Match Report: Stranraer U-20s 2-2 Morton U-20s

Stranraer Under-20s 2 – 2 Morton Under-20s

Maley (37), Lawrie (89) – McDonagh (34, 35)

Morton Under-20s were held to a 2-2 a draw in their opening game of the 2016/17 Development League West campaign after opponents Stranraer scored a last minute equaliser to snatch a share of the spoils at Stair Park tonight.

Andy Millen’s team went 2-0 ahead thanks to a Jamie McDonagh double but the Blues, coached by former Ton midfielder Allan Jenkins, pulled one back through Evan Maley before sub Adam Lawrie netted with a stunning volley to earn his side a point.

Striker Thomas Orr recently returned from a short loan stint at Livingston. He looked eager to impress back in Ton colours and had the ball in the back of the net after 31 minutes but his tap-in was ruled out for offside.

The Cappielow club didn’t have long to wait to break the deadlock, though, McDonagh riding a desperate challenge from the last man before bursting clear and slotting a cool finish around goalkeeper Craig Burns on 34 minutes.

Northern Irishman McDonagh doubled his and his side’s tally within sixty seconds when he stunned a Mark Russell cross with his first touch and then rifled a left-footed half volley inside the upright.

However, forward Maley hit back for the hosts almost instantly by stretching to stab past Jamie McGowan and into the Ton net after a cross from the left took a wicked deflection and span away from the shot-stopper.

The goal rounded off a crazy three-minute spell and threw Stranraer a lifeline their first-half performance did not merit but would prove crucial when sub Lawrie left McGowan with no chance of stopping his stunning, dipping strike in the final minute.

Morton (442)

1. McGowan
2. Hynes 4. Tennent 5. Langan (c) 3. Strapp
10. McWaters 11. Duffy 8. Eardley 6. Russell
7. McDonagh 9. Orr

Subs used: Purdue (for Eardley, 73), and Miller (for McWaters, 80).

Subs not used: Anderson, Docherty, Armour [Trialist], Connor (gk).

Image: William McCandlish