MORTON boss Jim Duffy kept his feet firmly on the ground despite seeing Stefan McCluskey's hat-trick fire his side to the top of League One.

McCluskey's treble and a clinical finish from Declan McManus made it look easy for the Greenock side against struggling Stirling.

But in reality the division's bottom side could easily have been comfortably ahead before Morton found their feet.

The point was not lost on Duffy who admitted: "In the first half if it hadn't been for three great saves from our keeper we'd have been in trouble.

"We were all over the place at times and Stirling can count themselves unlucky to have been behind at half-time.

"But we responded a lot better in the second half and scored some good goals. It was night and day compared with the first half."

Stirling may be anchored at the foot of League One but they took the game to title chasing Morton early on.

Although a massive 38 points behind the Greenock side, they forced Derek Gaston into some decent saves in the first period.

On 17 minutes the home keeper parried Phil Johnston's shot before blocking Gordon Smith's effort on the rebound.

Then he pushed away Johnston's powerful shot a minute later and only a frantic clearance from Thomas O'Ware stopped Smith on the follow up.

Smith then tried an audacious volley from outside the box which Gaston had to spectacularly tip over the bar.

However, having weathered the early storm, the home side imposed themselves and went ahead and on 35 minutes when Declan McManus crossed from the byeline for McCluskey to net.

Stirling were initially unbowed and Andy Stirling's shot on 45 minutes nearly caught out Gaston who clawed the ball out with Beith blasting the rebound over.

Morton, though, doubled their lead on 61 minutes when McCluskey played a 1-2 with McManus before side-footing home.

McCluskey completed his hat-trick with a composed finish into the corner of the net following a Thomas O'Ware pass.

With nine minutes to go on-loan Aberdeen striker McManus fired in the fourth to complete a convincing 'Ton win.

An excellent night for Morton was complete when they learned that previous leaders Stranraer had lost at Stenhousemuir but Duffy insisted: "I'm not bothered about anyone else's result. It is all about us winning games and doing our job."

Albion boss Stuart McLaren said: "The better team was losing at half-time but a lot of credit goes to Morton.

"Although we worked hard they had the quality to punish us and we have to be more resilient in defence." ends