Tue 9th July / 19:45 / 2019-20 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Cowdenbeath
Reports
Rovers End Summer With Another Win
Raith Rovers made it a clean sweep of victories across their pre-season campaign, with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Cowdenbeath.
Lewis Allan brought Rovers level after David Cox had given the visitors an early lead, and Grant Anderson scored what proved to be the winner in the closing stages of the first period.
John McGlynn made half a dozen changes from the side which cantered to a 2-0 win over Spartans on Saturday.
Ross Munro replaced David McGurn in goals, while David McKay and Iain Davidson replaced Fernandy Mendy and Kyle Benedictus at the heart of the back four.
Joao Victoria made a return to the starting eleven in place of Ross Matthews, while Brad Spencer came in for Jamie Watson, with Michael Miller moving to the right-back position vacated by the youngster. Matthew Knox also made way for Kieron Bowie.
Rovers had impressed in their pre-season fixtures to date, and they almost made a blistering start to this one, when Victoria skimmed past two challenges before skelping a shot off the post from the edge of the penalty area.
If any fan thought that was going to signal a similar theme to what they saw on Saturday, with Raith camped in their opponents half, then they were in for a rude awakening, when Cowdenbeath took the lead in the fourth minute.
Rovers failed to clear their lines at a corner kick, and while Munro was equal to the initial shot, David Cox was on hand to nudge Gary Bollan’s side in front from close range.
While the goal was a setback, Rovers were still holding the upper-hand in terms of possession, with Victoria and Bowie both producing glimmers of creativity, without testing Cowden ‘keeper, Kevin Dabrowski.
The pressure paid off though, and Rovers were back on level terms in the 15th minute, after a well worked goal from a set-piece.
A short corner routine was seized upon by Regan Hendry, and after cutting inside, his shot appeared to be heading wide of goal, but a clever backheel from Lewis Allan steered the ball past Dabrowski to make the score 1-1.
The game had become a keenly contested affair, and Rovers were lucky not to go behind again just before the half hour mark.
Firstly, Davidson had to look alert to cut out a good cross from Cox with Jordan Allan waiting to pounce, and from the corner, Rovers again failed to deal with it correctly, allowing Allan a sight at goal, but his effort lacked muster, allowing Munro to gather.
Within seconds however, Rovers almost took the lead, when Bowie picked up possession on the right, before cutting inside and attempting to bend one round Dabrowski, who did well to deflect the ball over the bar.
The on-loan Hibernian goalie had to look alert again in the 34th minute, when a fine cross from Miller found the head of Grant Anderson, but while his header was accurate, it just lacked a little pace, although Dabrowski did well to dive to his right and pluck the ball out of the corner.
Rovers were getting closer and closer, and the Blue Brazil number one again had to bail out his colleagues after Hendry had teed up Anderson on the left-hand side of the penalty box, but his low shot across goal was well held by Dabrowski.
Cowdenbeath’s resistance was finally broken in the 41st minute however, and after knocking on the door a couple of times, it was Anderson who achieved it.
Kieran MacDonald’s low ross appeared to be aimed for Allan at the near post, but after he failed to make contact, Anderson was on hand to knock the ball home from the edge of the six-yard-box.
The second half started with a plethora of changes, with McKay, Davidson, Victoria, Hendry and Allan making way for Matthew Knox, Fernandy Mendy, Kyle Benedictus, Ross Matthews and a trialist who took his place alongside Anderson up top.
Despite the raft of changes, Rovers continued to take the game to Cowdenbeath, but despite a number of crosses being delivered into the area, and winning a handful of corners as a consequence, they were unable to test Dabrowski in the half’s formative stages.
With both teams making yet more changes during the second period, the game had started to meander along, with not a whole lot happening with regards to goalmouth action.
It took until the 72nd minute for either side to threaten in the half, and it was the League Two side who produced it, when their right midfielder trialist was afforded a sight at goal after a mistake at the back, but Munro did well to divert his drive past the post.
It was the final piece of action in a half which had been somewhat stop start, but it was another positive indicator in what has been an encouraging summer for the club.
The competitive stuff starts this weekend, with an intriguing looking League Cup tie against Championship side Dundee at Stark’s Park.
Photos
Photos © Tony Fimister
Highlights
Interviews
Raith TV talked to John McGlynn after tonight's victory in the friendly against Cowdenbeath