Match Report | Dunfermline 1-0 Morton

Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 Greenock Morton
Wighton (44)

Morton remain in sixth place in the Scottish Championship after losing 1-0 to Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park on Saturday afternoon.

Craig Wighton denied Gus MacPherson of a winning start to his time at Morton by netting right before the half-time whistle to give the Pars all three points.

MacPherson made just one change to the starting XI that faced Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the club’s last outing, with Stephen McGinn making his debut to replace the injured Kyle Jacobs.

The hosts had the perfect opportunity to get in front from the spot kick on 20 minutes after Aidan McAdams brought down Scott Banks in the box. Craig Wighton stepped up and hit his penalty straight down the middle at McAdams who made a crucial double save, first from the penalty and secondly from the rebound by Wighton that was then tipped onto the bar.

Both sides had very little chances around the goal area throughout the majority of the first half and it looked like they would go in at the interval with the scoreline remaining level until the Pars managed to break the deadlock on 44 minutes. Stephen McGinn was dispossessed on the central circle by Don Thomas who charged towards the penalty area before passing to Scott Banks to dink into the unopposed Wighton in the centre of the box to head passed McAdams to make it 1-0.

The second half was very much a carbon copy of the first with either side being unable to really test both goalkeepers.

Gary Oliver went close to getting the ‘Ton level on 70 minutes after getting on the end of a cross into the box by Luca Colville but the forward’s header leaped wide of the post.

Banks, after being the creator of the first half goal, was itching to get on the scoresheet himself and forced McAdams into making an important save on 75 minutes to deny the hosts of doubling their lead and ultimately put the game to bed.

As the final whistle neared, the Greenock men pressed further up the park as they tried to grab a late equaliser and Kalvin Orsi had a big chance on 87 minutes when Luca Colville hit another inch perfect cross into the box that Orsi headed straight at Owain Fon Williams.

The Welsh internationalist was in no hurry and held onto the ball as the Pars held onto their lead and secure all three points.

Morton (4-2-3-1)
McAdams
Ledger Fjørtoft McLean McGinty
Lyon McGinn
Nesbitt Colville McGuffie
Sterling

Subs used: 11. Gary Oliver (for Reece Lyon, 68), 14. Cameron Salkeld (for Craig McGuffie, 81), 12. Kalvin Orsi (for Kazaiah Sterling, 81)

Unused Subs: Muirhead, Blues, Omar

Booked: Fjørtoft (31)

Dunfermline Athletic: Fon Williams, Comrie, Watson, Murray, MacDonald, Whittaker, Murray, Banks (Gaspuitis, 89), Wilson, Thomas (Turner, 80), Wighton (McManus, 82)

Unused Subs: O’Hara,McCann, Gill, Todd

Booked: MacDonald (56)

Referee: Steven Kirkland 

Image: Gary Bradley