DUNFERMLINE'S hopes of a title tilt were severely dented after a display which at best could be described as lacklustre.
Morton, with just one home defeat in the league all season, and unbeaten in their last 10 stretching back to last August, were
in sensational form in the first period and should have had the points well and truly wrapped up by the interval.
After just three minutes, midfielder Allan Jenkins burst through from the right, forcing Pars goalkeeper Paul Gallacher to dive full length to scramble the ball wide. Davie Irons' side continued to dominate and in 18 minutes a long throw from the right by Erik Paartalu was controlled brilliantly by Peter Weatherson, who turned and shot first time, but Gallacher coped admirably. Six minutes later Jenkins put James Grady away on the left, he linked with McAlister, but the winger's 15-yard angled drive was beaten away by Gallacher.
The breakthrough in 28 minutes was nothing more than Morton deserved. McGuffie sent McAlister down the left, he crossed perfectly to the far post and the unmarked Weatherson headed home.
Three minutes after the restart, Morton doubled their lead when Kevin Finlayson swung a corner over from the right, Gallacher flapped at the ball and captain Stewart Greacen was at the back post to drill home from close range. The Pars pulled one back from the spot through Andy Kirk seven minutes from time after McAlister was alleged to have nudged Steven Bell.
The full article contains 258 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
