Match Report
Despite the cold the Cappielow pitch was in excellent condition as Thistle aimed to make amends for a substandard performance against Ross County. Although manager Ian McCall resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes he did tinker with his side. The suspended Marc Twaddle clearly needed to be replaced but changes weren't just limited to Kevin McKinlay occupying Twaddle's berth. Subs against Ross County, Willie Kinniburgh, Stephen McKeown and Mark Roberts all started this match with the two Simons, Donnelly and Storey, dropping to the bench where they were joined by Scott Chaplain, Steven Lennon and sub keeper Craig Hinchcliffe.
Although Thistle made a bright opening, Colin Stewart being rather fortunate to have been adjudged to have been fouled after Liam Buchanan knocked a Paul Paton free kick back towards goal, it was Morton that had the game's first chance in the 5th minute. Initially Kevin Finlayson saw his shot blocked but when the rebound broke into his path his fierce half volley was inches rather than feet over the bar.
It was the home side that took the lead in the 16th minute. Thistle had already been happy to head clear a dangerous Masterton free kick some 20 yards from goal at the angle of the penalty box but when Morton won a free kick in an identical position Masterton beat Tuffey high at his near post.
Thistle had an opportunity to tie the scores just two minutes after falling behind. Gary Harkins rolled the ball in for Liam Buchanan but although Buchanan's shot was well struck it was off target and struck the back stanchion rather than the back of the net.
Morton though came close to extending their lead in the 20th minute. Weatherson pushed the ball into the path of Masterton but on this occasion his finish was too high.
Thistle were living dangerously at this point and former Jag James Grady will probably feel that he should have done better than fire a cut back over the bar from six yards out after hesitant Thistle defending.
As Morton grew in confidence and Thistle struggled all that Thistle could muster in response was a somewhat wild effort from an admittedly industrious Liam Buchanan.
Stephen McKeown was equally as industrious in the 29th minute when his run from midfield took him to the edge of the box before watching Colin Stewart turn his shot round the post for Thistle's first corner of the evening. When that corner was only partially cleared it fell again to McKeown but he couldn't direct his shot on target.
It was, however, all a little more encouraging from a Thistle perspective but it was Morton that came closest to the game's second, and often decisive goal, when in the 38th minute Peter Weatherson shot wide of Jonny Tuffey's right hand post.
David Rowson's bravery earned Thistle a free kick on the edge of the box with half-time just five minutes away. After winning the ball in midfield , risking a kick to head into the bargain, Rowson's run towards goal was only halted illegally by Masterton, a foul that earned the Morton player the game's first booking. However, when the resultant free kick was worked into the path of Gary Harkins he could only drag a right foot shot well wide of goal.
Ian McCall made a change at the half-time interval with Simon Storey coming on in place of Kevin McKinlay.
Thistle came close to an equaliser inside the first minute of the second half. David Rowson worked a one two with Mark Roberts but Rowson just wasn't able to get enough power on his final shot and Stewart was able to get down low to save.
Just past the hour mark Thistle made their second change of the match with Scott Chaplain replacing Gary Harkins.
In the 64th minute Thistle were left with a mountain to climb when Morton grabbed a second goal. Peter Weatherson rushing near to post to glance home a corner kick from the left hand side.
In the 68th minute Thistle made their last throw of the dice with Steven Lennon replacing Liam Buchanan.
2-0 was very nearly 3-0 in the 73rd minute. Weatherson did well to push the ball through to Allan Jenkins but although Jenkins was left with just Tuffey to beat he dragged his shot wide of target albeit just by a matter of inches.
Still Morton looked far more likely to kill the game stone dead than Thistle did grabbing a life line but Colin Stewart was still required to make a save to deny Scott Chaplain a goal in the 76th minute. Stewart also doing well to grab the ball from the feet of Stevie Lennon following a chipped pass from David Rowson.
Morton thought that they had scored the goal that sealed their win in the 77th minute. Weatherson crashed a shot off the underside of Tuffey's bar but although the rebound was headed into the Thistle net the flag had already gone up for offside.
That was the last incident of any note as Morton played out the remaining 13 minutes comfortably ahead with Thistle rarely looking like scoring far less actually finding a goal as Thistle completed a third successive game without a goal. 2008 finishing on a fairly miserable note.
