MORTON-AIRDRIE UTD 0-0 (League One)

MORTON 0
AIRDRIE UTD 0

Note: Cappielow Stadium, Greenock, 1.865 spettatori.

Morton were denied the chance to go third top of the first division as a dour Diamonds side shut-up-shop at Cappielow.

In a game of few real chances, home skipper Stewart Greacen reckoned he had finally breached the Airdrie defence with a thundering second half header that looked destined for the net.

But man-of-the-match Stephen Robertson had other ideas and the Diamonds keeper somehow managed to push Greacen’s effort over the bar.

It was as close as Ton came to securing the points in a hard-fought clash which had plenty graft, but too little craft. What scoring opportunities there were almost all fell for the home side, but Robertson proved equal to them all.

Afterwards a frustrated Greacen admitted: “I thought I had won it and couldn’t really have done much more with the header.

“It was a reaction save from the keeper and he’s just managed to put up his hand and get enough on it to put it over. A yard either side of him and it’s in the back of the net. We are bitterly disappointed not to have taken three points and moved further up the league. We didn’t create that many chances to be fair, but I never thought we were in any danger of losing the game.”

A lively contest looked in prospect as the visitors briefly threatened to carry the attack to their in-form hosts.

Indeed, Greacen’s first action of the night was to hook away a dangerous ball from his own box while lying flat on the ground.

The Diamonds, though, failed to build any sustained pressure and were instead content on playing a spoiling game in midfield while always alert to any counter-attacking possibilities.

Morton responded to Airdrie’s early raid when Jim McAlister’s inswinging free kick was clawed over the bar by Robertson.

From the corner, Ryan McGuffie’s rasping drive forced a spectacular save as the Airdrie keeper gave a hint of the frustrations to follow for home fans.

At the other end, Kevin Cuthbert looked less secure than his opposite number when he flapped at Willie McLachlan’s flighted free kick and saw the ball dribbling towards the net.

However, the keeper was bailed out by the back-tracking Dom Shimmin who produced a vital goal-line clearance.

Chances were at a premium as play became bogged down in a crowded midfield, but twice in as many minutes Peter Weatherson’s shoot-on-sight policy almost paid dividends.

The striker first tried his luck from an acute angle and Robertson’s parried save was hooked clear by Stephen McKenna.

Moments later, Weatherson produced another firm effort from the edge of the box and again Roberston had to be alert.

The loose ball was quickly played upfield where Paul Di Giacomo’s snapshot drew a diving save from Cuthbert.

Di Giacomo then broke free on the left but, with John Baird screaming for a cross, over-hit his delivery into the box.

Weatherson, the most direct striker on the park, threatened again in 51 minutes when he surged into the box, jinked passed Bobby Donnelly, and saw his near-post shot brilliantly blocked by Robertson.

The Airdrie keeper continued to grow in stature and produced further heartache with that astonishing block to deny Greacen in 70 minutes.

Morton’s centre-half met Stevie Masterton’s free kick with a powerful header which was destined for the net until Robertson’s reflexes saw the ball deflected over the bar.

With time almost up, Allan Jenkins had Morton’s final chance with an 18 yard half-volley which soared over.

Cappielow boss Davie Irons admitted his side had failed to hit top gear against a typically battling Airdrie outfit.

He said: “We knew it would be hard against Airdrie as it always is. They are hard to break down and their keeper had three or four great saves. We didn’t play as we can and lacked a bit of quality when we needed it. The boys have worked hard and put in a decent shift, but it wasn’t enough. There was a bit of anxiety, a few poor touches and occasions where we’ve rushed things but we’ve got to be able to deal with that. We wanted to improve our position tonight, but we’ve got eight games left and we’ve got to treat each one like a cup final and see where we finish.”

Airdrie counterpart Kenny Black said: “I thought on effort alone we merited a point, but we’ve got to thank our goalie again.”

Morton: Cuthbert, McManus, Shimmin (Walker 73), Paartalu (Masterton 51), Greacen, Jenkins, Finlayson, McGuffie, Weatherson, Grady (Russell 66), McAlister. CT: Davie Irons.
Unused: Cannon, Wake.

Airdrie Utd: Robertson, McLachlan, Nixon (Lovering 82), Smyth, Donnelly, McLaughlin, Smith, McKenna, Di Giacomo, Baird, McDonald (Lynch 71). CT: Kenny Black.
Unused: Hollis, McDougall, McGuire.

Arbitro: E. Norris