Greenock Morton 0-1 PARS

NAT WEDDERBURN was Pars' hero as they ended Morton's hopes of remaining unbeaten on home turf for a calendar year yesterday.

The midfielder's first goal for the club in the 16th minute proved enough for Allan Johnston's team to earn a vital victory in their bid to secure their Championship status.

And, in doing so, they dealt a severe blow to the 'Ton's hopes of closing the gap on leaders Hibernian while ending their 364 day unbeaten run on their Cappielow pitch.

Johnston spoke pre-match of his players' determination to "prove a point" after last week's defeat to Ayr United and he made two changes to his starting line-up.

Andy Geggan and Paul McMullan - who will hook-up with the Scotland under-21 squad for Tuesday's friendly with Estonia - returned from injury in place of Ryan Williamson and Joe Cardle, who dropped to the bench.

The visitors had the game's first opportunity when Michael Moffat flicked Sean Murdoch's long free-kick on for Nicky Clark, but his first-time volley finished off target.

Former Athletic midfielder Ross Forbes' set-pieces provided a seventh-minute opportunity for Lee Kilday, but his header from eight yards out ended over the bar.

Dunfermline though showed enough in the early stages to suggest they would be a threat to the hosts and, in the 16th minute, they took the lead.

It was a horror moment for goalkeeper Derek Gaston, who failed to claim Kallum Higginbotham's corner as the ball fell for Clark at the far post, who flicked it back across goal for Wedderburn to tap home from close range.

The midfielder was booked for celebrating with the travelling fans behind the goal but they were almost silenced 11 minutes later when another former Par, Lawrence Shankland, shot wide after his run was brilliantly picked out by Mark Russell from deep.

Lee Ashcroft produced a timely interception to stop Shankland returning the favour to his team-mate before Clark had a good effort blocked by Gaston on the break, although he was flagged for offside.

Moffat and McMullan both had shots blocked in quick succession as the Pars started the second half well before Gaston produced a fine stop to save Clark's well-hit curler from the edge of the area.

At the other end, Murdoch produced an even better stop from his Morton namesake Andy, whose stinging volley after Athletic cleared a corner out of the box was brilliantly tipped over.

Morton threw plenty of crosses into the Pars box but the visitors' back four were resolute and had chances to increase their lead.

Wedderburn had a header cleared as it headed towards the line before McMullan spurned a golden opportunity in the 72nd minute.

Kallum Higginbotham's exquisite pass with the outside of his boot freed the on-loan Celtic winger, but his first-time shot lacked power and Gaston was able to gather.

Rhys McCabe then replaced John Herron but Dunfermline then thought they had grabbed a second goal.

Higginbotham's corner was bulleted home by Morris but referee Mat Northcroft deemed there to be handling offence by the centre back and chalked it off, a decision which puzzled both managers after the game.

McCabe then forced Gaston into a smart stop as Pars again threatened on the counter, but Murdoch again performed heroics to keep them ahead when he made a sublime point-blank save at his near post from sub Kudus Oyenuga's header.

With Morton pushing as the game moved into the final 10 minutes, the visitors found more space on the break and good play by Moffat sent McCabe away again on the right, but his shot was saved by Gaston.

Jason Talbot then pounced on a loose pass on the left and moved forward, crossing for Moffat at the far post but Gaston again was equal to the task, blocking his header.

As time moved towards the 90-minute mark, a dangerous Forbes free-kick caused panic but thankfully it missed everyone on its way out for a goal kick, and a Tidser trundler from distance that ended wide was the final act of a fine afternoon for the Pars.

Morton: Gaston, Kilday (Lamie 45), O’Ware, Doyle, Oliver, Forbes, Lindsay (Tidser 62), Nesbitt, Shankland (Oyenuga 68), Russell, Murdoch.

Subs: McGowan, Lamie, Oyenuga, Tidser, Scullion, Donnelly.

Booked: Russell (31), Forbes (42), Oyenuga (81).

Pars: Murdoch, Geggan, Talbot, Ashcroft, Morris, McMullan (90), Herron (McCabe 73), Wedderburn, Higginbotham, Moffat (Hopkirk 88), Clark.

Subs: Gill, Williamson, Paton, Hopkirk, Cardle, McCabe, Reilly.

Goal: Wedderburn (16).

Booked: Wedderburn (16),Geggan (26), Herron (37), McMullan (90).

Referee: Mat Northcroft.

Attendance: 2670.