MORTON fell to a 3-2 loss at the hands of a Gavin Swankie-inspired Forfar Athletic after a desperately disappointing performance at Station Park today.

Swankie tormented Ton all afternoon and opened the scoring with 20 minutes on the clock when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box to sweep home from 12 yards.

After a ropey first 25 minutes, the visitors steadied the ship and began to pose Dick Campbell’s experienced side problems at the opposite end.

And Aberdeen loanee Declan McManus restored parity eight minutes before the break by collecting a Thomas O’Ware pass and ruthlessly placing past Rab Douglas.

Yet, it was the Loons who came out for the second half energised and ready to take the game to their opponents.

Swankie, in particular, was in the mood, and it was the former Dundee winger who was at the heart of Forfar’s second goal, which arrived eight minutes after the restart.

Bursting clear down the left, he fired in a dangerous low cross that Danny Denholm steered through Derek Gaston’s legs with a fine first-time finish.

The way the third goal developed, on 71 minutes, was similar and equally alarming from a Morton perspective.

Swankie was allowed to streak clear of a high defensive line down the left, but instead of picking out a team-mate, he arrowed in on goal and brushed the ball past Gaston with the outside of his right foot.

Ton substitute Reece Hands side-footed home from close range in the final minute to offer his side a slim hope of stealing a draw.

But Forfar survived a couple of late scares to hold on for the three points they, and skipper Swankie in particular, merited.

Morton (4-4-2): Gaston; Kilday, Crighton ©, Milojevic, Lamie; Pepper, McKee, Miller (Russell, 68), S. McCluskey (McNeil, 81); McManus, O’Ware (Hands, 78).

Subs not used: Allan, Scullion, Caraux (gk).

Booked: McManus (25).

Forfar Athletic (4-4-2): Douglas; Dunlop, Malcolm, Dods, Baxter; Kader (Smith, 83), Husband (Dale, 75), Young, Denholm (Fotheringham, 83); Hilson, Swankie ©.

Subs not used: Malin, Steeves, Keiller, Salmon (gk).

Attendance: 704 Referee: Crawford Allan