Dev League: Raith Rovers 4 – 1 Livingston

Match Report

Michael Woods Leisure Centre, 30th January 2018

Raith Rovers u20’s 4 (Thorsen 24, Forrest OG 26, Osei 39, Court 40) – 1 Livingston u20’s (Knox 48 pen)

Rovers go 10 points clear

Rovers Development Squad extended  their lead at the top of the table with a dominant display in spite of the dreadful weather last night.

The game was played in constant rain and near freezing conditions due to the wind chill, this didn’t put off the Rovers as they turned on a great first half display which proved enough to take all three points.
Livingston had the first shot on goal when Cammy Clark tested Rory Brian with a shot from the corner of the area on the third minute.

This was it for the visitors as for long spells Rovers held them at bay and controlled the game, their passing play impressing the drookit support who had decided not to watch from their cars.
Stevenson came close to opening the scoring, first through Court and Thorsen combining then a pass to Ryan at the edge of the box, his shot going narrowly wide, then he played a long 1-2 with Thorsen, again shooting wide from the 18-yard line.

The tide gates opened with a ball played from midfield which found Court, his short run opened up the Livingston defence and he saw his shot come back off the base of the post but Andreas Thorsen was at hand to fire the ball into the net at the back post 1-0

If it wasn’t for the heavy rain the dust would have barely settled when a cross from the right was headed into his own goal by Greg Forrest who sat despondent in the box, cursing his error 2-0

Livingston had a few spells of possession but the closest they came was a 40-yard free kick from Carlo Pignatello which sailed over the bar.
Breaking from his own half, Euan Valentine found Osei on the left, his cross fell to Berry who shot just wide from 20 yards.

Rovers stretched their lead on 39 minutes when a long pass down the left fell perfectly for Yaw Osei, despite Gary Maley rushing out to the edge of his area, Yaw kept his head and calmly lobbed the ball over the outstretched keeper, the ball curled in flight but just crept inside of the left post 3-0

Rovers gave their visitors no respite and like the rain, drove back into the Livingston half with Osei and Court playing a 1-2, Johnny Court thumping the ball past Maley at the back post 4-0

Kyle Benedictius, who had a largely uneventful but comfortable first half, made way for Kieran Swanson for the second half, this brought Watson into CB and Kieran moving to RB.
Rovers found themselves defending for the first few minutes after the restart, this culminating in a penalty of the soft kind as Brian seemed to have tripped an advancing attacker.

Matthew Knox took a short run up sending Brian to his right and the ball to his left and into the back of goal 4-1

The loss of a goal failed to put the Rovers off their stride as they continued to control the game.
Livingston had several chances, all through scorer Knox, a 30-yarder going way over, later with two free kicks, both from 25 yards, the first sailing high over the bar and the second falling straight to Brian.

Head Coach Craig Easton was full of praise for his side who lost to Livingston back in October, saying despite the result they played well. Tonight they played equally well and deservedly took the points and now sit ten points clear of Livingston at the top of the league having played one game more.

Remember, RRFC Season Ticket holders get free entry to all Development League games. View the Development League (East) Fixture list & Table here.

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