Morton 3-1 Kilmarnock

2Slick

Goals from Chris Templeman and Paul McGowen gave Morton a dramatic victory over Kilmarnock in the Third Round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

Killie opened the scoring early in the second half when Colin Nish delivered a cool volley past Paul Mathers.

However, Morton replied with a double strike from Templeman and a fine low drive from the hard-working McGowen.

The Sons held out for the remaining eight minutes and booked themselves a well-deserved place in the last 16.

Interview: Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies

With just three minutes on the clock, Morton's Dean Keenan blasted in a long-range shot, but his effort sailed over the bar.

Eight minutes later, Templeman tested Killie keeper Graeme Smith with a right-footed shot from 25 yards out, but the former Queen's Park man parried wide.

Near the 30-minute mark, Steven Naismith was unlucky not to open the account for Killie when he sent the ball through Mathers' legs from 12 yards out, but the former Peterhead keeper salvaged a touch and the scores stayed level.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Templeman almost gave the visitors the lead when he latched on to a Jim McAlistair inswinger, but his close-range header drifted past Mathers' left-hand post.

The action quickly shifted to the other end when Invincibile drove for home on the stroke of half-time, but he couldn't find the target and the sides remained goalless.

Immediately following the break, Kilmarnock opened the scoring when Naismith and Garry Hay linked up well to send in a neat cross which was volleyed past Mathers by Nish.

Moments later, the former Clyde man almost made it two when Mathers fumbled a free-kick, but the referee waved for a foul following a clash and the home side were spared.

Kilmarnock looked the better side in the earlier part of the second half, but Templeman squandered another opportunity to level the score when he failed to find the back of Smith's goal from just two yards out.

However, the former Brechin man finally levelled the score on 62 minutes with a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area when Gordon Greer surrendered possession and could only watch as Templeman's shot deflected its way past Smith.

With 22 minutes left on the clock, Templeman doubled his tally after David Macgregor delivered a fine cross and the 26-year-old sent in a left-footed half-volley to give the home side a vital lead. Three minutes later, a Morton penalty claim was waved away after Templeman was apparently felled in the box, but McAlistair quickly recovered the ball to set up McGowan's low shot from just six yards out.

Kilmarnock struggled to regain their composure as the Sons held back the Ayrshire side's beleaguered attack, and pushed for a fourth goal until the dying seconds of the match.

Mathers gathered a dangerous Nish header as the final whistle approached, but the home fans breathed a sigh of relief and the Second Division leaders can now look forward to a place in the Fourth Round.

Morton: Mathers, Weatherson, Greacen, Harding, Macgregor, Millar, Stevenson (Walker 77), Keenan (Finlayson 49), McAlistair, Templeman, McGowen (Russell 85). Subs Not Used: Graham, McGurn.

Booked: Weatherson.

Goals: Templeman 61, 68, McGowen 72.

Kilmarnock: Smith, Frazer Wright, Greer, Ford, Hay, Invincibile (Stephen Murray 72), Fowler, Johnston, Naismith, Nish, Wales. Subs Not Used: Combe, Dodds, Leven, Adams.

Goals: Nish 47.

Att: 6,649

Ref: M McCurry.

Kronical™

Another upset in my mind being Kilmarnock are in the premier league and Morton in the Scottish Division 2. My mate down here in Australia is a Morton man so if they end up doing something like Gretna this year, I won't hear the end of it. Good result for Morton.