MORTON booked their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win over Livingston at a freezing cold Tony Macaroni Arena today.

The tie passed a 10.30am pitch inspection after home supporters gathered at the stadium this morning to clear the pitch of a layer of snow.

Their impressive efforts were sportingly applauded by a travelling Ton support that accounted for almost half of the 873 crowd.

And it was the 370 away fans who left beaming as their team got back to winning ways after back-to-back league defeats.

Ton controlled the first half, with their best chance falling to Ross Forbes on 35 minutes, but the midfielder flicked Conor Pepper’s dangerous delivery wide from inside the six-yard box.

Forbes, though, would play an important role in what would be the winning goal when he swung over the corner from which Thomas O’Ware bulleted a downwards header into the back of the net.

Former Ton player and development coach David Hopkin was in the dugout for his first match in charge of Livi on a permanent basis.

And his side could have secured a replay a week on Tuesday had striker Liam Buchanan converted either of two gilt-edged chances that fell his way between 72 and 73 minutes.

As Livingston pushed to rescue their cup place in the closing stages, it was actually the visitors who began to look the more likely side to score as they hit their hosts on the break.

Although they wasted two excellent counter-attacks, they held on for the victory and can now look forward to Monday’s draw, which will be made by Brian Laudrup and darts champ Gary Anderson.

Morton (4-4-2): Gaston; Pepper, Kilday ©, Gasparotto, Russell; Forbes (Lamie, 86), O’Ware, McKee, Samuel; McManus, Johnstone.

Subs not used: Miller, Barr, Quitongo, McWaters, Tennent, McGowan (gk).

Booked: McKee (62), Russell (72), Pepper (90+2).

Livingston (4-4-2): Jamieson; Neill, Gordon, Gallagher, Longridge; Mullen (Currie, 85), Pittman (Knox, 83), Fotheringham, Stanton; Sheerin (White, 67), Buchanan.

Subs not used: Gibbons, Hippolyte, Quinn (gk).

Booked: Fotheringam (21), White (69).

Attendance: 873 (370 away fans)