Reports

Rovers search for a first league win of 2022 continued as John McGlynn’s side held promotion rivals Partick Thistle to a 0-0 draw at Stark's Park.

Like many of the other SPFL Championship games, the battle that commenced at Stark's Park was a fairly even one with either side restricted to a number of half chances in either half as Rovers clung onto the final Promotion Play-Off spot for yet another week. This weekend only three goals were scored over five SPFL Championship matches (after Hamilton Accies and Inverness played out a 1-1 draw on Friday night as well as bottom side Queen of the South’s 1-0 win over Ayr United).

Rovers looked to try and make up for last weeks poor start against Kilmarnock by going for the jugular from kick off, and had a dangerous free kick from 25 yards inside the opening two minutes. Dario Zanatta’s effort from distance was well saved by Sneddon.
Rovers had yet another opportunity to get themselves in front inside a quarter of an hour after some good running from Reghan Tumilty saw him slip Ethon Varian in behind the Thistle backline, in which the Irishman looked to square the ball along the six-yard line for someone to tap in but nobody was there to finish the move off.

Rovers would try again with 23 minutes on the clock as Sam Stanton delivered a long ball into the box, where after a shot shy attack, the ball fell to Ross Matthews whose drive from the edge of the area was held on to by Sneddon.
Rovers could’ve had a penalty just shy of the half hour mark, but for the perception of Willie Collum after Christophe Berra was upended in the Thistle box, but the man in the middle waved play on.

Thistle tried to get into the game and had their first real effort of note with nine first half minutes to play. As the ball broke in the middle of the park which saw Docherty advance with the ball and try his luck from distance but MacDonald was on hand to parry as Berra hooked clear.
McGlynn’s side were unlucky not to be ahead moments before the break as Sam Stanton tried his luck with a shot from distance but his well struck effort was drilled wide of the mark.

Thistle had the home side panicking six minutes after the interval after a lapse in concentration and a shout for offside saw Cammy Smith pick up the ball on the right hand side and see his shot across goal go wide of the mark after Turner beat the offside trap.
Thistle came on strong again with 25 minutes to play and again had the home supporters nervous when a well worked move found the ball being fed into the feet of Brian Graham on the edge of the box, but his right footed from 18-yards flew just over the wrong side of the bar.

Nerves looked to set in as both sides looked to try and get a winner as the clock ticked into the final fifteen minutes. Birthday boy Reghan Tumilty (who was a threat all afternoon) with a rampant display down the right managed to tease a cunning ball for Zanatta to run onto and deliver into the box, but the nerves were clear to see as nobody took a gamble to get onto it as it trickled out of play for a throw.

Aidan Connolly was also a threat all afternoon, and he thought he’d be the man to win it for Rovers inside the final four minutes as he picked the ball up and carried it into the penalty area bypassing a sea of legs as he looked to bag a winner, but he bit off more than he could chew as he was crowded out and the ball was hacked away as Thistle held on for a point in a hotly contested tie at Stark's Park.

Photos

Photographs © Tony Fimister & Jim Foy

Highlights

Interviews

John McGlynn spoke to RaithTV after the draw against Partick Thistle FC:

Live Updates

0'
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Welcome to today's game 4th against 5th, Raith v Partick
0'
Partick get the game underway. Raith shooting towards the away stand
0'
Tumilty launches the ball upfield. Williamson and Varian are there but Sneddon comes out to collect
2'
Tumilty from the throw in. Stanton gets the ball to Williamson who is fouled. Free kick Raith approx 25 yards out
3'
Zanatta takes it, ball curls low but Snedddon gets down to collect
3'
Free kick Partick deep in Raith half, Dick fouls Crawford
5'
From Partick free kick, McAllister's ball is wide- goal kick
6'
Stanton muscles in to Jakubiak forcing the latter to make an error, goal kicl
7'
Stanton with the long ball to Varian. He wins the ball but his Partick player intercepts, corner Raith
8'
Nothing comes of the corner
9'
Tumilty tries to stop the ball reaching Smith but ends up being a throw in to Partick
10'
Partick close as Hendrie heads the ball from the byline back in to the box but MacDonald reads well and collets
11'
MacDonald comes out of goal to clear a ball to stop Jakubiak pouncing on the loose ball
13'
Play starts with Stanton getting the ball to Tumilty who goes further upfield and gets the ball to Varian, he tries for goal but ball is wide and no one else to toe poke the ball home at the far post
18'
McAllister crosses the ball for a Partick threat but Tumilty is there to clear, corner Partick
19'
Balls passed to Stanton just on edge of the box but he can't control and turn to have a shot
24'
Stanton with the long ball into the Partick box, Raith not taking the courage to shoot. Ball eventually falls to Matthews who takes a pop but it's too soft and Sneddon collects comfortably
28'
Ball falls to Berra in the Partick box,he goes down and feels he's has been fouled, ref says no. Goalkick
30'
Like Tumilty's thinking there, he back heals to Connolly but Partick intercept
32'
Tumilty gets the ball to the back post, a gathering of players there with both sides trying to claim for the ball when it goes out of play, ref gives it Raith's way and awards a corner
35'
Varian definitely being held by Mayo but ref does nothing
36'
Raith on a run, Tumilty gets the ball low to the front post but Partick intercept, Raith corner
38'
Zanatta from the corner gets the ball into the Partick box but they clear
39'
Jakubiak booked after arm contact to Benedictus' face
42'
Stanton tries to go for goal, it's low but wide
43'
MacDonald gets down and with an outstretched save as Jakubiak has a shot
45'
+1 red blows for half time Raith 0 Partick 0
45'
Raith get the game back underway
46'
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Partick have made a couple of substitutions during half time off go Jakubiak and Crawford and on come Turner and Graham
49'
Stanton switches to Dick who launches the ball towards the box but Partick clear
52'
Partick come close, thankfully their effort goes wide
54'
Corner Raith, Zanatta to take it
54'
Ball launches into the centre of the Partick box but Sneddon punches clear
56'
Zanatta plays the ball through but Varian can't muscle his way to get the ball
57'
Connolly cuts the ball back to Tumilty who brings it in, he has a pop but ball goes wide
58'
Corner Raith
58'
Zanatta's corner goes to the far end of the box but Williamson goes to ground in the box, he looks for the foul but the ref blows for the foul in Partick's favour
59'
Stanton switches play to Dick who launches the ball upfield to Zanatta but the ball takes a turn in the air and goes out
61'
Zanatta has a shot but it's straight at Sneddon who saves
63'
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Partick sub off Smith and bring on Murray
64'
Partick effort just over the Raith bar
68'
Williamson tries to get past Akinola but the latter reads well
69'
MacDonald with a instant reaction punch save as Partick take a powerful shot
70'
Ball passed through to Williamson but he his offside
70'
Hendrie booked
71'
From the free kick ball into the box by Benedictus but Akinola reacts first and clears
73'
Tumilty runs upfield passes to Zanatta who gets it and gets the ball into the box but no one there to slot home
74'
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Raith sub off Varian and bring on Poplatnik
76'
Poplatnik has a shot but he's low effort is blocked by Mayo
77'
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Raith sub off Williamson and bring on Arnott
78'
Raith free kick as free after a foul on Matthews
79'
Poplatnik does really well to win the ball, he gets it into the box but is challenged
83'
Crowd is 1759 and match sponsors have voted Benedictus as man of the match
83'
Zanatta gets the ball into the box but Akinola heads clear
84'
Fans match day app has voted for Stanton as their man of the match - I agree. He has worked hard this afternoon
85'
Turner for Partick booked for diving in the box
86'
Zanatta passes to Connolly and he has a shot but his effort is just over the bar
88'
Connolly gets the ball to the penalty spot but Poplatnik isn't quite there to convert
90'
Corner Raith, Zanatta to take
90'
Correction Connolly to take
90'
Ref blows for full time Raith 0 Partick 0. End to end stuff but Raith don't put away their chances