First Division: Dens double for Morton as Dundee’s promotion challenge takes a tumble

The Greenock men, who have been heading down the table after being top dogs at the end of the season’s first quarter, netted midway through the first half when former St Johnstone striker Andy Jackson converted a cross from Archie Campbell.

However, Dundee manager Barry Smith’s men upped their game after this setback and they had the perfect opportunity to restore parity six minutes after the interval when visiting youngster Thomas O’Ware brought down Dark Blue full back Gary Irvine as he charged into the area.

But Matt Lockwood’s placed penalty was saved by on-loan Celtic goalkeeper Dominic Cervi and Morton saw the game out to pick up their first win in five attempts. Partick Thistle sent Queen of the South to the foot of the table when they defeated the Doonhamers 1-0 at Firhill to keep themselves in fourth spot.

The visiting Kevin Smith had gone close in the early stages before Aaron Sinclair and Conrad Balatoni both missed chances for the Jags. Then Kris Doolan netted the game’s only goal two minutes into the second half.

Doolan was perfectly placed to head home a Paul Cairney cross after Queens’ goalkeeper Lee Robinson had beaten out a driven free kick by Sinclair. Ryan McGuffie and Craig Reid threatened to level for Gus McPherson’s side. However, they left Glasgow pointless.

Hamilton sprang a surprise on visitors Livingston by including goalkeeper Alan Combe in their starting line-up as a trialist.

A serious hip injury had hampered his career before he was released by Kilmarnock in January and the 37-year-old was making a rare appearance, having begun the season as a player-coach at Alloa Athletic.

However, it was the Lions who picked up all three points with a 1-0 win.

Bobby Barr, who had gone close in the first half, was the Lions’ match-winner when he collected a pass from Mark Fotheringham and sent a shot past the former Cowdenbeath, St Mirren and Dundee United shot-stopper from 25 yards.

On-loan Hearts youngster Gordon Smith had the chance to grab an equaliser for Hamilton five minutes from full time. However, he headed over from close range. Elsewhere, Ayr United claimed the point they needed to move up to ninth place when Jonathan Tiffoney grabbed a goal at Somerset Park against Raith Rovers to tie the game at 1-1.

The Kirkcaldy side’s John Baird livened up a quiet afternoon three minutes from the interval when he sent home a low shot after David Smith’s cross from the left.

Rovers were denied all the points when Tiffoney headed home a Ryan Connolly cross with