Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston was delighted with how his team dug out the result after securing a hard fought 2-1 victory over Morton in an enthralling encounter at East End Park on Saturday.
Johnston said after the game: “It was a real team performance. The boys showed a lot of character second half and we defended a lot better second half and deservedly won the game.”
The first half was a breathless affair and fired into life within five minutes, Morton being awarded a penalty after referee Stephen Finnie judged Callum Fordyce had bundled over Jai Quitongo in the box.
Morton captain Thomas O’Ware stepped up but saw his effort saved by Sean Murdoch.
Johnston was not happy with the decision, saying: “We’ve looked at it again and it’s outside the box and that seems to be the decisions that are going against us just now.
“Thankfully we get the wee bit of luck and Sean makes the save but it’s clearly outside the box and the linesman has got to help the referee.”
The home men took life from Murdoch’s penalty heroics and were two up within the next 15 minutes although it has to be said that Morton were masters of their own downfall on both occasions.
Firstly, on 12 minutes, when Jamie McDonagh’s attempted back header was intercepted by Michael Moffat, the striker celebrating his 100th appearance for the club made no mistake prodding past keeper Derek Gaston.
Moffat was to repeat the trick just after the 20-minute mark.
This time left back Mark Russell was the guilty party as his short back pass was pounced on by the marksman who made no mistake placing the ball through the keeper’s legs into the net.
Jim Duffy’s men were not out of it though and hauled themselves back into the game just before half time.
McDonagh atoning for his earlier mistake went by three Pars defenders down the right hand side, he cut into the penalty box and his shot could only be parried by man of the match Murdoch back out to the waiting Aiden Nesbitt who guided his effort home.
The second half was no less frantic albeit with less goalmouth action. Visiting keeper Derek Gaston almost added to his side’s woes after allowing a Paul McMullan effort to squirm between his hands. The Ton stopper was relieved to see the ball bounce on the line though.
For all of Morton’s pressure they could not find the killer touch with their best chance being spurned by sub Kudos Oyenuga. The striker could not direct the ball on the stretch and Murdoch was quick off his line to squash the danger.
So Dunfermline held on to the vital three points and now look ahead to the festive period in a more positive manner, Johnston saying: “If we keep playing like that we can build on that result today.”