retired_marcias

You should always clear your U19s into the reserves before the season ticks over and cull some players if you have more than ~50 :p

At least you can stick him on the bench and bring him on in the 119th minute if you are heading for a penalty shootout in a cup match :cool:

shannon2007

That doesnt always work though Glamdring. I've tried

BarryLFC

i only have about 32 players, and this just makes it more interesting

BarryLFC

30.

The new season got underway with pre-season games at home to Livi and at Stirling, losing the first 1-0 and winning the second by the same score. Thereafter we were on Challenge Cup duty, registering a 3-1 win at Forfar before defeating St Johnstone 1-0 at Cappielow in the League opener. Next came a bad loss at Raith in the Second Round of the Challenge Cup as we gave up an 89th minute leveller and an extra time winner, but with some fans pinning a sticky spell of league form last year on our run to the final of that competition not all were complaining.

We ended August with a game at home to Brechin and finally at Somerset. We remained at full strength for the first of these games, which meant we went 4-4-2 with Craig in goals, Byrne and Adam at full back, Ritchie and Moran in the middle, Johnston and Jones on the wings, Craig McGowan and Hamilton running the midfield and Wilson up front with Johnstone. Brechin though are title favourites following their relegation, and our form against them two seasons ago was far from spectacular. We're sixth favourites with the bookies, and the gulf between us on paper is not insignificant, but we battled to the end and picked up a good point from a 0-0 draw.

Going into the third league match of the season at Ayr they were the only team with a 100% record from the opening two matches, whilst interestingly ourselves and Brechin are the only sides not to have lost a goal. That stat lasted six minutes into our game as Ayr stormed ahead before adding a second five minutes later. The third was delayed to the second half, and Johnstone did pull one back, but Ayr were in command and wrapped it up with a late fourth. And fifth.

BarryLFC

31.

September promised to be a successful month, though it started inauspiciously with a 0-0 draw at Falkirk. League Cup action followed and we welcomed Stirling Albion to Cappielow and sent them packing, scoring three after falling behind to an early Scott McLean strike, whilst Scotland were being humbled 6-1 against Serbia and Montenegro, meaning they needed a point in Amsterdam to make the playoffs for Euro 2008.

We faced up to Partick next in Greenock, desperate to put something between us, but when Brian Johnstone drew a sensational save from Kenny Arthur in injury time it was inevitable that this fixture would end 0-0, another draw between two teams that seem to cancel each other out. Raith had put us out of the Challenge Cup, but on league duty at Stark's Park we were keen to make amends. A goal for each side in the first ten minutes made for a fun opening, but an injury for Johnstone took the edge off somewhat. Raith were reduced to ten men six minutes into the second half though, and we pressed to take advantage, but couldn't, and in a shot at the other players the sponsors chose Brian Johnstone - who played for 10 minutes - as man of the match.

We pulled off a cup upset in the second round of the League Cup as Wigan target Andy Hamilton netted with nine minutes to go to send SPL side Dunfermline back through to Fife with their tails between their legs, and setting up a home tie with Rangers in round three. We then ended the month at home to newly-promoted Forfar Athletic, confident after our Challenge Cup win earlier in the season, and only Gareth Jones short of a first-choice XI. Still we made a crucial early error, handing Forfar a second minute penalty, which Paul Tosh thankfully fired wide with Craig nowhere. He though made amends three minutes later with the opener, putting us firmly on the back foot. Wilson and McGowan passed up chances to restore parity, but it took a wonder save to deny Johnstone in the 20th minute. An equaliser was coming though, and Mark Wilson duly obliged on 27 with a guided header from 10 yards out, and we went in tied at one. Three second half minutes were all it took for Brian Byrne to head us into the lead from a Hamilton corner, and Johnstone repeated the trick fifteen minutes later to ease us away from a plucky visiting outfit. Any more goals would have been harsh on Forfar, and 3-1 was sufficient. A dominant, nay perfect, show from both of our starting strikers, Wilson and Johnstone, will have troubled defences throughout the league, and our second victory of the season moved us joint second with Raith, Falkirk and St Johnstone, though worryingly Ayr have a nine point lead after a mere seven games.

BarryLFC

32.

A 0-0 draw at Inverness made for an enjoyable bus ride home late on the Saturday night, but Wednesday's action was disappointing as Scotland crashed 2-0 in Amsterdam, losing out to Serbia and Montenegro on head-to-head record having won 4-1 at home and lost 6-1 away. We went into the derby match with St Mirren desperate to put on a show for our fans that travelled to Paisley. Saints came up last season and no doubt were keen to put one over on us, but it was Andy Hamilton, fresh from training with the Scotland u21 side, who headed us in front before the interval. Mark Wilson volleyed a fine second after the interval as we looked to put the game beyond doubt, and with ten minutes to go the home crowd were visibly filing to the exits as the buoyant visiting support sang their hearts out. The three points kept us joint second, but Ayr now had an eleven point lead at the top, and our hopes of promotion were slipping even at this stage of the season.

A torn groin muscle meant that young Alan Moran would probably miss three months of action, and tragically came just before the visit of Rangers in the League Cup. The tie opened interestingly as we created an opening and they created two, but an injury to Craig McGowan soured things, ironically allowing his brother on to the field ten minutes before half time. The 0-0 scoreline at the break was a great credit to us, and it nearly got better in the 67th minute as Johnstone brought a top class save from Stefan Klos, and with nine minutes to go we almost produced a shock as Scott McGown fired narrowly over. A second injury stunned us though, Anthony Reid carried off with seven minutes to go, and tragically Rangers scored three minutes into injury time to steal the win from a game we thoroughly deserved not to lose. Tragic.

BarryLFC

33.

Few expected us to bounce back when Ayr came calling on November 3rd, and with fireworks going off in the background we achieved a 0-0 draw. Nothing spectacular, but a chink in the armour nonetheless. Brechin have started poorly, and we were keen to pile into them as we traveled to Glebe Park off the back of our point won from Ayr. The first half was a tense affair though, but Brechin probably had the edge without ever threatening Paul Craig's goal. It took them just ten second half minutes though to nudge in front, and with twenty minutes to go I threw in a triple substitution, which served to give up a second goal and we were beaten. Johnstone scored a fine solo effort with three minutes to go, but an equaliser was not forthcoming.

A tough loss at St Johnstone followed as once again our thoughts turned away from the pursuit of the leaders to the quick accumulation of 40 points. With only an eight point gap back to ninth, the threat of relegation was far from gone. Inverness put us under more strain during the week with a bid for Paul Craig. The keeper has been a top performer for our team, but £10,000 goes a long way at this club and he lined up for what was expected to be his final game for the club as Falkirk visited. Another clean sheet was inevitable and after the 2-0 win Craig was given a rousing ovation by the Morton faithful. Within hours Paul Craig had agreed terms with Inverness, but some negotiations allowed us to retain his services until January 1st.

BarryLFC

34.

At long last we picked up three points off Partick in a 2-1 win at Firhill, but threw that down the drain with a 2-1 loss at home to Raith with only ten men after a red card for Robert Dunn. At this stage we are a comfortable 11 points clear of 9th and a mammoth seventeen shy of the leaders, Ayr United.

A trip to Forfar is never much fun, especially when you are struggling a bit for form and this visit was no different. A goalless first half, tedious as it was, was but a fond memory as Forfar scored early in the second, but four minutes later Andy Hamilton levelled and we were on the attack. Mark Wilson soon had us in front and momentum was on our side. We closed the game out skillfully, in my view, and three more points towards our 40 point target were secure.

The draw for the Third Round of the Scottish Cup would see us travel to Brechin, but before we can even contemplate that game there are three more matches in December to play! The first of those was a big derby at home to St Mirren and it was a game we were well fired up for. Despite dominating the first half we failed to score, but we weren't to be denied and Andy Hamilton's second in two games made it 1-0 seven minutes after the break. Four minutes after that Brian Johnstone headed home a corner and Hamilton made it three before much longer with his fifth of the season. Ryan Robinson was sent off for Saints with nine minutes to go and we opted not to run up the score, settling for a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

Our final two games of the year, along with the derby, made for three consecutive home matches, and the Greenock public were out in numbers for the visit of Inverness on Boxing Day. Andy Hamilton was twice denied by fine last-ditch tackles in the opening exchanges as we threatened to blow the teuchters away, but the game calmed somewhat and was scoreless at the interval. Ten minutes into the second half we took the lead with a highly contentuous strike. The linesman's flag was clearly raised as John Johnston crossed, but Mark Wilson's finish stood, and not long after Brian Johnstone set up the same man to double our lead. Wilson completed his hat-trick with two minutes to go and the bumper crowd went home satisfied.

Brechin visited for a dress rehearsal of the Scottish Cup tie in Paul Craig's last game for the club on December 29th, and Brian Johnstone got the gala day off to a perfect start with his 50th Morton goal in the first minute. Wilson's tenth of the season five minutes later had us in control and suddenly it seemed we were a team in form. Johnstone made it 3-0 before half an hour had passed before Andy Hamilton was denied by a fine save from Derek Stillie. A goalless second half meant we had the points in the bag, but it was tinged with sadness as days later Paul Craig became an Inverness player.

BarryLFC

35.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st Ayr 19 14 4 1 50 15 +35 46 </pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">2nd Morton 19 9 6 4 25 15 +10 33 </pre><pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">3rd Raith Rovers 19 7 10 2 27 19 +8 31 4th St. Johnstone 19 8 7 4 22 14 +8 31 5th Brechin 19 7 7 5 24 28 -4 28 6th Forfar 19 8 1 10 39 37 +2 25 7th Falkirk 19 5 9 5 19 17 +2 24 8th Inverness C. Thistle 19 5 5 9 23 29 -6 20 9th St. Mirren 19 2 5 12 15 46 -31 11 10th Partick Thistle 19 1 4 14 15 39 -24 7</pre>

BarryLFC

36.

Craig Robertson assumed the gloves as 2008 creaked to life and soon wished he hadn't as we took a 4-0 humping at Somerset Park. It didn't promise to get any better as cup action loomed, what with our cup form of recent years, but a Johnstone double and a Davidson goal eased us past Brechin 3-1 despite Andy Hamilton missing out through injury. Robertson should receive special mention for a fine show, outshone only by Brian Johnstone's two-goal show. The fourth round draw could have been kinder, but a trip to Falkirk is a tie we figure to have a shot in.

As chance would have it our next league game was at Falkirk, and, as with the cup game, we fancied our chances. The loss of David Davidson to injury was the only talking point of a scoreless first period, but at least that was more than a dull, dull second provided. Nothing each on both the goals and entertainment counters.

A thumping Gareth Jones strike at home to St Johnstone gave us an early lead in a game we expected to win. Andy Hamilton added a second on his return from injury and few would have predicted a second half comeback from St Johnstone. A penalty in the second minute of the second half allowed John Johnston to effectively wrap up the points and from then we were in command, easily closing out the match.

The last game of January was at home to Partick and having finally shaken the monkey off our backs in our previous meeting we looked to take the initiative, John Johnston scoring the only goal of the first half as it expired. Steven Ritchie's first of the season doubled the lead after the break and a comeback goal from Alan Moran with twenty minutes to go meant the defence had the bragging rights for the rest of the week. Partick did pull one back to temper that and an injury to Brian Johnstone further soured the mood, but it had been a good show, three good points and second place had been recovered. Ayr, though, remained a distant sixteen points ahead of us.