MORTON were left cursing referee Craig Charleston today after his decision to award Raith Rovers a controversial penalty proved pivotal in this 2-1 loss at Stark’s Park.

With Ton leading 1-0 and looking fairly comfortable, whistler Charleston adjudged Marc Fitzpatrick to have hauled Grant Anderson to the ground inside the box.

Substitute Greig Spence stepped up and swept the spot-kick high into the net to restore parity and instigate a swing in momentum.

For a confidence-shot team struggling at the bottom it was a mortal blow, and the hosts took full advantage, adding a second 10 minutes from time.

It was that man Spence who completed the turnaround, controlling a John Baird pass and forcing his way past Jamie McCormack before slamming beyond Derek Gaston.

Although they could have reacted better to the leveller, it was cruel on a Ton side who had looked capable of taking all three points up until the controversial call.

After deploying what was, in essence, a first-team XI in a 4-4-2 formation in the reserves’ recent 3-2 win over Airdrie, Kenny Shiels utilised the system again at Kirkcaldy.

Rowan Vine played up front at the Excelsior Stadium and impressed as he scored a double despite playing for only 45 minutes.

And it was the former Hibs forward who gave Ton a first-half lead this afternoon with a world-class finish.

Darren Cole’s raking long ball sent Archie Campbell racing clear down the right. The speedy hitman, back in after he was relegated to the bench up in Dundee, controlled and rolled back to Vine.

The Engishman’s first touch wasn’t the best but teed the ball up perfectly, and he lashed a stunning, swerving strike past Lee Robinson and into the top left corner from the right of the 18-yard box.

It was goal worthy of winning any game –but the hosts two-goal second half salvo sadly rendered it irrelevant and crushed the Cappielow club’s hopes of closing the gap on Cowdenbeath.

Morton (4-4-2): Gaston; McCormack (O’Connor, 86), Cole, Findlay, Fitzpatrick; Robertson, Taggart, O’Brien, Imrie © (Fulton, 46); Campbell, Vine.

Subs not used: O’Ware, Knight, Russell, Caraux (gk).

Booked: Cole (3), Imrie (12), Fulton (53), Campbell (66).

Raith Rovers (4-4-2): Robinson; Thomson, Watson, Hill, Booth; Anderson (Vaughan, 71), Fox, Moon, Cardle; Smith (Spence, 52), Baird.

Subs not used: Donaldson, Ellis, Mullen, Matthews, Laidlaw (gk).

Booked: Booth (27) Attendance: 1,308 Referee: Craig Charleston