AT the end of a wintry afternoon in Fife, Morton fell to their third successive defeat, their injury-ravaged side succumbing to a home team who conjured up three goals in the final 27 minutes of play.

The beautiful game it was not. Indeed, the first half was a gruesome affair, the hosts looking nervy and the visitors' patchwork team easing their way tentatively into the game.

In 15 minutes the Cappielow men suffered a further blow to their already depleted ranks when Brian Graham fell awkwardly in a challenge and twisted his left ankle.

He was carted off to be replaced by Brian Wake, bringing the number of casualties in the first team squad to seven. With Iain Russell on loan to Alloa, the squad is now at breaking point.

The one bright moment of the half came in 30 minutes when Andy Kirk almost broke the deadlock. Ross crossed to Bell, his header back inside was met by Kirk's nodding piece and Stewart scrambled the ball off the line, Stewart Greacen doing well to whip the ball clear.

That, effectively, was all that was worth reporting in a 45 minutes of undiluted mediocrity.

Both managers no doubt delivered their homilies at the interval on the need for some creativity and the fray resumed.

Morton, in fact, began the brighter of the two teams, a fine Finlayson delivery from the right being met by Peter Weatherson at the back post. His downward header was diverted by Fleming's leg on the line, then a Jim McAlister shot was blocked in a crowded penalty box.

The Pars responded by flinging on Phinn and Gibson for Burke and Bayne just before McGuffie's fierce drive flew narrowly wide of the right post.

The home substitutions proved inspired, and they immediately began to look the more dangerous side.

The first goal arrived in 63 minutes and, from a Morton point of view, it was certainly disappointing, no one picking up Cardle as he directed Graham's right wing cross at the back post back across goalkeeper Colin Stewart and into the net.

Nine minutes later worse followed when Stewart Greacen seemed to stumble and his misheader was collected by Davie Graham who ran on and stabbed a shot past the advancing Stewart. That was a real sickener for the visitors, but they responded quickly in 75 minutes. Good play on the left by Jim McAlister was followed by a cross to Brian Wake at the near post.

Fleming saved his close-range header only for Ryan McGuffie to head the rebound into the net.

That re-energised Morton and four minutes later they were denied an equaliser only by a superb Fleming save.

McAlister's left wing corner was powerfully headed by Paartalu, arriving in the box, towards the right hand corner of the net. Somehow Fleming, diving full length, managed to claw the ball out to keep his side in front.

Morton were nevertheless sensing that the game could be saved, only for the Pars to make sure with three minutes left on the clock.

The visitors were caught pushing upfield, Cardle racing clear on the right. Stewart came off his line and dived bravely at the Dunfermline player's feet, but the ball bounced clear and Bell, following up, directed it into the empty net.

There was to be no way back from that and Morton were left to trudge off.

It is this week that a decision will be taken on who finally takes over from sacked manager Davie Irons.

At the moment the favourite would appear to be Stirling Albion's Allan Moore, though current caretakeers James Grady and Allan McManus will believe they have shown enough in their five-game stint to suggest the seeds are there of a revival.

There is nothing they can do about an injury situation which now sees seven first team squad members sitting on the sidelines, with little prospect of any of them returning in the immediate weeks ahead.

Whoever goes on to get the job surely will have to try and bring in one or two additions on loan to augment a group now seriously threadbare.

DUNFERMLINE (4-4-2): Fleming; Ross (Higgins 80), McGregor, Dowie, Woods; Graham, Burke (Phinn 59), Bell, Cardle; Kirk, Bayne (Gibson 59).

Subs not used - McDougall, Paterson.

Bookings: Ross 27, Bell 61.

MORTON (4-4-2): Stewart 7; Finlayson 6, Greacen 6 McManus 7, MacGregor 7; McGuffie 6 Paartalu 6, Monti 6, McAlister 7; Graham 3 (Wake 16 5), Weatherson 5.

Bookings: Paartalu 69, MacGregor 76, Monti 88.

Subs not used - Docherty, Harding, Grady, McWilliams.

Referee: Steven Nicholls.

Attendance: 2,411.