MORTON defender Lee Kilday found the net with a stunning curling shot to claim his first ever career goal — then modestly admitted it was a FLUKE.

Right-back Kilday had never scored at senior level until bending a left-footed effort in off the underside of crossbar 15 minutes into Saturday’s 3-1 win over Stenhousemuir.

But the 22-year-old confessed that what looked like a measured finish was actually a hit-and-hope swing with his weaker foot that fortunately sailed into the net.

He told the Tele: “Those were the first goals I’ve ever scored. I had a few chances at Hamilton when I was there but never managed to get on the scoresheet, so it was a great feeling.

“With the first one I’ve just come inside and swung my left foot at it. I’m not left footed and I’m not good with it either. It was a good finish but it was really a fluke. I’d honestly say it was a fluke, yeah.” After breaking the deadlock, Kilday amazingly added a second for good measure, coolly converting after bursting onto Declan McManus’s inventive flick.

Although the former Hamilton Accies man was delighted with his double, his ambition was to hit the net with a header to claim the perfect treble.

He added: “The second one was good play from us. The ball came into Deccy and he flicked it round the corner. I got there before their boy, took my touch and slotted it by the keeper.

“That was a decent finish. I managed to stay composed so it was good. And after that I was thinking to myself: ‘I need to get this hat-trick now!’ “I said to the boys at half-time that if I could score with a header it would be the perfect hat-trick: left, right, and head. I had a chance to score in the second half but obviously it just wasn’t to be.

“Hopefully a few more goals come after today and they won’t be my last two of the season. I get forward enough anyway!” Morton were left hanging on for the win after the break despite the defender’s double opening up a comfortable two-goal lead in an impressive opening 45 minutes.

Kilday felt his side played some of their best football of the campaign in the first half but said it was a relief to walk away with the points after a nervy second period.

He explained: “I thought we were great in the first half — it was the best we’ve passed the ball in a while — but in the second half we made it a bit hard for ourselves.

“We sat a bit deeper and they changed their formation to stop me and Marky [Russell] getting forward as much.

“I think you could see a few of the boys putting the ball anywhere after Stenhousemuir scored. At times like that you need to relax, take your touch and keep playing the same way.

“But we scored a third goal and that helps us. It calms everybody in the team down and it calms the supporters down too. Once we got that third goal it was a relief and we knew the game was won.

“It was just great to get the three points to keep us top of the league with Dunfermline and Forfar both winning as well.”