Published: Thursday, 7th May, 2009 11:30am

Athletic provide some home comfort at last for supporters

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THERE are no prizes for third place. As Pars fans chew over the remnants of a haphazard season they will look at the final league standings and choke on the gristle of dismal home form.

The Pars secured the third place spot in the First Division on Tuesday night by overcoming a gritty Morton side in front of a paltry home support.

Injury-ridden Dunfermline started brightly. Graham Bayne squandered two decent chances in the first two minutes.

Morton hit back immediately with Kevin Finlayson skinning Austin McCann before his cross was headed just over by Morton captain Stewart Greacen.

Dunfermline continued to spread the ball about magnificently and Alex Burke ran the show with his passing and movement exemplary. He played a key role in instigating most of Dunfermline"s forward play which gave Andy Kirk and Bayne several chances.

Dunfermline made the breakthrough in the 56th minute when David Graham burst down the right side. His shot was parried by keeper Kevin Cuthbert and super sub Rory Loy, a 24th minute replacement for the injured Scott Wilson, pounced to shoot into an empty net.

Morton then set up camp in the Pars" last third for a 15-minute spell at the start of the second half which resulted in the equaliser when Carlo Monty smashed home a drive into the top left corner.

But in the dying seconds Kirk rifled a shot in off the crossbar to give Dunfermline their first home win of 2009.

Boss Jim McIntyre said, 'It was a makeshift defence and the bare bones of the team – Nicky Phinn and Scott Wilson only passed fitness tests before the game. When you"re down in numbers and players put their hands up to play out of position to help you – that"s great. We thoroughly deserved to win and could have gone two or three goals up in the first half.'