Morton 6
Dundee Utd 0
League (Division One)

Match Report

Having already twice lost to Morton in the League Cup United were hoping to prevent the home side making it a hat-trick of defeats. Dave Hogg passed a late fitness test and manager Kerr brought in Scott and Mitchell on the left wing, with Davie Wilson the twelfth man. The teams were met with grey laden skies at Greenock after a morning of heavy rain.

Morton were first to threaten when a Harper header went just inches wide of the goal. It was 15 minutes before United created their first opportunity. It was striker Kenny Cameron who had the effort, finding space in the box to head flick the ball towards goal but again went just past. As Morton pressed, the cool Doug Smith was commanding in the centre of United's defence. However, it was Morton who led at the interval thanks to a Joe Harper penalty after half an hour. Gillespie handled the ball after he jumped to block a cross into he box. Immediately after, United had their best chance of the game when Scott had a great chance but his shot was saved by Neilsen. The first half finished with just the single penalty goal separating two very closely matched teams.

However, United lost two goals early in the second half and were soon on the rocks. Brian Gallagher made it two in 47 minutes and Joe Mason headed in the third three minutes later. A Mason cross and a header from Joe Harper meant United were four down in the 67th minute. Three minutes from time Joe Mason picked his spot for number five and Joe Mason scored the sixth to complete his hat-trick with a shot which cannoned off two United players before going in!