We make one change from the Stranraer game. McKenzie for Benedictus.
Bullock
Paton McKenzie Lauchlan Malone
Hart McHale Cameron GGH
McMenamin Higgins
We start nervously but soon gets going when GGH gets on the ball, skinning two men on the half way line before playing through Cameron who switches play to Hart on the right. He lays it off back to Cameron whose shot is scuffed and the attack breaks down.
It is, however, not a sign of things to come. Not in the first half anyway.
Morton are no mugs. Weatherston up front is a handful to say the least and McAllister on the wing shows he's worth the hype. We struggle to get the ball for long stages in the half but still make the better of the chances.
McMenamin has a hooked shot from the edge of the box saved by Halliwell and Higgins is a little too late on the rebound, catching the keeper with a late challenge.
Hart then has a header flash past the post from Patons cross but things really don't seem to be working in the middle of the park.
Morton, while very much on top, rarely look like scoring but for identical headers from Weatherston at the near post flashing wide.
Our back line look shaky to say the least but, as said, don't look like conceding. McKenzie has a weak first half and the crowd seem to be getting a little restless. It's important he keeps the head up at this stage in the game or things could go pretty badly. Both he and Lauchlan are rightfully booked before half time .
As the half draws to a close, we look clueless. Bullock persitently looks for the short pass to his back line who don't look comfortable on the ball and things eventually break down. Hart and Harkins both look good when involved, which is far too infrequently. Morton are bossing the middle of the park and very little is coming to Coco and Higgins up front.
Half time. Some boos from the Coxy. To be fair, there's not much worth applauding. Massive improvement needed after the break.
Almost instantly we look more dangerous after the break. Within 20 seconds, Hart sends in a beautiful left footed cross and McMenamin's downward header bounces just past.
Shortly after Hart again sends in a cracking cross, this time with his right that McMenamin just fails to get his head to.
We're getting there and are inches away from breaking the deadlock a few minutes later.
Higgins finds a little bit of space in the box and picks his spot to the keepers left and it looks in all the way. Everyone rises to their feet only to see Halliwell pull off a stunning finger tip save.
I'm starting to get frustrated at this point but we're well on top now.
57 minutes - the breakthrough.
Malone on the left plays it inside to Harkins who delivers probably his 4th perfectly placed cross field pass of the day to find McHale on the right side of the box. His cross is low and doesn't seem to have much on it but it finds it's way to Higgins on the 6-yard line who slots it into the far corner. Relief.
Higgins runs to the Coxy while McHale runs to the Main Stand. Eventually to two celebrations become one. We've taken a while to get our act together but this goal was coming.
Morton try to hit back but the back four have also tightened up as Lauchlan and McKenzie make sure Bullock has a largely quiet afternoon, despite Morton's pressing.
As we push for the second, McMenamin comes off for Griffiths. It was a typical Coco game. A lot of effort with little reward. Still, a player who the fans love.
Bullock makes his first save - tipping over a long range floated free kick.
Hart and Paton look excellent down the right hand side together while, McHale and Cameron are both using the ball much better in the midfield. Cameron is soon replaced by Brian Kerr.
Gary Harkins, though, is glorious. With 11 minutes left, a great move with him and Malone down the left sees Harkins free. His cross is perfect to Griffiths at the back post who heads it just wide when he should've scored. It would've been a beautiful goal.
As things wind down, Morton to push but can't seem to find a way through.
In the last 5 minutes, we try to keep the ball in the corner - yet still look dangerous. Higgins and Harkins play some great stuff and things nearly come together with 2 to go. Harkins on the left bundles his way past a couple of players before skinning a couple more, trying to find space for a shot. He eventually gets the shot in with his right that hits the base of the post. It would've been topped Artero's against Motherwell IMO. Harkins is then replaced by Forsyth and is given a standing ovation. He really is a beautiful man.
It feels like we're 3-0 up but as Morton attack in injury time, it's nearly heart-attack central in the Coxy. A low ball in driven across goal and Paton (?) on his own line scuffs the ball away when it looked easier to score an o.g. I scream like a girl as the ball flashes past.
The trainer hasn't been on once but the ref isn't blowing and on 92 minutes, Bullock has to beat away a long range shot.
Finally, Chris Boyle blows and everyone goes home relieved and happy.
From today, it's clear that there will be teams in the league who we may well struggle against and we might have to get used to that now. Plenty for Jocky to think about in the middle of the park though things were improved from top to bottom in the second half as we got the win we just deserved.
MOTM - Up until 5 minutes to go, I was all set to say Ritchie Hart with Lauchlan not far behind. However, the show boating late on from Harkins meant that it's hard not to give it to him. He isn't as involved in games as much as most players but when he gets the ball - you expect things to happen. I honestly can't believe we get to see this boy in a Dundee shirt.
Onwards and upwards.