Morton thank super-sub Reilly as they come from behind to earn Scottish Cup replay against Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle (1) 1
Greenock Morton (0) 1
(Scorers: ICT – Mckay 11; Morton – Reilly 81)
Gus Macpherson believes Greenock Morton fully deserved to take their Scottish Cup tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle to a replay.
A tactical change midway through the first half paid dividends for Morton, who came from behind to level the game through super-sub Gavin Reilly.
It means the two teams will do it all over again on December 7 with a place in the fourth round up for grabs.
"There's no question we deserved that," Macpherson said.
"It was a poor goal that we lost but we showed character because Inverness were getting joy in the wider areas – especially down the right hand side, so we changed it and went to a flat four in the middle of the park.
"From there I thought we were excellent. We competed in the middle of the park very well, so a replay was the least we deserved."
Inverness were coming off the back of a league win at Queen of the South, while Morton had won just one of their previous 12 matches inside 90 minutes, and the difference in confidence between the teams was palpable early on.
It took a bit of help to take the lead from the opposition goalkeeper for them to take the lead though.
Jack Hamilton let Shane Sutherland's header slip through his fingers, teeing it up for Billy Mckay to score one of the simplest goals of his career from almost on the goal line in the 11th minute.
Morton grew into the match little by little and minutes before the break there was a remarkable scramble inside the Inverness box, as their defence put in block after block – including one key one from Reece McAlear – to keep the ball away from their own goal.
It took until the final 10 minutes for the ball to hit the back of the net again though, and it was the visitors who were celebrating.
Substitute Gavin Reilly was left to chase a long ball over the top, and when Kirk Broadfoot lost his footing the Ton striker was left to go around Ridgers and roll into an empty net.
ICT head coach Billy Dodds felt there was a foul on Broadfoot, saying: "I have watched it again. I never said anything to the referee at full-time as I wanted to make sure, but I have gone to see him there because there was two hands on him and he was pushed."
Caley Thistle (4–4–2): Ridgers 6, Deas 6, Devine 6, Carson 6, Mckay 7, Doran 6, Sutherland 6, MacGregor 5 (Walsh 70 5), Broadfoot 6, Allardice 7, McAlear 6 (Welsh 70 5).
Subs not used: MacKay, Harper, Jamieson, McDonald, Duku.
Morton (4–1–3–2): Hamilton 5, Ledger 6, Strapp 6, McEntee 8, Oliver 7, Blues 6 (Reilly 75 6), Lyon 6, Ugwu 7, McGrattan 6 (King 68 5), Oksanen 6, Lithgow 6.
Subs not used: Bysouth, Jacobs, Muirhead, Russell, Hynes, Easdale, Allan.
Referee: Colin Steven – had a fairly quiet afternoon without too many big calls to make, and only one name going in the book.
Star man: Oisin McEntee (Morton) – for a defender so early in his career he coped admirably with the experience of Billy Mckay and Shane Sutherland against him, and helped ensure that Caley Thistle barely posed a threat to Morton's goal in the second half.
Yellow cards: Morton – McGrattan (62).
