Greenock Morton 0 Ayr United 1

Last updated : 30 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Darren Henderson made the most of his good fortune at being cleared to play when he thought he was suspended by scoring Ayr's winner in the 1-0 victory at Morton.

Morton striker Alex Williams, who has hit a barren streak of late, had a great opportunity to open the scoring after only five minutes when he ran on to a splendid pass from skipper Derek Collins only to be tripped in the box by burly defender Scott McCulloch.

Williams himself took the kick, but his poorly-taken effort struck the legs of debutant 'keeper Peter Cherrie and was cleared.

Ayr could have opened the scoring themselves when Stuart McCluskey blundered, but Stewart Greacen spared his blushes by nicking the ball off the toes of the predatory Andy Ferguson.

Third-placed Morton passed up a wonderful chance to make up for the penalty miss when Jason Walker broke upfield from an Ayr corner and supplied Williams but the striker's angular drive swept wide of the post.

Cherrie performed further heroics after the interval, making two point-blank saves from a header then a shot from Peter Weatherson. Henderson then fired over from a clever Neal Gilmour pass before Weatherson's powerful volley was blocked by Willie Lyle.

Marco Maisano drove just wide from long-range but Ayr were defending resolutely, none more so than central defenders, Barry McLaughlin and McCulloch, whose cumbersome appearance belied his sound positional sense and ability to cope with the thrusts of Williams and Weatherson.

Nine minutes from time, Mick Dunlop took a free-kick from wide on the left flank and Henderson, at the corner of the penalty box, managed to direct a low right-footed shot past David McGurn even though he almost stumbled in the act.