Preview

Raith Rovers head to Dumbarton this Saturday, looking to preserve their slender lead at the top of the League One table.

Last weekend’s 1-0 win over Clyde kept Raith a point clear of Falkirk, who triumphed 1-0 over Montrose, and they’ll be hoping for a repeat of the match which was played out on the opening day of the season, when Raith defeated Jim Duffy’s mean 1-0 in the shadow of Dumbarton Rock.

Grant Anderson was the scorer that day, but they found it far tougher the last time the two sides met at Stark’s Park in December, when goals from PJ Crossan and Ryan McGeever gave the away side a 2-0 win against an injury ravaged Rovers team.

That game was actually the Sons last win until midweek, when they beat Clyde 1-0, their first win in six matches, which kept them sixth in the third tier.

Rovers can take some solace from the fact that Dumbarton have one of the poorer home records in the league, with only Stranraer picking up fewer points at home this term.

The teams have an identical record in this fixture in recent years, with four wins and two draws apiece.

Saturday’s match referee will be Kevin Graham.

 

Head-To-Head Away League Record:

Dumbarton Wins: 28

Raith Rovers Wins: 21

Draws: 12

Dumbarton Goals: 130

Raith Rovers Goals: 97

Current Form:

Dumbarton: L-L-L-D-L-W

Raith Rovers: L-W-W-D-W-W

Top Scorers:

Dumbarton: Isaac Layne 9, PJ Crossan 6

Raith Rovers: Kieron Bowie 9, Jamie Gullan 7, Lewis Allan 6

Match Odds:

Dumbarton: 14/5

Raith Rovers: 3/4

Draw: 3/1

 

Reports

Rovers Stumble At Dumbarton

Raith Rovers missed a golden opportunity to move further ahead of Falkirk in the League One title race, after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Dumbarton. 

The visitors rarely threatened Conor Brennan’s goal in the second period, as the Sons won out thanks to a last minute strike from Stuart Carswell. 

John McGlynn made three changes from the side which won 1-0 at home to Clyde, with Dan Arsmstrong, Tony Dingwall and Michael Miller coming in for David McKay, Dylan Tait and Steven MacLean. 

Rovers had the advantage in the opening 45 minutes, with the rain, sleet and snow lashing towards Brennan in the Dumbarton goal, but the away side found it difficult to take advantage. 

One person who did take advantage of the day was the Dumbarton mascot, who went down on one knee in an elephant suit to propose to her partner before the game. 

Despite the difficult wintry conditions, Raith seemed to adapt to them the best, getting the ball down and keeping possession well, but they were failing to capitalise in terms of chances created, which were few and far between. 

The ball was failing to stick to John Baird who was up top, with those behind struggling to get up in support.

As a consequence, Rovers superiority in possession was counting for nought, with their only real chance in the opening period falling to Baird from a Brad Spencer cross, but he could only nod tamely into the keepers arms. 

Spencer then tried his luck from distance after a pull back from Kieran MacDonald, but his 20 yard effort was way over the bar. 

The ball fell to him again on the edge of the area a few moments later, but after a good bit of build up play, he couldn’t quite find space to get off a decent shot, and he curled his effort wide. 

It wasn’t all one way traffic though, and Dumbarton should really have taken the lead as the interval approached, when the ball fell to Stef McCluskey, but he lashed wildly at the ball and scooped it over, in what was the last piece of notable play from a quiet first period. 

You felt that Raith would have an even more difficult task in the second period, as they now had to battle against the home side, and the elements, and Raith toiled to put together too many chances as the wind and snow battered down. 

Again, Spencer was the man the chance fell to in the opening moments of the second period, but he could only drag his effort wide. 

Baird then had the ball in the net in the 55th minute, after being played through by Armstrong, but the linesman already had his flag in the air.

That was his last contribution to the game, with Grant Anderson and MacLean replacing him and Armstrong, but in treacherous conditions, both substitutes struggled to turn the game in Raith’s favour. 

Dumbarton were having a far bigger say in this half however, and they probably should have opened the scoring in the 70th minute, when a corner kick fell to PJ Crossan at the back post, but he sclaffed his effort wide. 

Jim Duffy’s men were the side in the ascendency in the game’s closing stages, and you sensed that if anything was going to happen, it would come from a set piece, although when it did arrive, it was virtually the last kick of the ball. 

A corner was cleared only as far as just inside the area, allowing Carswell to blast the ball through a ruck of players and into the net from 16-yards. 

It was a hammer blow to a Rovers team that looked to have done enough to take a point from the game, but instead, retained their one point lead at the top, with Falkirk also stumbling. 

The two now come together on Tuesday evening, in a top of the table clash at Stark’s Park. 

Photos

Photo Gallery will appear here shortly

Highlights

Interviews

Live Updates

0'
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Welcome to the C&G Systems Stadium, it's 5 degrees, windy and a smattering of rain which could quite easily turn into snow.
0'
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The teams have had their warm up and back in the dressing rooms.
0'
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The teams are out.
1'
Dumbarton kicking off to our right.
2'
The ball is spending more time off the pitch than on.
3'
Hendry with a low shot from 25 didn't trouble Brennan.
7'
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Good build up play from the Rovers, just need to find an opening.
8'
Spencer dinking the back line but the ball was too strong for Baird to run onto.
11'
Neill received a lecture from Mr Graham.
12'
Spencer with the corner, Baird heads the ball straight to Brennan at the back post.
14'
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Sleet coming down sideways.
15'
Armstrong and Baird combine, the latter couldn't find Matthews who looked clear.
19'
Dumbarton free kick 45 yards out, bounces into the arms of Thomson.
22'
Davidson with an unintentional back header sees the ball in the arms of Thomson.
23'
Latest score, Dumbarton 0-0 Raith Rovers
24'
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The sleet is swirling and heavier than before.
24'
Matthews and Baird stumbled over consecutive shots.
27'
A short cross from Armstrong falls short but Hendry is on hand to mop up the Dumbarton attack.
28'
Armstrong short with another pas lets in Jones who skies his shot into the car park.
31'
Dumbarton corner, Jones Lays off to McCluskey who shoots over the bar from 15 yards.
33'
Hendry looked to have found Macdonald down the channel but there was too much beans on the off.
34'
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The sleet has given way to rain.
39'
Armstrong with a high cross, the ball is grabbed by Brennan who takes the ball out of play for a corner.
41'
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It's getting dark here on the Clyde, time to light up the candles.
42'
Dingwall crosses to the back post but Armstrong could only despair as his header went well wide.
45'
Half time. Dumbarton 0-0 Raith Rovers
46'
John Baird gets the game restarted.
46'
Great hold up play from Baird in the box, lays off to Spencer who scuffed the ball wide.
48'
Carswell lays off to Crossan, his shot going across goal and out past the back post.
51'
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Finesse going out the window due to the ball sticking in places, players slipping all over the place.
53'
Jones slips and misses in the box, Rovers players surround the ball as Thomson dives to smother.
55'
Baird has the ball in the net but is flagged offside.
58'
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The ball enjoys a spell on the touchline.
62'
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Dreadful conditions not making for good football.
63'
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Baird and Armstrong off, G Anderson and Maclean on.
64'
Latest score Dumbarton 0-0 Raith Rovers
65'
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Jones and Langan, Forbes and Layne on.
70'
From a corner, Neill heads down to Crossan who sclaffed the ball into the side net.
74'
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Dingwall off, Bowie on.
74'
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Dingwall off, Bowie on.
74'
Rovers under the cosh, defending a third corner, the ball finally going out of play, landing on the roof of the net.
77'
Rovers putting on the pressure, ends with an offside Maclean heading wide at the back post.
80'
Quitongo hits the side from a tight angle.
81'
Bowie a threat on the left since he came on.
84'
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Efforts from both going dreadfully astray.
87'
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Dumbarton player down with cramp, I thought it would be too cold for cramp.
88'
Quitongo limps off.
90'
+1 Dumbarton corner number 2, goal Dumbarton.
90'
+3 Carswell drove the ball home from the edge of the box.
90'
+4 Full time. Dumbarton 1-0 Raith Rovers Carswell 93' Attendance 804