. Armour 10. Easdale
Subs used: 14. J. Lyon (for Purdue, 46), 12. Ben Docherty (for Watt, 46), 18. Gallacher (for Rodgers, 59), 17. A. Duffy (for Easdale, 81), and 19. Campbell (for R. Lyon, 81).
Subs not used: 15. Trialist, 20. Coyle (gk).
Images: Gerry Lafferty
