BEFORE this match Ton boss Davie Irons had spoken of how his side had not enjoyed the best of luck in their opening two league games, but he finally got the breaks at Somerset Park.

The first goal came courtesy of a collision between two Ayr defenders, then the visitors twice saw Ayr hit the woodwork.

In a game of fluctuating fortunes, Morton were well worth their 1-0 half-time advantage on the run of play.

But it was a different story in the second period when defiance, grit and commitment were the keys to ultimate victory. Manager Irons said: "It's a hard place to come because they've not lost a league game for over a year.

"We knew it was going to be tough and we had to stand up and be counted. They put us under a wee bit of pressure in the second half and we withstood everything they threw at us.

"We probably should have scored one or two more with the chances, but it was a good result; we're delighted with it." Irons admitted to moments of anxiety and commented: "Especially with Neil MacFarlane's chance. I thought, here we go, they'll go up the park now and score.

"To be fair they've hit the woodwork twice, but I thought we defended really well and protected young Ryan McWilliams in goal. It was only his second game, but he was faultless today. He didn't have a lot to do, but what he's done he has coped with very well." If Ton had some luck when Ayr hit first the post, then the crossbar, they also had great opportunities themselves which were squandererd and Irons said: "Brian Graham's missed an unbelievable chance, Allan Jenkins is through and then Neil is through, and they were better chances [than Ayr had].

"But goals change games and we got the second goal to kill the game off.

"It was a massive result for us. The last thing we wanted was to have a similar start to last season. There were shades of that, losing the first two games - and to Ross County [in the Alba Challenge Cup] - but I think the boys have shown real desire and have dug in today. And they had to dig in.

"Ayr had a lot of the play in the second half and hemmed us in. We always knew on the counter attack we would get our chance.

"I thought Brian Graham's energy was superb and Peter's experience - he leads the line so well.

"We had good support from Allan Jenkins particularly today.

"I'm just delighted for the boys. For their effort they deserved to win the game." Morton midfielder Stevie Masterton said: "The poor start has been exaggerated a bit, how badly we've supposedly done.

"I think we've played actually not bad. We've just had a couple of bad results. It's great to get the first win and dispel any fears from last year as well." Masterton feels the side can be contenders in the First Division this year and commented: "We're hoping to be in the mix to get promoted.

"I don't think there's much between the teams really. Dundee have obviously spent a lot of money but we were definitely a match for them in the first match of the season.

"If we can be up there at Christmas and in with a chance and that's basically it." Masterton is an Ayr boy and continued: "I stay just round the corner from here.

"It's the first time I've played at Somerset. It's been a long time coming. I'm disappointed I wasn't really fully fit, but it's great to have the win." Masterton had a few Ayr pals at the match, but said: "I thought there might have been a few shouts at corners, but I didn't hear anything." Now it's on to the Killie tie and Masterton said: "It's one of my ex-teams so I will just look after my injury and hope I'm fully fit for that." Ayr manager Brian Reid, an old favourite at Cappielow in his playing days, was philosophical in defeat, saying: "It was just one of those days when it was never going to go in for us.

"We gift them a goal of a start and then wee Kevin Cawley has got a free header six yards out and should score.

"In this division if you don't take your chances you get punished.

"We dominated the second half but got caught with a sucker punch. As I say, it's goals that change games."