Morton 0--0 PARS, Scottish Cup, second round. After extra time, Morton win 6-5 on penalties.

ATHLETIC are out of the Scottish Cup after a penalty shoot-out loss to Morton.

After a 120 minute stalemate, Euan Murray and Lewis Mayo had spot-kicks saved before Lewis Strapp hit the winning kick for the Ton.

It was harsh on Stevie Crawford's side after a game in which both sides competed hard, each hit the post, and largely cancelled each other out.

It means that the Pars miss out on a third round tie at East Fife, and are now left to focus on their push for a Championship play-off place.

Dunfermline, who had defeated the 'Ton 1-0 at East End in the league 10 days ago, made seven changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's loss to Inverness.

Josh Edwards, Kevin O'Hara, Declan McManus, Lewis McCann, Lewis Mayo, Kerr McInroy and Matty Todd all came in, with Craig Wighton, Iain Wilson, Fraser Murray, Dom Thomas and Scott Banks dropping to the bench.

Paul Watson and Kyle MacDonald missed out altogether, while Vytas Gašpuitis was on international duty with Lithuania.

The league clash between these teams in January was scoreless, and not for the purist, but this looked a more promising contest in its early stages.

McManus, from a deep Steven Whittaker cross, headed wide from 12 yards, whilst O'Hara fired wide at the edge of the area after McInroy did well to win the ball.

In between, Reece Lyon sent a good effort from distance narrowly over for the Ton, all within the opening 10 minutes.

Like so many encounters between these teams, it was tight and became a bit scrappy, although McCann tried to force matters with a shot that was deflected behind.

Kazaiah Sterling, who moments before flashed a shot wide, brought the game's first save from Owain Fon Williams after the hosts broke well on the right, with the Welshman on hand to hold Aidan Nesbitt's long ranger.

Dunfermline were struggling to find a way of getting behind the home defence and, on the stroke of half time, Lewis Strapp was unfortunate to hit the side net after being picked out at the far post.

McCann forced Aidan McAdams into a save immediately after the restart, while McInroy shot wide from distance.

The game was broken up with substitutions on both sides, with the game being bogged down in midfield, but the home side applied the pressure in the latter stages.

Kelvin Orsi was denied by a fine block by skipper Euan Murray, while Brian McLean struck the post from eight yards as the visitors struggled to clear from a corner.

Sean McGinty and Strapp both brought saves from Fon Williams and, although Iain Wilson had an effort in stoppage time, which was way over, the tie went to extra time.

O'Hara came desperately close to giving the Pars the lead with a header 12 yards out from Thomas' cross, but the ball agonisingly struck the outside of the post.

Wighton was introduced for McManus, with ex Par Robbie Muirhead replacing Nesbitt for Morton, and Strapp had a decent chance on the half time whistle in extra time when he volleyed wide from 18 yards.

Muirhead came closest in the second period of extra time, forcing Fon Williams into a save in the dying moments, but nothing could separate the sides as it went to spot kicks.

In the shoot-out, Euan Murray and Lewis Mayo both saw kicks saved, as did Orsi and Lyon for Morton, but Strapp had the final say to send Morton.

Morton: McAdams, Ledger, McLean, McGinty, Jacobs, Nesbitt, McGuffie, Strapp, Lyon, Sterling, Hynes.

Subs: Fjortoft, Muirhead, Oliver, Orsi, Blues, Colville, Easdale, McGrattan, Wylie.

Pars: Fon Williams, Comrie, Murray, Mayo, Edwards, Todd, Whittaker, McInroy, McCann, McManus, O'Hara.

Subs: Wighton, Wilson, Allan, Murray, Thomas, Banks, Gill.

Referee: Don Robertson.