Raith Move Clear With Dominant Win

Raith Rovers moved seven points clear in the play-off places, and perhaps just as importantly, made a statement of intent, with a dominant 2-0 win over fifth place Queen of the South.

Ray McKinnon made just one change from Saturday’s team, James Craigen starting on the left-hand-side of midfield, with Harry Panayiotou dropping to the bench.

For Queen of the South, Rovers fans would probably have been relieved to see Derek Lyle and Iain Russell omitted from the starting eleven, although both were named amongst the substitutes. The Queens team did include one familiar face, with Ryan Conroy starting in midfield.

Like Saturday, Raith were quick out the blocks, although unlike the win over St. Mirren, the opening chance wasn’t taken, with Aiden Connolly dragging a snap-shot from the edge of the box wide of the target.

Despite the bright opening, it wasn’t a portent of things to come, with the early stages of the match punctuated by injuries and stoppages, rather than dashing football and chances.

Rory McKeown was the first to require the physio on after a clash of heads, then of more concern, Iain Davidson suffered the same injury, but appeared to be out-cold, and after lengthy treatment, had to make way. Craig Barr was his replacement in the middle of defence. Jason Thomson was then clattered in front of the dug-outs, although thankfully he recovered sufficiently to continue.

After the blood and thunder of the opening period, the game eventually started to cough up some chances, with Raith the main creators.

Mark Stewart was played in by Ryan Hardie, and although he reached the ball just before Robbie Thompson, his touch took the ball wide of the goalkeeper, but just too far ahead to reach before it ran out of play.

The forward wouldn’t be denied for long though, as Raith opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, with a chance started and finished by Rovers top goal-scorer.

His ball from the left freed up Hardie on the right-hand-side of the penalty area, and although his chance was blocked, it fell kindly to Stewart who gratefully prodded it into the gaping net from close range.

A moment later, the roles were reversed, with Stewart playing in Hardie, but the youngster was forced slightly too far wide, and his chance was eventually crowded out.

Queens hadn’t been seen much in terms of an attacking force, but they should have been level in the 38th minute.

Conroy’s corner was swung in towards Cuthbert, and with the keeper struggling to claim, Andy Dowie touched it to back to Callum Tapping, but with plenty time and space, his side foot effort from just outside the box was shanked high over the bar.

If that miss left James Fowler frustrated, then his annoyance would have been exacerbated even further, when Rovers doubled their advantage soon after.

Aiden Connolly’s quick feet and directness laid the ground work, feeding Hardie inside the area. His shot appeared to meet the hand of Chris Higgins, and the referee saw the same, pointing to the spot.

James Craigen confidently took the kick, placing it to Thompson’s left, with the young keeper electing to dive the other way.

Unsurprisingly, considering how little Queen of the South had created in the first period, the second half started with Derek Lyle and Iain Russell introduced for Callum Tapping and Derek Brownlie.

Right away, their presence appeared to lift the away side, but while they were making inroads into the Raith half, the vast majority of their possession was being played out in front of the Rovers back-four, with little or nothing coming from wide areas, or balls played in behind.

This meant that when Queens attacks were fizzling out, Raith were looking fairly nifty on the break, with the pace of Stewart, Hardie and Connolly a constant cause for concern for Fowler’s team.

One such chance occurred in the 50th minute, when Lewis Toshney broke up an attack in the middle of the park, before playing the ball to the Hardie, whose first time lay-off found Connolly in the wide area. He drifted inside before teeing up the onrushing Craigen, but from a good position, the midfielder appeared to be on his heels a little, as he lifted his shot over.

The pattern of the game now seemed set, with Queens seemingly at odds with how to make use of possession, and Raith hitting at pace. Rory McKeown was the next to spring forward, and his deep cross from the left found Stewart at the back post, but his first-time volley was deflected past for a corner.

Raith continued to look the likelier to score, with Connolly sliding a perfect pass through to Hardie, but while he composed himself just as he did at the weekend, his fierce drive was deflected wide by the Queens custodian.

With Rovers turning the screw, Hardie was denied again a few minutes later, when his shot from distance was beaten by the post with an unusual shovel type action from Thompson.

Ray McKinnon then made a flurry of substitutions, with Louis Longridge and Harry Panayiotou coming on for Connolly and Stewart, but the momentum stayed with the home side, with Callachan and Hardie again, both bringing good saves from Thompson.

The comfortable win puts Raith seven points clear of the Doonhamers, although the Dumfries side do have a game in hand. The next fixture in a hectic March is away to Alloa Athletic this Saturday.