Morton striker Jai Quitongo dumps out former club Hamilton with superb strike
Jai Quitongo scored a brilliant winner on his return to Hamilton as Morton exorcised the ghosts of their 10-goal thrashing by knocking Accies out of the Betfred Cup.
Dougie Imrie, who scored both Morton goals in their 10-2 defeat at Hamilton two years ago, put the Ladbrokes Premiership side ahead with an eighth-minute penalty but the visitors were well worth their 2-1 victory.
Ross Forbes levelled in the 59th minute with a trademark free-kick which he curled into the top corner from 25 yards and former Accies youth player Quitongo struck four minutes later. Home skipper Michael Devlin failed to cut out a long ball and the 18-year-old let it bounce before smashing in a shot that dipped into the top corner.
Hamilton, who were without injured strikers Alex D'Acol and Eamonn Brophy, named 10 youth academy graduates in their squad while three others started for Morton - Lee Kilday, Michael Doyle and Quitongo.
The visitors included Aidan Nesbitt after signing the Celtic winger on loan but their lively start was undone when Kilday's clumsy attempt at a shoulder charge on Imrie left referee Stephen Finnie with little choice but to point to the spot.
Imrie sent Derek Gaston the wrong way but Morton responded well and Doyle's cross was inches away from being converted by Gary Oliver and Nesbitt.
The Championship side continued to create chances. Oliver came close with two deflected efforts, Thomas O'Ware saw two headers go near, while Remi Matthews made good saves from Quitongo, Michael Tidser and Kilday.
Louis Longridge forced two decent stops at the other end but Morton came closer still just before the break when Tidser's volley spun off the bar as the visitors counter-attacked in numbers.
Hamilton, who lost Antons Kurakins to injury in the first half, brought on Massimo Donati for the second half but Morton almost levelled within seconds, only for Quitongo to shoot into the side net.
Grant Gillespie scuffed a good chance to double Hamilton's lead and Forbes and Quitongo made the hosts pay either side of another smart Matthews save from Tidser's volley.
Morton soaked up the ensuing Hamilton pressure well with their only real scare being a Georgios Sarris header which Gaston pushed away.
Source: PA
