MORTON boss Jim Duffy says teenage winger Scott Tiffoney last night proved he has been right not to offer contracts to a number of trialists who have trained with the club during pre-season.

Youth academy graduate Tiffoney was handed his first senior start in yesterday’s pre-season friendly with Livingston and made a real impression by scoring both Ton goals in a 2-2 draw.

Since losing the likes of Stefan McCluskey, Bobby Barr, and Paul McMullan, Duffy has been running the rule over a handful of widemen, including a Frenchman and a Dutchman.

Despite feeling they were of a decent standard, he did not believe they were any better than the players emerging from the development squad and so elected not to pursue their signatures.

Although Duffy is not ruling out adding new wide players before the summer is out, the Ton boss says prospects such as Tiffoney can push for a place by continuing to perform to the level he did.

He told the Tele: “Young Tiff scored two great goals and I’m delighted for him. The first one came from a good passing move, we linked up the play well, and it was a good finish.

“What I liked about the second one was that we pressed high. Michael Tidser pressed really high and the ball broke for Thomas Orr who had the presence of mind to pick out Tiff coming in off the flank.

“He took two touches. The first to set himself and the second was a lovely finish with his left foot to ping it in the corner.

“I picked him to start today because of his directness. He’s a positive winger, and we lost all our wingers last year.

“We’ve had three wingers in at different times in pre-season, but they have to be better than somebody like Tiff or somebody like Jai [Quitongo] – and I don’t think they have been.

“They have been decent, but you can stifle your youth development. That’s not to say I won’t sign a player if I think he can really impact the first team straight away.

“Of course I would. That’s my job, to try and get players who can strengthen the team - but I won’t sign anyone if they’re not better than what we have.

“We’ll try and develop the young players as well, and hopefully tonight gives him a bit of confidence and belief.

“But don’t get me wrong, and no disrespect to Livingston, but week in, week out in the Championship is a real tough test.

“One game is great and is good for the confidence for him and all the young boys, but the Championship is a whole different proposition over the course of a season.”

Tiffoney was joined in the starting line-up by fellow Under-20s Lewis Strapp and Ruaridh Langan, and Duffy also praised their contributions.

He added: “Tiff and Lewis Strapp have played together down the left for the development squad, so they know each other well.

“Lewis is still 16 and Tiff is 17, so from that point of view it was terrific that we have a couple of young boys that showed up well.

“We understand there is a lot for them to learn and we’re not going to get carried away, but you give praise when it’s due and those young boys deserve praise, young Ruaridh as well.”

Duffy was disappointed with the goals his side conceded on the night, but was generally pleased with how the workout had gone.

He said: “It was a good game and how we thought it would be. It was competitive enough without being over the top – it was played in a good spirit – and brought us up another level.

“We made a couple of mistakes for the goals and it’s something to rectify before the real games come up.

“But sometimes it’s good to make mistakes in these sort of games because it emphasises to the players there is sharpness to find.

“Overall, I thought we played some decent football and scored good goals so generally speaking it was a good exercise. I was pleased with the attitude, commitment and the fitness.

“Gary Oliver played really in the first half, got on the ball, created space, and brought others into play.

“I thought Michael Doyle gave us width, Thomas O’Ware did well in the middle of the pitch, and it was good to see Michael Tidser get 90 minutes under his belt after his injury.”