MORTON stretched their unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw away at league leaders Falkirk today.

In their current predicament, the Cappielow club are in desperate need of victories.

However, taking a point at the table toppers, who are two months without defeat themselves, is not to be sniffed at - particularly after seeing the opposition awarded two spot-kicks.

Whistler John McKendrick has history with the Ton, having being at the centre of a refereeing storm in the League Cup quarter-final against St Johnstone earlier in the campaign.

His decision to penalise Nacho Novo for encroachment at a Stevie May free-kick ended with the Saints striker firing in the retake which led to the crushing late goal which sent Ton crashing out.

The away fans had not forgotten and treated the man in the middle to a hostile reception before this afternoon’s match had even kicked off.

His stock plummeted further on 40 minutes when he pointed to the spot after adjudging David Robertson to have shoved Conor McGrandles to the floor inside the box.

On this occasion, the decision appeared to be the correct one. Experienced midfielder Robertson made an ill-advised move to put his hands on McGrandles' back and was duly punished.

However, Derek Gaston marked his return to the starting line-up with a stunning double save to deny Rory Loy, who had also missed from the spot in the Bairns’ last match.

The custodian was treated to a hero’s reception from a travelling support that was sent into raptures five minutes later when Dougie Imrie fired them into the lead.

Skipper Imrie expertly controlled a Marc Fitzpatrick pass to create a two-on-one break with Garry O’Connor.

The pair exchanged passes before Imrie ran in on goal and dinked an audacious chip over advancing goalkeeper Michael McGovern to open the scoring.

Falkirk saw a lot of possession without offering much penetration in the second half, but were handed a lifeline when McKendrick pointed to the spot for the second time.

Frenchman Fouad Bachirou was penalised for a foul on Craig Sibbald and reacted with fury to the decision.

Despite the protestations, Mark Millar stepped up and drilled his penalty low and through Gaston’s legs to score the goal which would see his side take a share of the spoils.

Elsewhere, Cowdenbeath won 1-0 at home to Fife rivals Raith Rovers to stretch their lead over Ton to nine points ahead of their massive meeting in two weeks.

Morton (4-2-3-1): Gaston; McCormack, Cole, Findlay, Fitzpatrick; Taggart, Bachirou; Robertson, Imrie, McKay; O’Connor.

Subs not used: McKee, O’Brien, Sampayo, O’Ware, Caraux.

Booked: Bachirou (81).

Falkirk (4-2-1-3): McGovern ©; Duffie, Flynn, Vaulks, Kingsley; Millar, Sibbald (Leahy, 73); McGrandles; Roberts (Beck, 58), Loy, Alston.

Subs not used: Durojaiye, Blair, Shepherd, Chalmers, Bowman(gk).

Booked: Millar (67).

Attendance: 3,120 (325 away fans) Referee: John McKendrick