Morton vs Kelty Hearts – Match Preview 

by Dean McKinnon 

Morton welcome League One Kelty Hearts to Cappielow Park supported by Dalrada Technology tomorrow, looking to progress to the latter stages of the SPFL Trust Trophy. One thing that has been more constant than the name or format of Scotland's fourth cup competition has been Morton's failure to make any meaningful attempts to bring this trophy to the Tail o' the Bank. Dougie Imrie will hope that another win against Kelty this season will bring his side one step closer to lifting the cup for the first time.  

Tickets are priced as follows: Adults - £15, 12-21 year olds and concessions - £12 and U12s go free. Click here to purchase tickets via FanBase. 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Squad News  

Jai Quitongo's lengthy spell on the sidelines continues, with the explosive winger proving a huge miss on Morton's right-hand side. Loanees Jack Harness and Tyler French are both cup tied for this, having represented their side’s ‘colt teams’ in the tournament already. Jack Bearne, Matthew Davidson and Cameron Keay should regain their place within the matchday squad following travel mishaps in last week's washout. Dougie Imrie also revealed that veteran defender Kirk Broadfoot has been sidelined with personal issues.  

Current Connections  

While no Morton players or staff have plied their trade with the Fife side, the home dressing room will sport many a familiar face for visiting supporters.   

Former Morton goalkeeper Davie McGurn is currently a member of the backroom staff at Kelty. The shot stopper joined John McCormack’s Morton from Hillwood Boys Club in 2003, where he spent his first season deputising for Craig Coyle without making a single appearance. The capable and popular goalkeeper would stay at Morton for another four seasons, however he would struggle to establish himself as the first-choice keeper at any point during his tenure. Ahead of the 2008/09 season, McGurn would opt to leave the club to sign for Raith Rovers. He would serve Raith with distinction over an eight-year period before moving to Cowdenbeath. 

Manager Michael Tidser joined The Ton as a fresh faced nineteen-year-old in 2010, having been released from Celtic’s youth system and spending a brief time at Ostersunds in Sweden. The midfielder quickly impressed as his technical abilities were evident for all to see. He would go on to become a key part of Allan Moore’s side in 2012/13, a season which saw him shortlisted for the First Division Player of the Year award. In June 2013, an offer of £50,000 was accepted by the club and the midfielder headed south to join Rotherham. Both sides would meet in a pre-arranged friendly a week later with Tidser receiving a warm reception from the home support.   

The second chapter of Tidser’s Morton career began with an act of sheer incompetence. With Jim Duffy’s men struggling to separate themselves from Stranraer and Forfar in the title race, The Ton looked to revered former stars Michael Tidser and Peter MacDonald to help clinch a return to the second tier. It was then unearthed that, as Tidser had already appeared for two clubs in that season, he would be unable to play any part in the League One campaign. In the seasons that followed, Tidser was a rather unspectacular part of Jim Duffy’s side, with it being suggested that the player’s style did not match the style of the manager. Then came the news that no Morton fan wanted to hear. Tidser remained a popular face among the Cowshed faithful and, in the midst of the turbulent 2018/19 season, it was announced that he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Falkirk. It’s safe to say that the relationship between the Morton support and Tidser has never been the same since.   

On the subject of soured relations, former Morton defender Thomas O’Ware is another well kent face for the Morton faithful. Signing for Morton in the summer of 2011, the former Rangers and Kilmarnock youth player made his debut against Deveronvale in November 2011. Although a natural centre back, he would be used in a variety of positions during his seven-season stay at the Tail o’ the Bank, including in midfield and up front. O’Ware announced that he would be leaving the club in May 2018, breaking the news ahead of the final league game of the season, which he was subsequently dropped for. He would also state he would have ‘absolutely no issue’ crossing the Renfrewshire divide to join St Mirren. Despite holding out for a Premiership club, O’Ware would wash up at Partick, where he suffered a serious knee injury after only three appearances in the 2018/19 season. He joined Kelty in 2021 following Partick’s promotion back to the Championship. 

Journeyman midfielder Stefan McCluskey is another former Morton player now representing Kelty. McCluskey followed manager Jim Duffy from Broadwood to Cappielow in the summer of 2014 as Duffy was tasked with returning The Ton to the second tier of Scottish football at the first time of asking. McCluskey scored a few notable goals during his two-year stay in Greenock - an injury time winner as The Ton completed a stunning last gasp comeback to beat Stenhousemuir 3-2; a fine strike in an imperious 4-0 win at East End Park and an equaliser at Ibrox which secured a 2-2 draw and sparked euphoria in the away end. McCluskey would leave the club in the summer of 2016, believing an offer would arrive from higher up the food chain. The winger would go on to sign for Peterhead, Alloa, Pollok, Dumbarton and Forfar before joining Kelty ahead of this season. 

Reece Lyon is the most recent link between both clubs. The former St Mirren youth player joined his hometown club in 2013. Making his competitive debut five years later against Dumbarton in the Challenge Cup, Lyon would struggle to establish himself at the club despite several managerial changes. Current manager Dougie Imrie sent Lyon on loan to League Two side Annan Athletic last season, where he would make twenty-three appearances in a successful loan move. His Morton contract, which had another year to run, was mutually terminated this summer as the midfielder agreed to sign for his former teammate Michael Tidser.   

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Tale of the Tape  

The meeting in this season's League Cup was the only time the teams have squared off. Tiwi Daramola gave the hosts the lead in the closing stages of the first half, before Steven Boyd's first goal for the club drew the sides level. The Ton struggled to get going at times on a rather sticky surface, but goalscoring midfielder Robbie Crawford's second half strike put The Ton in front, with the win being rounded off by a last gasp finish from Kirk Broadfoot, netting a rebounded attempt from a Robbie Crawford corner. 

Opposition Analysis 

With a quarter of the season been played, Kelty are sitting pretty in 4th place, with a playoff place a realistic aim for the season ahead. They appear to have the most clinical strike force in the league, sitting in fourth for goals scored despite taking the least amount of shots in the division, as well as registering the lowest number of shots on target. Defensive frailties could be the Achilles heel of the Fifers this term, having conceded fourteen goals this term and only recording one clean sheet. 

Michael Tidser’s men arrive at Cappielow in fair fettle, recording two wins on the bounce heading into this cup tie, seeing off struggling sides Queen of the South and Edinburgh City 3-1 and 4-1 respectively in the past fortnight. 

What's Happening Elsewhere?  

East Fife fans are the envy of us all this weekend, travelling to Wales to take on the last remaining foreign team in the tournament, The New Saints, with former Morton player Declan McManus leading the line for the Welshmen. Arbroath travel to the borders to face Queen of the South, Dundee United head to the opposite side of the country to take on Peterhead, Raith Rovers host Montrose, Rangers 'B' face Airdrieonians, East Kilbride welcome their Lanarkshire counterparts Hamilton, and Queens Park will attempt to spark their campaign into life against League One Falkirk in Grangemouth. 

Photo - GBR Photographs.

Betting Guide 

All match odds are provided by McBookie. Odds are correct as of 7am on 13th October 2023 and are subject to change. Please only gamble within your means and visit BeGambleAware if you are struggling.  

The Ton’s recent woes are underlined by the fact they are priced higher than evens to win at home to side from the league below, pegged at 5/4 to win. The draw is 13/5, with the Fifers 17/10 to progress to the final four of the tournament.  

There is precious little value in the goals market, the only available market other than match outcome. Both teams not to score seems to be the only reasonably worthwhile investment at 7/5.  

Match Officials 

Referee - Steven Kirkland 

AR1 - Craig Ferguson 

AR2 - Scott Anderson