Morton made three changes to the team that lost 2-1 to Dundee last week. In came Alister Deans for the cup tied Cervi. Thomas O’Ware and Darren McGeough also made it into the starting line up. While Deveronvale had their top goal scorer missing as Graeme Watt came in for Mike McKenzie.
It has been a couple of years or so since these teams last met, with Morton securing a 4-3 victory then. Deveronvale will take heart from their previous performance with the Greenock side and hoped to take a step further and cause a major cup shock.
Deveronvale came out sporting their Man United colours while Morton had the traditional hoops, well halfway hoops anyway.
Vale had the typical two burly central defenders in the shape of Henderson and Fraser who dealt admirable with an early Morton freekick.
Kris Duncan then did brilliantly to break clean through but he could only poke his shot by the post. Morton had a penalty shout after Andrew Graham took a tumble from a Morton corner, but the penalty claims were rightly turned down.
Morton were to have another big penalty shout as Peter MacDonald ran through on goal, before Scott Fraser appeared to trip the Morton talisman. It wasn’t long before Morton broke the deadlock though.
A quick Morton throw to Peter MacDonald caught out the Deveronvale defence and he cut the ball back for David O’Brien to slot home via a deflection.
Morton almost made it two when Andrew Jackson found some space down the wing and he laid the ball off to Derek Young who could only fire his shot into the chest of Fraser.
Morton were beginning to dominate the game and Paul Di Giacomo had a 25 yard effort well dealt with by James Blanchard.
Morton were certainly taking the game to Deveronvale and soon doubled their lead.
The elusive Peter MacDonald did well to hold his run before Di Giacomo slipped the ball through to him and the former Saints man finished with a plomb. It was no more that the Ton deserved as they threatened to run away with it.
Peter MacDonald was causing all sorts of problems for the Deveronvale defence, doing well to find pockets of space. He once again avoided the offside trap, but blasted the ball at the keeper’s near post when a cut back looked easier.
Deveronvale then had a penalty shout of their own, but the referee decided to award the freekick to Morton to the annoyance of the DV fans. But they would have been happy with the spirit shown by the Deveronvale players as they creeped their way back into the game.
But it was Morton again who had a great chance to extend their lead, Peter MacDonald on the end of O’Brien’s cross but his header hit the post.
It was soon three for Morton as Andrew Jackson smashed the ball into the back of the net after a MacDonald shot was parried by keeper Blanchard. It was looking increasingly like a rout for the Ton as Deveronavale stuggled to deal with the movement of the Morton front two.
Di Giacomo should have made it four but for a brilliant save by Blanchard.
Grant Noble pulled a goal back for Deveronvale as they looked to fight their way back into the match.
There wasn’t a great deal between the two teams as the game went into the second half. Leigh Henderson was unlucky not to score from a Grant Noble corner, while Morton had a chance of their own but Paul Di Giacomo hit his shot wide.
Vale’s Ross McKenzie worked his way into a good position and forced Deans to make a fine save. Just when Vale looked like they could get another goal, Peter Weatherson put the game beyond them after a lovely move involving Campbell and Di Giacomo.
Morton rubbed salt into the wounds of Deveronvale as Archie Campell beautifully placed his shot into the bottom corner for the Greenock side’s fifth of the game.
Alan Moore was delighted with his sides win: “It took us a wee while to get going and we made heavy weather of it at times but once we started the second half I felt we dominated.”
Paul DI Giacomo added: “I was pleased to contribute to the goals as my form has dipped of late. We will be looking for a big draw in the next round preferably at home.”
Greenock Morton: Deans, McCann, Graham, Evans, O’Ware, Di Giacomo (Fitzharris) 77, Derek Young, McGeough, O’Brien, MacDonald (Weatherson) 59, Jackson (Campbell) 68
Derveronvale: Blanchard, Rodger, Barclay, Henderson (Henry) 80, Fraser, Collie (Rae) 84, McKenzie (Carstairs) 84, Blackhall, Duncan, Noble, Watt
Referee: Gary Hilland
Attendance: 1,406
