Duffy’s rage as Pars wreck home run
Jim Duffy admits Morton can have no complaints after the Pars ruined their bid to go a full calendar year without losing a match at home.
A first-half tap-in by Dunfermline midfielder Nat Wedderburn, after a shocking fumble by Ton keeper Derek Gaston, was enough to clinch the points for the Fife strugglers.
But Duffy was unhappy at the character of his side as they lost at Cappielow for the first time in 364 days, since 26 March 2016.
He said: “It’s disappointing. A lot of aspects were below par.
“Defensively, we weren’t near good enough. In midfield our creativity was missing and up front we lacked a spark. I don’t think we can complain about losing.”
The first half had a fiery start with Nicky Clark blazing a 12-yard volley over after two minutes before Ton skipper Lee Kilday headed just wide from a Ross Forbes corner.
But the Pars took the lead in 16 minutes after Gaston flapped at Kallum Higginbotham’s corner.
Clark whipped the ball back across goal and Wedderburn steered it home from two yards for his first goal for Dunfermline.
Sub defender Ricki Lamie was within inches of a leveller after the restart but his fabulous reverse shot whistled just beyond the far post.
Next Clark wriggled free in the box and fired a rising shot that forced a brilliant one-handed save from Gaston.
At the other end Pars keeper Sean Murdoch tipped away a 20-yard piledriver from Andy Murdoch.
Pars were celebrating in 74 minutes when Callum Morris dived to head home at the back post – but ref Mat Northcroft had already blown for a foul. Sub Rhys McCabe stung Gaston’s palms from distance and Kudus Oyenuga went closest to a leveller for Ton – but his glancing header struck against a post.
Pars boss Allan Johnston was pleased with a win that eases the Fifers’ relegation fears – but insisted they should have scored more.
Magic said: “It was a good win especially with Morton’s home record. But it wasn’t a classic and it always looked as if the first goal would win it.
“We should have killed it off in the second half with the chances we had on the counter. But we defended well for long periods and the boys showed a lot of character.”