MORTON got their reward for a period of dogged determination in the second half of this match at Somerset Park on Saturday.

Having been the better side in the first half, and taken a deserved one-goal lead, they squandered chances to put the game out of sight before finally coming under intense pressure from a brave home side determined to preserve last season's unbeaten home league record, carried over into this term.

There are such fine dividing lines between success and failure in this division, but over the 90 minutes Morton were worth the points.

Ayr will believe that their second half fightback merited at least a draw - and on another day it may well have produced something tangible - but only goals count at the end of the day.

Morton arrived in Ayrshire with the young, inexperienced Ryan McWilliams in goal for the second week running, Bryn Halliwell having failed to recover from a knock in the cup tie at Ross County which led to him passing blood.

His loan spell has now expired, making Kevin Cuthbert's recovery from a broken foot all the more pressing.

Not that McWilliams did anything other than a decent job at Somerset Park. He received excellent support from the men in front of him, skipper Stewart Greacen and his mates shielding him from the best that Ayr could throw at him.

McWilliams, in fact, had hardly a save to make, though in other areas he performed creditably.

It was a re-shaped formation too, Morton reverting to three at the back, Ryan Harding on the left of Allan McManus and skipper Greacen.

It was eventual man-of-the-match Peter Weatherson who showed first when his near post back-header from Stevie Masterton's corner on the left was blocked by Grindlay in the Ayr goal.

Allan Jenkins couldn't get power behind a header, having to lean back to reach Ryan McGuffie's cross as the visitors opened brightly.

Ayr hit back with a quickly taken free kick by Chris Aitken, Roberts' low header being glanced just wide of the far post.

It was Morton, though, who were taking the initiative. First Weatherson's angled drive hit the side-netting, then Jenkins had a shot blocked before a wickedly curving free kick hit at pace from the left by Masterton was just cleared by Andy Aitken.

Allan Jenkins was a key man in centre midfield for Morton and it was he who set up position for the first goal. His surging run took him past three defenders, Connolly desperately diverting the resultant low cross from the right narrowly past the near post.

Over came Masterton's corner, goalkeeper Grindlay and centre back James collided going for it, and there was Weatherson to guide the ball accurately home, 23 minutes having gone.

It might have been two six minutes later when Neil MacFarlane's right wing cross found Weatherson who directed a header towards goal. Brian Graham stretched out a foot to divert the ball from close range only for Grindlay to block with his left hand.

Morton were by far the more positive team at this stage and a second goal would not have surprised.

Gradually, however, Ayr began to find a rhythm and in 38 minutes they ought to have equalised. Stevenson sent in a lovely cross from the right and Cawley, unmarked at the back post, somehow hit the upright with a simple, unopposed header.

Just before the interval, however, Morton might have struck again. Once again Jenkins was prominent, releasing Graham in the inside left channel, but his shot from just inside the box flew a foot over the target.

Twelve minutes into the second half, the visitors had a good opportunity to add to their lead, Weatherson sending Jenkins in on goal, but his side-footed lob was too firmly struck and flew over the crossbar.

That signalled the start of a home revival. Former Morton man Dean Keenan, who contributed well to the Ayr cause, was booked for flattening Graham as the tempo was upped, then his pass released Stevenson who hit a fierce shot a foot over from 20 yards.

Ayr were pressing with real commitment now and it prompted Davie Irons to switch to a back four, replacing Masterton with David MacGregor.

Stevenson was orchestrating Ayr's resurgence and a perfect inswinging cross from the right was glanced just wide of the back post by Roberts.

Against the run of play Morton should have settled it with eight minutes to go. MacFarlane passed forward to Graham who returned it to him, but the midfielder got the ball caught up in his feet and Grindlay saved.

With five minutes remaining, Ton did finally kill off any realistic Ayr hope when Weatherson turned James on the counter attack and ran on to steer a perfect shot low into the net