Pars debutant Beadling gutted after Morton leapfrog Fifers into top four

DUNFERMLINE: Debutant’s goal counts for nothing as Morton leave it late to seal victory

MORTON 2 DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 1

Tom Beadling endured a mixed introduction to Scottish football as the Pars returned empty-handed from their trip to Cappielow.

Beadling, making his Dunfermline debut after joining on-loan from Sunderland, made the ideal start when he fired his new team into an early lead.

But Michael Tidser cancelled his effort out before the break before Nicky Clark saw a spectacular overhead kick ruled out for offside.

To make matters worse for the Fifers, Gary Oliver pounced with a last-ditch winner as Morton leapfrogged their visitors to claim a place in the top four.

Beadling said: “My goal doesn’t really mean much at the end of the day because we’ve come away without any points. It’s devastating really. The chances we created we should’ve been taking three points.”

But Beadling does still believe he has made the right choice in crossing the border even if he has to adapt to the Scottish style.

He added: “I’ve got a lot to learn, I need to improve my game in areas. It’s quicker, it’s more intelligent, you’ve got to be streetwise and look after yourself. It’s a different tempo in Scotland.

“It’s definitely the right place for my development – even from today I’ve learned a lot. I’ll work hard, I’ve got to improve quickly and I will.”

Meanwhile Pars boss Allan Johnston was seething over the disallowed “goal.”

He said: “You look at Nicky Clark’s goal in the first half, he’s three yards onside, I’ve seen it on the video and that changes everything. It’s a really poor decision.

“That’s the decisions that change games. I thought we were the better team so it’s a wee bit frustrating again but we’ve got to pick ourselves up.

“I thought we were the only team that was going to win the game, but too many times this year – especially against Morton – we’ve been caught with a sucker punch.”

Even match-winner Oliver had some sympathy for Dunfermline, admitting that the Greenock side had Lady Luck on their side.

He said: “I don’t think I was at my best but if I score the winner every week and don’t play my best I’ll take it.

“The last two weeks we have been top class but I don’t think we were at it today.

“First half we were poor, second half we hung in there and we got a wee break, and we’ve taken it.

“It just shows the character of the team. Three months ago we would’ve probably lost that game but I think the rub of the green is with us just now.”

It’s devastating really. The chances we created we should’ve been taking three points. TOM BEADLING