Match Report: QotS U-20s 4-0 Morton U-20s

Queen of the South Under-20s 4 – 0 Morton Under-20s

Fergusson (21), Smith (51), Murray (65, 66)

Morton Under-20s relinquished the Development League West title last night after suffering a 4-0 loss at the hands of new champions Queen of the South.

Andy Millen’s Ton teens travelled down to Dumfries trailing the Doonhamers by nine points three games left to play after the fixture – meaning they would need to avoid defeat to prevent the hosts from finishing top of the pile.

However, Queens would run out convincing victors on the night, clinching the 2016/17 crown with an emphatic victory at Palmerston.

Striker Ross Fergusson opened the scoring after 21 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box to rifle an angled drive under Jamie McGowan.

Talented forward Aidan Smith was a constant menace throughout the match, and he twice went close to doubling their advantage, seeing one header saved closely followed by another that cracked the crossbar.

McGowan denied Smith again with a brilliant reflex save early in the second half, but he could do nothing to stop the Queens No.7 from scoring with a cute flicked header that crept in off the left-hand post.

It was all Queen of the South, and Connor Murray put the result beyond doubt with an angled drive beyond the Ton shot-stopper’s despairing dive.

Murray made it two goals inside a minute by breezing right through the heart of the Ton team before slotting a cool finish into the bottom-left corner.

Substitute Scott Norman crashed another header against the bar in the final minute, but by then the trophy was already destined for the Doonhamers’ trophy cabinet.

Morton (442)

1. McGowan
2. McDonagh 6. Mitchell 4. Hynes 3. Duffy
10. Docherty 5. Anderson 8. Langan (c) 7. Purdue
11. Scullion 9. Orr

Subs used: 14. Armour (for Docherty, 68), 15. Eardley (for Anderson, 78), and 12. Miller (for Orr, 80).

Subs not used: 20. Connor (gk).

Booked: McDonagh.

Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Image courtesy of Queen of the South