Fourth Round Draw, Greenock Morton v Gretna

Date confirmed on the SFA Website as 12th January 2008.

Be good to hear from any Gretna fans intent on going to the match as a few Morton fans I know are pretty pissed off at drawing Gretna at home! Reckon they’ll have made more from the Buckie game, and I can see their point. However, think about it you ‘ton fans, you’re lucky to be in the next round without a difficult replay in Buckie to contend with!

Small mercies guys, and nae offence but if you make it through to the next round, I’ll be hopin you don’t get a big money tie at Paradise or Castle Greyskull. Sorry!

See you at Cappilow y’all.

Fourth Round Draw, Greenock Morton v Gretna

The Fourth Round Draw took place today at Hampden and, for me at least, was a bit of a disappointment. Another visit to Cappilow (no offence Morton but I was hoping for a different venue!) wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Well at least it’s local, avoids the Old firm and I haven’t seen Gretna play before. Date yet to be confirmed, but I’ll post it as soon as I know it.

Here’s a thought, if Gretna win and get a home draw in the next round will they play at Fir Park or Gretna?

The Scottish Cup Trail, Greenock Morton v Buckie Thistle

Before I even start, Buckie deserved a replay at the very least. Their supporters were outstanding all through the game and should be applauded for enduring that nightmare journey (I now know cause I have done it!) and some typical Greenock/Port Glasgow weather conditions. Great performance guys and I hope to see you next year again.

And so to Greenock! On waking at around 9.00am, the call off’s began! One friend and ex Morton player (who will remain nameless -see picture below) was the first to call off. Weather conditions were pretty horrendous, however a prior engagement (organising his wife’s party) was accepted reluctantly : ) as an acceptable get out of jail card. A call to my other reliable mate and Morton “die hard” Chris, elicited a similar response, his excuse accepted only on the basis that he would have to take his daughter with him to the game and I didn’t want to be responsible for forcing the wee soul to stand in typical freezing cold conditions. A local to Cappilow, Chris proceeded to confirm the terrible weather conditions and suggested that there may be some doubt around the match going ahead.  The Morton phone lines were not responding so I tried Radio Scotland on line to get an update, only to get a loop advert for Radio Nan Gael. Bugger it I thought, the Buckie fans would now be well on their way and it would take a real storm to call the game off now. I readied myself for the match. Arlene and Louie opted out and I don’t blame them as it was freezing, however as it got nearer to mid day the rain subsided and prospects looked better. With a journey time of around 20 minutes, I set of at 1.45 for Greenock. Weather looks fine I thought as I headed down the Clyde Estuary with Dumbarton Rock (another old climbing venue) sticking out like a volcanic plug on the edge of a river, which is coincidentally what it is! In the distance, expecting to see Langbank, I saw nothing. The Langbank weather curtain had been dropped. Wind and rain battered the car all the way to the Cappilow car park!

Three pound paid for the car park, I wrapped up against the cold and rain and phoned Chrissy Boy to tell him what he was missing. He was gutted! He had been dragged into a pub by his daughter as she demanded a coke and a packet of prawn cocktail. Kids eh! the sacrifices we make.

Opted for the main stand, as I had been there before and knew that if need be I could shelter downstairs with a hot coffee if conditions prevailed. Bought a programme, found a seat which afforded me a view of both goals and sat down to enjoy the game. Thanks for the article Susan, It was more than I expected! I got more copy than Jim McInally!

 And so it began

Scottish Cup 3rd Round

Greenock Morton 3  Buckie Thistle 2

Weather conditions were appalling with the wind swirling and rain falling in spells all the way through the match. Morton started as you would expect of a home team who should be superior in all departments to their visitors. They moved the ball around well and had some early chances. By contrast the jags showed none of their nice footwork from previous rounds and looked edgy and nervous. The balance of play was transferred to the scoreline when Morton scored on 21 minutes through a shot from Ian Russel which Main was unable to stop. And the scoreline was doubled very quickly when Scott McLaughlin hit a great shot which left Main in the Buckie goal helpless. Easy street you might have thought? I did. Thoughts went to half time grub and possibilities of the the next round venue. Maybe the Morton players were thinking the same, because around the half hour mark, the balance of play started to shift ever so slightly as the one-twos started to come off for Buckie and some glimmer of belief instilled itself in the green hoops.

 My phone buzzed in my pocket. Text message from Hawky. “Easy?” it enquired. Poor soul, he must be working like a trojan trying to get the hall decorated for the birthday party. Either that or he is lying on the settee watching Sky Sports Afternoon Results and noticed the Morton Score! “Buckie are just starting to come back into it” I texted back. At which point David Macrae knocked in a goal for Buckie. Game on. Half time whistle went and the Buckie supporters were in fine voice, refreshed by the late first half goal. But at this point you have to ask, why did it take the jags half an hour to start playing?

A mention for the DJ at Cappilow at this point. The rain was now battering off the tin roof of the stand as the players left the field to the opening bars of “Echo Beach” by Martha and the Muffins burst out of the PA system. I went downstairs for half time grub and hot stuff. On returning to the Stand I noticed that the DJ had now moved onto the Weather Girls classic “It’s Raining Men”. Was this another weather pun or is there a secret minority ‘ton fan club that we don’t know about?

Second half started and it was apparent from the very early stages that the confidence coursing through the Buckie team reflected the nervousness of the home side. Buckie were well and truly in control of this game, and were rewarded in 68 minutes with a well taken strike from Graeme Stewart. The Buckie fans went wild and it was justly deserved. For the next ten minutes play was very edgy and a draw looked like a likely outcome. My thoughts turned to a midweek trip to Buckie for the replay and my heart sank!

As the game progressed, Chris Templeman came on for Morton and predictably with a big guy up front, the high ball game ensued (is this where McLaren got it from?). However, there never realistically looked like another goal in this game. I figured out my plan on getting to Buckie on Tuesday. There must be some customers in Elgin and Inverness I can visit to justify it? Just as the Buckie fans were reaching fever pitch, Templeman managed to slip the defence to the far post and fire a hopeful ball high into the roof of the net. The game was won and the Morton players mobbed big Chris, possibly like me, releived at missing that 460 mile round trip. The ref blew the final whistle. Morton were through to the next round and Buckie’s cup trail came to an end  before the chance to meet the big boys.

Buckie, you were so unlucky. Morton, you know it, out of jail!

In fairness to the fans in the stand next to me, to a man and woman, they applauded big Duncan and the Buckie players off the park. Whether it was relief or appreciation, who can tell. Applaud yourselves Buckie Thistle, fans and players were fantastic.

Before I go I have to mention the three guys sitting 2 rows in front of me in the stand. As I returned from the half time refreshments, I noticed one of the guys reading my article in the programme. Feeling rather chuffed that someone was actually reading something I had written, I listened closely as he turned to his mates and said “Hey, look at this guy” offerring the programme. “He’s doing the Scottish Cup trail thing”. And just as I was tempted to tap him on the shoulder and advertise who I was, almost in unison they said “Sad Fuckin’ wanker!”

Temptation resisted, I pulled the hood up on my anorak and slipped back to the car to cry into my programme.

Hey ho! looking forward to the next round draw though!