Queen’s Park 0 Morton 0 – Goal Drought In A Downpour

IT was raining everything but goals as Queen’s Park fought out a scoreless draw with Greenock Morton at The city Stadium.

The home side had plenty of chances to register their first victory of the season against their equally winless visitors but couldn’t find the net despite another committed performance from Sean Crighton’s side.

It was nice weather for ducks, rather than Spiders but they pushed on until the end in search of a first league win since March – a wait that extends to Dingwall next weekend.

The home side will feel frustrated based on volume of chances created. All the while a volume of water fell from the skies.

Showers began in the warm-up and continued on-off throughout the afternoon, slicking The city Stadium surface.

The first chance fell to the home side. A clipped cross from Aidan Connolly was just too far for McDonnell and a lovely strike on the half-volley from player of the month Matty Shiels was punched out by James Storer.

It was almost a goal for the birthday boy, and Josh Fowler went just as close on the tenth minute when Seb Drozd’s driving run was halted and the Spiders top scorer seized the loose ball. He cut onto his left foot and drilled a low shot at Storer, pushed away much the the striker’s disbelief.

Shiels went close again after the heavens opened with a 17th minute drilled cross across the face of goal. It was inches away from being converted by Carlo Pignatiello, and the home side were pushing for the opener.

The Ton went close on 27 minutes but Callum Ferrie doing Callum Ferrie things denied Nathan Shaw’s curling effort and Charlie Fox ushered the rebound clear.

Ferrie punched a corner clear and Owen Moffat volleyed over with seven minutes of the half remaining, but Josh Fowler was also warned by ref Ross Hardie for his protests. The striker had been clobbered a moment earlier and the striker hobbled back to defend and continue his complaints.

Two minutes later justice was served as the striker won a free-kick in shooting distance, leaving Tyrece McDonnell and Seb Drozd over the ball and the latter forced a good stop from Storer to push the ball over the bar from the top corner.

Sean Crighton’s side had certainly had the better chances, and when the corner fell to Charlie Fox it looked every inch a goal, but the defender’s drive was deflected wide.

After the break it was more of the same – bucketing rain and Spiders pressure in spades. No goals either.

The heavens opened and so did Morton’s defence for Josh Fowler in the 67th minute. But the prolific striker blazed over at the Somerville Drive end of The city Stadium. 

Just as they had in the first half though, Morton had one gilt-edged chance. This time it was Charlie Fox to the rescue before Callum Ferrie could intervene. Zak Mackay met Cammy McPherson’s cut-back but Fox’s brave block denied the visitors and warranted a chest-thump from captain Euan Murray.

Cammy Blues had a header spin just wide of Callum Ferrie’s post before Sean Crighton rang further changes. He’d earlier sent Timam Scott on for Seb Drozd, and with 15 minutes left Liam McLeish and Henry Fieldson replaced Josh Fowler and Aidan Connolly.

McLeish laid on Matty Shiels for a strike at Storer, kicked away by the goalkeeper with five minutes to go and though the Spiders pushed, and Tyrece McDonnell came into his own, there was no breakthrough and each winless side settled for a point. 

QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Shiels, Fox, Murray, Pignatiello, Longridge, Macgregor, Connolly (Fieldson 75), Drozd (Scott 66), McDonnell (Friel 90), Fowler (McLeish 75).