Iredale’s last-gasp strike keeps Morton play-off hopes on track

A dramatic stoppage-time winner by Jack Iredale boosted Morton’s hopes of a topfour finish while sending Dumbarton a step closer to the relegation play-off.

The home side almost made an early breakthrough when Robert Thomson’s header from a Michael Tidser corner rose just too high, and they thought they had gone ahead soon after when John Baird found the net but the striker was ruled offside.

At the other end Craig Barr sent a header narrowly wide in the Sons’ first serious foray.

Morton went closer still when Gary Fraser’s long-range effort forced a diving save from Scott Gallacher before Tom Walsh produced Dumbarton’s response, shooting wide from a promising position having held off two defenders.

However, the visitors were rewarded following the break when substitute Grant Gallagher’s cross was controlled by Danny Handling who dispatched a firm shot into the top corner, giving Connor Brennan, a half-time substitute for Derek Gaston in Morton’s goal, no chance.

Sons were unable to hold their advantage for long as Scott Tiffoney burst down the wing and crossed for Fraser to fire high into the net.

Morton gained the lead seven minutes later when Dumbarton failed to clear their lines from a corner and Baird pounced to drill a superb angled half-volley into the corner.

The Greenock side should have made the points safe when Bob Mchugh somehow contrived to scoop the ball over the bar with only Sons keeper Gallacher to beat.

Dumbarton took advantage of the reprieve when substitute Burt’s shot took a wicked deflection off Thomas O’ware to leave Brennan helpless.

It looked like being enough to secure a valuable point until Iredale pounced with the winner four minutes into added time.