With Forfar replacing the Blues at the summit thanks to a 3-1 win against Dunfermline earlier in the day, both sides went into this huge televised showdown knowing three points were a must.

And in-form goalkeeper Derek Gaston rose to the occasion, somehow managing to claw a Frank McKeown header off the line to prevent his side from falling behind after just 12 minutes.

So too did star striker Declan McManus, who scored twice in the space of four minutes right at the end of the first half to fire his side to the three points.

On 40 minutes, the PFA Scotland League One Player of the Year nominee placed a penalty down the middle after Peter MacDonald had been fouled by Steven Bell.

And he added a second on 44 minutes, guiding Ross Forbes’ pin-point clipped pass over David Mitchell and into the net with a clever looping header.

There were openings at either end in the second half, with Gaston and Stranraer man of the match Mitchell producing saves to prevent any further scoring.

It was a match packed with incident, and both sides were reduced to 10 men in the second half, with Ricki Lamie and Chris Aitken both given their marching orders.

When the final whistle blew after five minutes of stoppage time, it was the visitors who walked away with the all-important victory to leave themselves sitting proudly atop the table tonight.

Just three goals separate them from Dick Campbell’s Loons is second, however, which is sure to make for a nerve-shredding final-day shootout next weekend.

Morton (4-4-2): Gaston; Kilday, Crighton, Lamie, Russell; Miller (McKee, 61), O’Ware, Forbes, S. McCluskey; McManus, MacDonald © (Caldwell, 89).

Subs not used: J. McCluskey, Ferris, Scullion, Adam (gk).

Booked: Russell (64), Kilday (74), McManus (86).

Sent off: Lamie (77).

Stranraer (4-4-2): Mitchell; Robertson, Rumsby, McKeown ©, Longridge; Winter (Stirling, 63), Gallagher (Aitken, 32), Bell, Gibson; Longworth, Malcolm (Stoney, 68).

Subs not used: Russell, McShane, Tobin (gk).

Booked: Gibson (75).

Sent off: Aitken (90+3).

Attendance: 1,321 Referee: Greg Aitken