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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lochlin Highet

Morton 0 Kilmarnock 2 as Ayrshire side get back to winning ways

Kilmarnock got back to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory away to ex-Rugby Park star Gus MacPherson's Morton.

The Ayrshire side recovered from defeat to Partick Thistle in the perfect way, as first-half goals from Blair Alston and Oli Shaw sent Tommy Wright's men home with a vital three points on Saturday.

With Inverness losing to Dunfermline, it leaves Killie three points clear at the top of the cinch Championship – and it's the fourth time they've bounced back from defeat with a win this season.

Cameron Blues came close to opening the scoring for the hosts, but his powerful effort was well matched by Killie stopper Zach Hemming.

Blair Alston putting Kilmarnock 1-0 up (SNS Group)

Up the other end, Killie right back Lee Hodson had a great chance to break the deadlock but he drilled a volley over the bar from eight yards out.

An end-to-end first half continued as Gozie Ugwu’s looping header looked to be going all the way in after 20 minutes but, much to the relief of the away faithful, it dipped onto the bar.

Ex-Killie man Robbie Muirhead tried his luck just before the half hour mark from a free kick around 25 yards out but the low effort was easily held by Hemming.

It took Killie 34 minutes to break through the hosts’ defence and it was Alston who nipped in at the back post to slide an effort home.

Two minutes later, it should have been 2-0 after Chris Burke slipped Shaw through on goal, but Killie’s No 9 lacked his usual composure and lashed it well over.

Just before half-time, Shaw made up for it as he smashed an effort home from the edge of the box after some brilliant build-up play from the Ayrshire side.

Morton will be wondering how they didn’t score just after the hour mark when the ball was fizzed around the goalline but somehow kept out by the Killie defence.

Hemming pulled off an incredible save in the 73rd minute to keep the two goal lead intact as he palmed Gavin Reilly’s low shot out for a corner.

Substitute Fraser Murray tried his luck in the 86th minute after cutting inside from the left wing but it was caught by Morton No 1 Jack Hamilton.

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