A minutes silence was held immediately prior to kick off to show support and respect for the families and victims of the Paris terrorist strike the previous evening

A second-half brace from Denny Johnstone ensured Morton beat Queens and moved up to fourth in the Championship.

The hosts had a number of glorious chances to take the lead in the first-half but couldn`t find a way past Queens goalkeeper Robbie Thomson who was in great form all afternoon. If Morton were to find a way to beat Thomson it would have to be a moment of brilliance and Morton`s leading goal scorer Denny Johnstone was on hand as his shot from 20-yards out was unstoppable and flew in to the top right hand corner of the goal. Morton added a second eleven minutes later and it was Johnstone again who nodded the ball home from close range.

The Doonhamers came in to the match looking to add to the back-to-back victories aganist Alloa Athletic and Dumbarton. Leading goal scorer Derek Lyle was eager to add to his tally for the season against the side he put one past last month.

James Fowler made one change to the team from last week`s win over Dumbarton as Ryan Conroy replaced Iain Russell in the starting eleven.

Morton started with Dumfries born Denny Johnstone up front and he was looking to continue his encouraging start to the season.

Both sides were looking for the win that would move them in to the play-offs, at the expense of Raith Rovers who were not in Championship action this weekend.

The home side started the brightest and forced a corner in the opening seconds of the match but it came to no avail as Chris Higgins blocked a shot from Ross Forbes just outside the penalty box.

The Greenock side continued to pressure Queens, winning a succession of early corners but they couldn`t find the final ball to trouble Robbie Thomson.

Thomson was called in to action for the first time of the afternoon on the ten minute mark when Denny Johnstone was through on goal but the on-loan Birmingham striker took too many touches in the box and his shot deflected off of Jordan Marshall in to the hands of the Queens goal keeper.

Queens started to settle in to the match and after nice exchanges from Kyle Hutton and Mark Millar they tried to get the ball through to Derek Lyle and Paul Heffernan but couldn`t get the ball past Morton centre-half O`Ware.

Adam denies Heffernan

Johnstone had another chance to give the hosts the lead when he found space in the box but he blast his shot over the bar and in to the fans in the home terracing. Morton continued to attack and were nearly rewarded when a Bobby Barr cross had Thomson scrambling but luckily was off target.

Queens first chance came in the 21st minute, Derek Lyle passed the ball to Ryan Conroy and from 18-yards out he curved his effort goalward but Morton goal keeper Grant Adam was alert and tipped Conroy`s effort over the bar.

The following corner couldn`t creat a goal scoring opportunity for Queens and were immediately penned back into their own half.

Queens had another chance to break the deadlock on the 29th minute after some nice play from Jordan Marshall and Kyle Hutton left Gary Oliver in the box but the former Hearts man couldn`t test Adam as his shot went well wide.

The game was opening up for both teams and was end-to-end action in the later stages of the first-half. Thomson was called in to action in the 35th minute as Forbes hit a superb free-kick from 20-yards out but the Queens goalkeeper, who has been impressive throughout the campaign, tipped his effort wide. Thomson was again called into action and rescued The Doonhamers after tipping an O`Ware header over the crossbar.

 

Thomson to the rescue

Queens started to pass the ball on the deck and after a nice move  Chris Higgins had a header from six-yards out but his effort was always rising above the bar to the frustration of the travelling support from Dumfries.

James Fowler`s men continued to look for the opening goal of the game and nearly had it when Ryan Conroy`s cross found Derek Lyle but hit his strike wide of Adam`s goal.

With only five minutes remaining of the first half, Morton`s Thomas O`Ware was the first name in the referee Mat Northcroft`s book after a clumsy challenge on Jordan Marshall. The Morton faithful vented their anger, who thought it wasn`t a foul never mind a bookable offence.

The home fans nearly had something to cheer for as Forbes nearly gave the hosts the lead on the brink of half-time after a shot from 25-yards out was saved again by Robbie Thomson to keep the match level at the break.

Queens burst in action in the second-half as Lewis Kidd delivered a great cross from the right hand side and found Lyle but he volleyed his effort over the bar.

Straight from Lyle`s chance, Morton had a great opportunity at the other end when Denny Johnstones shot deflected off of Forbes but Thomson was alert as ever and collected the ball.

The home side finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, Dumfries born Denny Johnstone gathered the ball 20-yards out and hit an unstoppable strike past Thomson to the delight of the home supporters.

Against the run of play Queens had an excellent chance to equalise after a great run from Derek Lyle he fed in Mark Millar but his shot from 18-yards out was deflected wide by Gasparotto.

Moments after his chance to level the game, Millar found himself cautioned for dissent just before Thomson made another marvellous save from McCluskey`s long range effort tipping the ball out for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Johnstone doubled Morton`s lead, heading home from close range. It was no more than what the home side deserved after dominating possession in the second half.

Johnstone nets his second and seals the home sides win

It could have been game over in the 67th minute when O`Ware`s strike looked destined for the bottom corner but was blocked by Queens captain Chris Higgins.

James Fowler made his first change of the afternoon, Ryan Conroy replaced by former Morton man Iain Russell, his introduction was greeted by a chorus of jeers from the home faithful, Shortly after Queens made their remaining substitutes. Alex Harris and Liam Coogans replacing Paul Heffernan and Gary Oliver.

Denny Johnstone nearly had his hat-trick with ten minutes remaining but his long range effort was deflected wide. The chances to go three goals ahead kept on coming for The Ton, this time Bobby Barr was through on goal but his shot was caught by Thomson.

Queens were looking for a way back into the match and nearly had a glimmer of hope when Mark Millar hit a shot from just outside the box but the shot summed up the visitors afternoon as it trickled wide of the goal.

The Doonhamers brought a great travelling support but they weren`t rewarded with a goal as Mortons` solid backline kept Queens` strike force at bay.

Super support up from Dumfries

With three minutes to play, the hosts had another chance to extend their lead  but Joe McKee skied his free-kick from 20-yards over the bar.

The missed free-kick didn`t change the outcome of the match and Morton ran out deserved winners. After a poor performance today The Doonhamers will be itching to get the three points next week at home to Falkirk.