Goals from David Graham and Martin Hardie earned Morton victory over Airdrie at Cappielow on Saturday.

The Diamonds were playing their first league match in three weeks with the game given the green light early on Saturday morning.

Boss Jimmy Boyle made two changes to the side which held Raith Rovers to a creditable goalless draw.

Suspension ruled out Jack and John Boyle so young midfielder Jamie Barclay and Liam Buchanan, who was making his full debut, were drafted into the starting line-up.

Ton gaffer Allan Moore was missing the banned Craig Reid and stuck with the same starting XI which drew 3-3 with Raith at Stark's Park last weekend.

The home side were the more lively in attack and created the better chances in the first half; a Graham shot was well blocked by keeper Grant Adam in the fourth minute.

In the 26th minute, Graham's low shot following a miskick by Peter Weatherson from David O'Brien's cross flew inches past the post.

Adam made a terrific stop when he got down well to block a Weatherson header from full-back Willie Dyer's cross.

However, Ton took the lead just before the interval. Adam raced from his line but couldn't stop O'Brien lobbing the ball into the area for Graham to nod home.

Moore's troops continued to press. A Hardie effort bounced just wide with Michael Tidser blasting a shot into the side-netting.

Airdrie's best chance of the afternoon came in the 69th minute when Barclay's header, from a Marc Warren free-kick, was clawed away by keeper Derek Gaston.

The hosts made the game safe seven minutes from time when Adam failed to collect Tidser's free-kick leaving Hardie with the simple task of prodding the ball into an empty net.

Colin Paterson at Cappielow.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.