The Rose travelled to Greenock knowing that only a two-or-more goal victory, coinciding with a two-or-more goal win for Clyde against table toppers Falkirk, would be enough to secure passage into the last 16 at the first time of asking.

Robbie Horn opted to make eight changes following Wednesday’s tough tie with Falkirk, though some were enforced with typical everpresents Dean Brett and Kerr Young suspended. Centre-backs Bob Wilson and Alan Horne both made their long awaited return to the team, making their first competitive appearances of the season.

Despite their brand new (stunning, if I may say so) third kits getting sadly soaked in the relentless rain, Rose started the game strong. The first chance did fall to the hosts, however, with Jai Quitongo racing through the backline only to see his composed effort nicked wide by a trailing Bradley Barrett leg.

No more than 60 seconds later, Lewis Turner let fly from the edge of the Morton box. His lethal strike seemed strong enough to crash into the roof of the net, before Irish centre-back Darragh O’Connor bravely blocked the effort clear over the bar. From the resulting corner, the Rose took an early lead.

Neil Martyniuk’s dipped corner to the front post bounced through a sea of bodies in the mixer before nestling in the far corner of the net, with summer signing Kevin Smith wheeling off in celebration after getting the final touch with his head.

The elation didn’t last for long as the home side equalised in the 15th minute. Jaze Kabia drifted into the box from the left flank and fired beyond Weir. A deflating leveller rapidly turned the game on its head.

Quitongo nearly put the Inverclyde side ahead just one minute later. Fortunate breaks of the ball put the tricky forward through on goal, but his effort trailed wide of the mark. With Morton increasingly improving and taking control of the tie, it didn’t take long for the second goal to come.

Quitongo was, again, at the centre of the attack as he sliced open a deep Rose defence with a cutting through ball. A lashed effort across goal reached the back post, where a cross was hastily smashed back across the box. Right-back Carlo Pignatiello was doing his best centre-forward act when he coolly slammed the ball home from very close range to put the hosts ahead.

Few more chances came by half-time, with Reece Lyon seeing his long range strike soar over the crossbar and Weir called into action again to deny a dangerous Jack Baird free header from extending Morton’s advantage to two.

Any possibility of regaining control in the second half took a damaging blow after a goalmouth scramble occurred in the Rose six-yard box just ten seconds into the second 45.

Hunter nearly equalised when he surged forward and took aim at goal, but his soft strike to the front post undone all the great work he had done to get into that position, with Ton ‘keeper Brain Schwake routinely collecting the ball. The American shot-stopper on loan from Livi wasn’t caught out by a cheeky Martyniuk free-kick minutes later either that just flew over the bar.

Quitongo fired wide and Hunter blazed way over when he got his feet tangled while bearing down on goal, though the biggest clear-cut chance of the second half fell to Michael Garrity. The youngster got in behind the Rose defence but his fine effort was saved by an outstretched Weir.

As the rain steadily became torrential, the game petered out. Rose struggled to force themselves into the final third, while Morton focused on seeing the game out. Yet, there was to be one more surprise.

Scott Gray was adjudged to have brought down Garrity in the area and referee Calum Scott pointed to the spot. To add insult to injury, Scott brandished a straight red card to the younger Gray brother (likely) for dissent, as the foul itself was not worthy of even a yellow in itself.

Grant Gillespie added a second group stage penalty to his tally to finish the game off in a heated manner. 3-1 to the hosts, final score.

The result means the Rosey Posey finish 4th in their maiden League Cup showing, a bittersweet ending as performances deserved a better placing. Attention now turns to welcoming Forfar Athletic at New Dundas Park next Saturday for our first ever SPFL league fixture.

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