Cappielow Joy

My last venture to Cappielow was way back in March 2000 and was my next ‘away’ match after that infamous night in Glasgow.  The team we played at Cappielow on that day was the now defunct Clydebank and a massive crowd of 168 witnessed the famous Dennis Wyness grabbing the ICT winner with the only goal of the game. I was very much hoping the keep my 100% record intact at this ground today.

But it’s not Clydebank that we are playing today but the real home side of Morton. We were going into this game on the back of a 1-3 drubbing at home and, although some pride was restored in the Alba Cup at Partick last Sunday, we really needed to turn up for this one with a clear head and a focus on grabbing three points. Improving our goal difference would go a miss either. Morton have had a shaky start to the season and got turned over 5-0 at Partick last time out. Their home form is difficult to predict because, basically, they haven’t really had any yet having been away from home in their last four fixtures. On paper this was going to be an easy ICT win but, as we all know, it isn’t that easy out there on the playing field.

Pre-match entertainment and refreshments was had in the rancid looking Norseman pub. Its entrance was described as “…just like walking up the stairs to the Caley Inn but without the smelly carpet”. The musty smell of the upstairs bar didn’t help either but I can only imagine what it must have been like in the days of the smoker. Unfortunately for me, and of no surprise, there was no real ale on tap so it was a good job I’d my drink in the Toby Jug just outside Glasgow Central station. Here I had to settle for the fizz of Strongbow. Partially refreshed, we head to the game and was fleeced for a few bob from the charity bucket rattlers. We head up the road to the turnstiles only to be turned back by the police who pointed us in the direction of the away end! We had to pass the charity buckets again but declined the offer to be fleeced twice.

Entry was 15 drinking tokens but I wasn’t allowed to go through until one of the two policemen on duty had a ferret around in my bag. I am so pleased I left all my weapons of mass destruction in a left luggage locker at Central station. (I didn’t really, honest, this is only a joke).

And so to the game. Those I sat with were fully expecting to see ICT run away with this game before HT and were very confident of taking all three points from a poor performing Morton side. ICT line up was: Esson, Tokely , Golabek , Munro , Bulvitis , Eagle, Cox ,Stratford ,Sanchez, Foran and Hayes with Proctor, Barrowman, Rooney, Duncan and Allison on the bench. It looked like TB was going with a 4-5-1 formation with Foran the target man. Looking at the Morton line up the only danger we could see was going to come from Peter Weatherson who has banged four goals in this season already. It was he who had the first chance in the game when the ICT defence were caught still in the dressing room and fortunately for us Weatherson’s lob over Esson went wide. This early shock seemed to have the effect of waking us up to the realisation that the game had actually started. It wasn’t long though before Golly and Rossco got to grips at the back and most of Morton’s attacks were snuffed out before any damage could occur. ICT were playing some good passing football at times but Foran was getting caught off side almost every time a pass was threaded through to him. The linesman on the far side seemed far too keen to raise his flag on many occasions and could have done with a few tons of Clydeside ship building rivets in his flag to make it a wee bit heavier to lift. We only hoped he’d be so keen in the second half.

After about fifteen minutes Sanchez did get the ball into the back of the net after a neat move but as he slotted the ball in the flag was raised for off-side. It was noted that the flag didn’t actually go up until he’d scored. I think. This caused a few wee swearies in the crowd amongst the ICT support. Hayes was on fire down the left flank and had several opportunities to swing in a cross but very often seemed to check his run and play the square ball which invariably went astray allowing Morton to clear.

When a goalscoring opportunity did arise our forwards seemed shot shy and edgy as nobody seemed to want to take a strike at goal. This allowed the Morton defence to get in and clear their lines. There was a lengthy stoppage about mid-way through the half when Golly when down in the box after a challenge. It would appear he’d received a blow to the head but it was unclear from our vantage point as to how it happened. Morton were not without their chances in the first 45 and it would appear that, apart from Weatherson, they were shot shy too, which probably wasn’t a bad thing on occasions. But, as the first half was drawing to a close and deep into stoppage time, Sanchez converted a chance that was set up by Hayes when he slotted to ball home to give us a slightly deserved HT lead. There were sighs of relief amongst the away support and the thought of further goals in the second half crossed our minds.

HT: 0-1

During the break we took the long walk back towards Greenock to use the 1930’s (maybe older) toilet facilities and on return call in at the ‘burger van’ to grab a pie. There were no pies!!! On offer were bacon rolls, sausage rolls and burgers etc but not a single pie was to be seen. Oh the joys of the SFL.

There were no changes to either side after the break and Morton started the brighter of the two sides – just like the first half. ICT seemed lethargic but soon got into their stride especially when the ball was slotted through to Hayes. He was causing the Morton defence all kinds of problems with his pace but, again, the end product was disappointing. ICT won a free-kick on the edge of the box ten minutes into the second half but Stratford’s strike at goal went wide of target. Maybe it would have been better to have swung in a cross into the box for Foran to get on the end of.

We did extend our lead on the hour when Sanchez put Foran through on goal. He rounded the ‘keeper before comfortably putting us 0-2 up. Game over you think? It’s a cliché I know but a 0-2 scoreline isn’t that comfortable really especially if the other side scores the next goal. But Morton lacked that quality up front to cause us any grief in that department and when they did get past Golly, Granty and Rossco, Esson was well up to dealing with any shots. Morton did have a real chance when they won a dodgy free kick (given by the dodgy linesman) on the edge of the ICT box. Weatherson stepped up to take it but his strike, on target, was gathered easily by Esson. Young Eagle, who was mostly ineffectual, was replaced by Proctor with about 15 mins to go. Golly received another clout and appeared to be looking on the pitch for missing teeth but he soon recovered after further treatment. He was certainly having a tough time of it out there but was a rock in the ICT defence all day. Sanchez, who’d had quite a good game, was replaced by Barrowman in the closing stages but it wasn’t the later that sealed the points. Proctor was the man to see off Morton has he grabbed his first of the season when he was set up by the impressive Hayes. It was now time to sing cheerio to the Morton faithful. In the dying stages Foran was replaced by Rooney but the points were already in the bag by this time.

A deserved win in the end and one that was welcomed by the players and manager as they came across to the ICT support to show their appreciation to the supporters by applauding and punching the air.