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The Raith cup game, and subsequent league rematch at Cappielow were both marked by late, late goals for our opponents to foil our evil plans. In the cup game we led through McAllister for most of the game, but lost a last minute goal to go out 2-1, and after reversing a 1-0 defecit in the league to lead 2-1 we gave up 2 points with a sloppy concession late on.
Draws at Partick then at home to Ross County preceded yet another win over Airdrie, but another mini-slump saw us lose to St Johnstone at McDiarmid in the league 1-0, at home to Hibs in the Scottish Cup Third Round 2-1, a shocking turnaround from our last encounter provided by Hibs' top players, a 2-0 loss at home to Ayr and another 2-0 reverse at Falkirk.
It was the same run of fixtures that tripped us up in the previous quarter, and now promotion was well and truly out of the question. Consecutive wins of 2-0 at Queen of the South and 4-2 at Raith lifted us back to fourth place, but 23 points seperate champions-elect Ayr United and ourselves, with only 15 points of a cushion between ourselves and the drop zone. We certainly need the recent upturn to remain in effect for the final 12 games, and not slip into another, potentially terminal slip.
In the transfer window we lost more than just Greacen. Dougie Wilson was snapped up by Irish side Bohemians in a £55,000 deal - a tenfold increase on the price paid six months ago - and Kristjánsson made a £1,000,000 move to Premiership side Fulham. We lost two other starters at the same time as Craig Coyle made a £100,000 switch to Brighton, whilst the same fee took Jim McAllister to Northwich Victoria in the English Third Division. The moves left us bereft of senior pros with experience, and with players like Brannan and Hislop injured long-term, it was to youth we turned, and players like keeper Kevin Buchanan and striker Brian Johnstone have stepped into the breach. It could be a rough ride to the end of the season, but our earlier form should be sufficient to see us safe in this league.
We continued to pick up points over the following weeks with a 1-1 draw at home to Brechin and a home win, 1-0, over Partick as the least experienced side in the league kept doing us all proud. A 2-2 draw in Dingwall was well earned, but Airdrie exacted a little revenge for the beatings we had laid on them all season long with a 5-0 win at New Broomfield.
We bounced back with a sensational 2-1 win at home to St Johnstone, but were never in with a shout as Ayr United clinched the title with a from-behind 5-1 win over us at Somerset. A gritty performance at Cappielow the following week saw us draw with Falkirk, a result that confirmed we would be playing First Division football next season, even though five games remain to be played.
Stephen Lynch is by far and away the best of the class of 2004 this season. Still a month away from his sixteenth birthday he has played all season at right back, 39 games to date, and has rated at 7.05 on average over that period. Interest is being shown by Sunderland, Leeds and Norwich, and should any of them make a move there would be little the club could do to hang on to Stephen. Another who has made a big impression is Gary Fraser who has played all 13 games away from his natural position up front, earning reasonable ratings and interest from Dundee and Premiership side Fulham. He too is just fifteen, and again we would be powerless to prevent his departure should he receive a tempting offer to go.
With survival assured the pressure was off, and despite this we fought tooth and nail in an eventual 1-0 loss at Brechin, which left me pretty proud. We got off to a rough start at Partick, losing a goal after a matter of 20 seconds, but again we dug in, and steadied the ship through to half time. Gary Fraser popped up with an equaliser twenty minutes from the end and it was another pleasing point.
We maintained the Indian Sign over Queen of the South with a 1-0 home win, but Kev Buchanan picked up a groin strain and his season was over. Gary Fraser was rewarded for a good month's work with the Young Player of the Month. Brian Johnstone's double let us pick up another three points at home to Raith in the season's penultimate game, and we closed out a very encouraging year with another unexpected win, this time at home to Ross County, 1-0 through Johnstone's 17th of the season. Now 16, Brian is looking to be a real prospect if we can just hang on to him. His good season was recognised with a starting berth in the Team of the Year, a prize also afforded to Andy Hamilton and Craig McGowan. Doubtless McAllister and Kristjánsson would have been in contention had they stayed in the league. Johnstone was also placed third in the Player of the Year awards and picked up the goal of the season award for his strike against St Johnstone in March.
Graham Dale was sold to Threave Rovers for £1000 at the end of the season. 2004-05 record: Played: 16(1), Goals: 0, Assists: 0, MoM: 0, Ave: 6.53
Neil Rankin was released at the end of the season after an suspension- and injury-plagued campaign. 2004-05 record: Played: 32, Goals: 0, Assists: 5, Ave: 6.50
John Adam has been released after failing to make an impact last season. 2004-05 record: Played: 5(1), Goals: 0, Assists: 0, Ave: 6.33
Jim McAllister, as you know, had a phenomenal start to the season and was sold to Northwich Victoria in the transfer window where he scored three goals in nine games. 2004-05 record: Played: 22, Goals: 15, Assists: 6, Ave: 7.91
Dean Keenan had a disappointing season badly disrupted my injury, and was released in the close season. 2004-05 record: Played: 0, Goals: 0, Assists: 0, Ave: -
Kevin Buchanan is the number 1 keeper for now, but seems somewhat injury prone. Will immediately be pressured by two very talented prospects from the class of 05.
2004-05 record: Played:15, Conceded: 22, Clean Sheets: 3, MoM: 1, Ave: 6.33
Stephen Lynch is a talented guy, but the lack of any left-sided defenders in the squad sees us slotting him in there and trying to retrain him to the position. Fingers crossed.
2004-05 record: Played: 44, Goals: 0, Assists: 5, MoM: 0, Ave: 7.11
Craig McGowan was superb last season and continues in the team this time around. Attracting interest from Northampton.
2004-05 record: Played: 44, Goals: 2, Assists: 7, MoM 0, Ave: 7.20
Brian Byrne started in the team last season, but dropped out, only to be asked to deputise variously at right back and centre midfield after we lost players in January.
2004-05 record: Played: 17(1), Goals: 2, Assists: 5, MoM: 1, Ave: 7.06
Scott McGowan didn't play last season, and will hope to make an impression this.
2004-05 record: Did Not Play
John Johnston came in for Byrne on the right last term and did not too badly for the team.
2004-05 record: Played: 17(2), Goals: 1, Assists: 2, MoM: 0, Ave: 6.32
Andy Hamilton was a sensation for such a young lad, particularly in the fantastic run we had early in the season. Goals galore, and now an established player.
2004-05 record: Played: 44, Goals: 10, Assists: 10, MoM: 1, Ave: 7.25
Mark Wilson played a dozen or so games and acquited himself fairly well, though is clearly not our best forward.
2004-05 record: Played: 14, Goals: 4, Assists: 4, MoM: 1, Ave: 6.36
Gary Fraser also had a few games in the team and has brought himself to the attention of scouts from bigger teams. Has a chance to make it in this game.
2004-05 record: Played: 16(2), Goals: 3, Assists: 1, MoM: 3, Ave: 7.17
Brian Johnstone had a superb second half to last season, earning a place in the Team of the Year, 3rd place in the Divisional Player of the Year award, winner of the division's Goal of the Season prize and Morton fans' Player of the Year, and he was only 15 for most of the campaign! Well on his way to being a local hero.
Record in 2004-05: Played: 28(2), Goals: 17, Assists: 3, MoM: 6, Ave: 7.67
Paul King only got one game last season, but played well and set up a goal. Has the potential to be a decent player.
Record in 2004-05: Played: 1, Goals: 0, Assists: 1, MoM: 0, Ave: 7.00
After a couple of competitive friendlies we started our competitive action began at Arbroath in the Challenge Cup. The Third Division side were feisty, and with three members of the class of 05 starting, and another coming on when Kevin Buchanan was injured after 19 minutes, we were a little lightweight. Our hosts took full advantage with a 2-0 win, and a 3-0 defeat at Falkirk in our first League game had us worried.
Nothing like a match with Airdrie to raise spirits though, and a 2-1 win at New Broomfield was sweet, goals from Paul King and John Johnston the difference. We followed that up with a 1-1 draw at home to Clyde, John Johnston again on target for us, and we were bang in the middle of an already-stretched division.
Our starting XI is pretty much set now, and it begins with Kevin Buchanan (class of 2004) in goals. Both Paul Craig and Craig Robertson came out of the youths this season and look like real prospects, but the experience Buchanan gained last season gives him the edge.
Mark Nicol gets the nod at right back and is the first of the class of 2005 to make it into the line-up. He has real potential, and his agility and balance are comparable with any player in world football. Last year this berth was taken by Stephen Lynch who had a fantastic year, but I've been forced to shunt him to left back due to a lack of alternatives. He's working with the coaching staff to improve his play there, and should have another good year if we can hang on to him.
In the middle we find club captain Derek Collins. Now 36, Derek is the only member of the playing staff at Cappielow who isn't a member of either the class of 2004 or the class of 2005. Alongside him is the second member of the newest batch to start, Steven Ritchie. Steven beats out Steven Reilly, Michael Kerr and Anthony Reid for the position alongside Collins.
Out wide right is John Johnston (2004) who was pretty respectable over the second half of last season under tough circumstances and has two goals already this season, and he is opposite left sided midfielder Gareth Jones (2005), who is preferred to more offensive left sided players Mark Russell and David Fraser. In the heart of midfield we go with the combo that ran the show last season, both from the class of 2004, Craig McGowan and Andy Hamilton. No more needs to be said about them.
Up front are another two of last year's crop of kids, Brian Johnstone and Paul King. New boy David Davidson looks like a real lively prospect, and Gary Fraser is another player with ability, but those two have the edge at this point.
Brian Johnstone's first half goal at Cappielow saw us pick up three points aganist Inverness, but another cup loss to lower league opposition saw us crash out of the CIS Cup at East Fife. A thriller at Dingwall followed as we led 1-0 through Johnstone seconds into the game, but found ourselves 2-1 down at the break as Conor Gethins helped himself to a double. Johnstone levelled after the break, but within 6 minutes County had restored their lead and it took a last minute goal from Paul King to earn us a point we just about deserved.
Wins over Raith (2-1, Johnstone double) and St Johnstone (1-0, King) at Cappielow lifted us to second in the league, behind Brechin only on goal difference, but as with last season it will be vital to gather as many points as possible before the inevitable slumps and bad runs which are unavoidable with such a young pool of talent. With Buchanan and Robertson both sidelined with shoulder injuries, 15 year old Paul Craig has taken on the #1 jersey for the St Johnstone game, and his performance was acceptable, though he was never really threatened. The upcoming game against Albion Rovers will be another test, and the Wee Rovers are no worse a team than East Fife or Arbroath who both handed us beatings.
You wouldn't have ever picked Morton v Albion Rovers as a game to get worked up over, but on the day it proved to be the most dramatic match of our season to date. After losing a goal on the counter-attack we were headed for defeat. We had lost Paul King to injury after half an hour, and though his replacement, David Davidson - making his debut, had played well, we were having a tough time making the breakthrough. That was until Gareth Jones stepped up and delivered a cross that Davidson powered home with his head from 7 yards out. Four minutes remained, and we looked to have snatched a point until, with the last touch of the ball, another Jones cross was headed goalwards by Brian Johnstone. The Rovers goalie scrambled across, but couldn't get there and we had snatched three points in the most exciting manner possible.
There was some comedown the following week as we travelled to face leaders Brechin. Johnstone had us ahead, but we were second-best, and a penalty in each half saw us go down to a 2-1 defeat. Certainly there is misfortune in giving up two penalty kicks in a single match, but we could have no complaints about the outcome. The worse news was a groin injury to Brian Johnstone that would require surgery - our doctors estimated an absence of three months, bringing him back just as the transfer window closes. Time will tell.
Airdrie were handed their usual beating at Cappielow, Davidson starting in Johnstone's place scored the first, and a Steven Ritchie free kick from halfway soared into the net untouched as Airdrie keeper Gary McGuire waved to his family in the Cappielow stand, to give us a 2-0 victory. After the game some of us visited Brian Johnstone at home, still sore after his surgery, to present him with the Bell's Young Player of the Month trophy, and well deserved it was too.
A week after losing the Challenge Cup final Clyde played host to our merry band of buccaneering youngsters, keen to stop the hurt, and looked the more dangerous side with Melaschenko and Gilhaney going close before Tod missed a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring. From the goal kick we broke down the left, and John Johnston fed Paul King who slotted home a somewhat undeserved opener just before half time. An injury to Mark Nicol saw Michael Kerr come in for his debut after the break, but he was under little pressure as Davidson made it 2-0 fifteen minutes later. Melaschenko and Gilhaney combined late on, and the latter made it 2-1, but we were confident of closing out the game, and so it proved. We're still riding high in second place, and the pre-season target of 40 points draws ever closer.
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