Second best as Duffy loses ground

MORTON threw away the chance to go into second spot and keep on leaders Hibs’ coattails after their first home defeat in 12 months thanks to Nat Wedderburn’s first goal for Dunfermline.

And it was a moment Cappielow goalkeeper Derek Gaston might not be to keen to recall in what was a result and performance to forget from the hosts.

Pars striker Nicky Clark found some space inside the Ton penalty area within two minutes.

A knock-down clearance from O’Ware fell to the former Rangers striker but he volleyed well over the bar.

But Morton could’ve opened the scoring themselves five minutes after that when after a succession of corners, Lee Kilday headed just over from a superb Ross Forbes delivery. It didn’t take long, though, for Dunfermline to edge their noses in front.

A corner from Kallum Higginbotham was fumbled by the unfortunate Gaston.

The ball landed at Clark, who was waiting to toe the ball back across goal.

Wedderburn was unmarked and he tapped home into the net from a few inches for the opener before being booked for celebrating too wildly with the visiting supporters.

Lawrence Shankland went close for the hosts when he was played in behind the Pars defence by Mark Russell.

The striker controlled the ball on his chest before firing wide of the keeper’s left-hand post under pressure from Callum Morris.

The hosts were looking dangerous at the beginning of the second half and Jamie Lindsay had a half-volley blocked by Morris inside the Pars box.

But Dunfermline were still a danger on the counter.

Clark slipped in Michael Moffat, but his curling effort was blocked by O’Ware.

Clark himself then had a shot which was tipped wide by Gaston who had a point to prove after his howler earlier.

Andy Murdoch then had a volley parried over by Sean Murdoch in the Pars goal before Mark Russell fluffed his lines with a weak effort that the keeper gathered.

Wedderburn headed an effort that was cleared by the covering Shankland inside the six-yard line before Paul McMullan struck a tame first time effort into the arms of Gaston.

And the visitors were convinced that they’d doubled their lead on 73 minutes when Callum Morris headed the ball beyond Gaston from a Higginbotham corner.

The defender rose above his marker O’Ware but referee Mat Northcroft blew for an infringement as the scorer was deemed to have climbed on O’Ware’s shoulders unfairly.

Rhys McCabe tried his luck from 25 yards but Gaston was equal to it. Last weekend’s star man Kudus Oyenuga then went close for Ton from a Forbes delivery but his header was tipped wide.

And Ton had their custodian to thank again moments later when the Pars really should have netted again. Clark swung a perfect cross to the back-post for Moffat, who had the whole goal to aim at.

His header was tame, though, and Gaston did brilliantly to stick out a hand and bat it away with the striker looking on in disbelief.

Ton boss Jim Duffy conceded that his side were beaten by the better team, saying: “I think there are games where you don’t deserve to lose, but today wasn’t one of them.

“We weren’t as sharp as Dunfermline in any department and although we had a lot of possession, the clear-cut chances fell to Dunfermline.”

Pars manager Allan Johnston was delighted with halting Ton’s incredible home record, saying: “When you see Morton’s home record it was always going to be difficult, but our boys showed a lot of character and determination to win the game and there is no doubt that they fully deserved it.”