Sat 9th April / 15:00 / 2021-22 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Greenock Morton
Reports
Rovers have it all to do after Robbie Muirhead’s second half strike condemned John McGlynn’s side to two defeats in the space of three days in the 1-0 defeat to Greenock Morton.
Rovers had the better of the chances but ultimately couldnt find their clinical edge as the side from the Banks of the Clyde made them pay by taking all three points back to Cappielow.
Rovers could’ve been ahead inside 21-minutes when some good play between Ethon Varian and Frankie Musonda saw the Zambia international freed down the left hand side. He passed the ball forward to the Irishman who held the ball up and flicked it inwards for Musonda to run onto and play an early ball into the area for Poplatnik to fling himself at but his header was high into the stand.
Poplatnik was again close to putting Rovers ahead with just over half an hour played. Some great play from Reghan Tumilty on the right saw him take out Strapp with a neat dummy, allowing Musonda to bring the ball forward, he then passed infield to Sam Stanton at the edge of the box, who cut in onto his left foot and curled an effort towards the top left corner, which Jack Hamilton punched away, allowing Poplatnik to come in and try to flick an effort towards goal on the rebound but his effort was blocked.
Rovers continued to grow into the game and were cruelly denied a deserved opener by the crossbar. Some good play down the right saw Grieg Young deliver a delightful ball into Ethon Varian who’s first time glancing header was nearly inch perfect but for it cannoning off the crossbar and back into play, which allowed Lewis Strapp to hack the ball clear at the second attempt.
It would be the visitors who took the lead though, with 65-minutes on the clock. Some good play down the right saw the ball break for Robbie Muirhead who cleverly knocked the ball past Kyle Benedictus on the right hand side of the box, before running the long way round him to shift the ball onto his left foot and curl the ball into the bottom left corner with an inch perfect finish.
Dario Zanatta thought he had levelled things up with 18-minutes to play. Some great one touch passing from the Canadian and Ethan Ross on the right hand side saw them progress the ball forward beating McLean and McGrattan in the process which saw Ross cut the ball back to Tumilty who passed into the box for Zanatta to hold in and roll round Lithgow to strike a fine effort with his right foot, but it crashed off the bar yet again and into the Penman Family Stand.
The Skipper must have thought he’d got his side on level terms in the closing stages as his side put the visitors under siege in their own defensive third. A great ball into the box from Ethan Ross’ set piece on the left saw him curl the ball into the near post, for Benedictus to barge his way through a crowd of bodies to fling himself at, connecting with his head at the front post but Rovers’ luck was summed up as his header flew agonisingly wide of the left hand corner, as the points slipped away from he and his teammates once more as they now look to head to Firhill on Saturday knowing that only three points will do if they are to make the play-offs.
Photos
All the photos from today's match at Stark's Park.
Photographs © Tony Fimister & Jim Foy.
Highlights
Interviews
John McGlynn spoke to RaithTV after the defeat to Greenock Morton FC: