Raith continue unbeaten streak
At the start of the game Raith knew that if they could beat Inverness it would take them 2 points ahead of Inverness, which are one of the biggest top 4 rivals for Raith.
Raith started at an extremely high tempo and intensity which Inverness were having trouble coping with, and it showed in the 5th minute when Raith moved the ball quickly and the move ended with a header from Jamie Gullan crashing against the crossbar.
Although Raith were dominating the early parts of the match, Inverness had 2 chances on the counter that were well saved by Jamie MacDonald. The good start eventually paid off, with a Lewis Vaughan volley from around 25-30 yards beating Ridgers in the Inverness goal. GOAL 1-0 RAITH! 27 minutes.
GOAL!…Lewis Vaughan scores a screamer from 25 yards to put Rovers in front.
Raith continued to dominate the remainder of the first half without being able to create anything clear cut. HT 1-0 Raith.
Inverness started the second half extremely well with Henderson finding the back of the net from an acute angle to equalise. GOAL 1-1 INVERNESS! 47 minutes.
Raith took the lead only 13 minutes after conceding the equaliser, the build up to the goal started with a beautiful piece of skill from Dylan Easton, after which he found Lewis Vaughan and he in turn played a perfect pass through to Aiden Connolly where he did the typical Connolly finish where he cut in on his left foot to curl it into the far corner. GOAL 2-1 RAITH! 61 minutes.
GOAL!…Aidan Connolly makes it two with a trademark shot.
Raith continued to try scoring again rather than just trying to hold the lead; one of the best chances was from a corner that Ridgers made a fantastic save to keep Inverness in the game.
However Inverness capitalised on a bad habit of Raith conceding in the last 10 minutes of games and this one was to be no different with Billy McKay heading the ball in to equalise. GOAL 2-2 INVERNESS! 83 minutes.
FT 2-2.
Raith extended the unbeaten run to 9 games in all competitions. Man of the Match was Lewis Vaughan with 1 goal and 1 assist.
MacDonald, Dick, Millen, Nolan, Spencer, Connolly, Gullan, Vaughan, Lang, Brown, Easton. Subs: McNeil, McBride, Ngwenya, Stanton, Akio, McGill, Mitchell, Masson, Frederiksen
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Ridgers, Duffy, Welsh, Devine, Carson, McKay, Doran, Hyde, Daniel MacKay, Henderson, Delaney. Subs: Cameron MacKay, Harper, Allardice, Shaw, Thompson, Boyd, Cairns, Nicolson, Strachan
All the pictures from Rovers 2-2 draw with Inverness Caley Thistle at Stark’s Park.
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- RRCC Blues 2012 players were having a pre match collection
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- Match sponsors Myrtle Coffee Services
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- It was cake all round for Daniel Martin who was celebrating turniing 18
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- Matthew Brodie celebrated his 19th. birthday in the Raith Suite
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- John MacDonald interviews the match mascots Annan Laird and Charlie Horsburgh
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- The Mascots line up with the Ref and team Captains
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- Two on to one
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- MotM Lewis Vaughan shields the ball from Sean Walsh
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- Dylan Easton cuts inside
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- Scott on a forward run
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- Ross Millen bullets in a cross
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- Silky Tom Lang
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- Aidan Connolly in the thick of it
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- Hard working Jamie Gullan
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- Jamie MacDonald blocks Billy McKay's shot on goal
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- Should this have been a penalty to Raith
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- Referee Scott Lambie said NO
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- Ryan Nolan wins the header
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- Eyes firmly on the ball
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- The home fans celebrate Lewis's opening goal for Raith
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- Lewis Salutes the Crowd
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- Raith open the scoring
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- Brad Spencer
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- Tom Lang clears again
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- He's on the ball yet again
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- Determined Tom Lang
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- Ryan Nolan in control
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- Gordon Arthur picked the winning 50-50 ticket 60048 for £505
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- 50-50 Winner Mike Symanaik took home £505 for ticket 60048
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- Jamie cant stop Jay Henderson's shot hitting the back of the net
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- Brad Spencer beats Lewis Hyde to the ball
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- The balls in the net 2-1 to Raith
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- Aidan Connolly on the scoreboard again 2-1 to Raith
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- Well done Aidan Connolly
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- Brad and Billy McKay battle it out in the middle of the park
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- This Raith effort on the Inverness goal was cleared of the line
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- William Akio
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- New signing William Akio in action
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- No quarter asked for or given
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- Tom Lang battled for the full 90 minutes plus injury time
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- Jamie directs the defencesive wall
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- Man of the match Lewis Vaughan with sponsors Mark and Gazza Braid
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- The Mascots lead the teams out
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- Liam Dick beats Carson to the ball
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- Ring A Ring A Ross's
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- Dylan Easton
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- Jamie Gullan heads for goal....
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- ....but it crashed off the bar
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- Tom Lang gets his head to the ball to deny Doran
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- Jamie makes himself big to block McKay's shot
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- Keeper Ridgers clatters Jamie Gullan....
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- Club doctor Jimmy Parris and physio Stewart Duff attend to the Hammer
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- Ryan Nolan gets the better of McKay
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- Delaney and Connolly do battle
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- Brad Spencer takes the high road
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- Aidan Connolly fires in a shot....
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- ....but it's safely gathered by Ridgers
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- Lewis Vaughan shoots from 25 yards.....
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- ....GOAL!....Lewis' shot hits the net
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- I'm Back...Lewis celebrates
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- Roar of the Rovers
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- Everyone's happy for Lewis
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- Scott Brown beats Delaney to the ball
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- Tom Lang takes it in the face
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- Aaron Doran closes in on Tom Lang
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- Scott Brown gets in first
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- Lewis plays the ball to Jamie Gullan
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- GOAL! Henderson's shot beats Jamie
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- Billy McKay is ahead of Tom Lang
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- Dylan Easton on the ball
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- Ryan Nolan has his eye on the ball
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- Brad slips in to deny Henderson
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- Lewis Hyde chases Brad....
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- .....and down he comes...foul to Brad Spencer
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- Lewis Hyde is still on Brad's tail
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- Aidan Connolly fires in a trademark shot.....
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- ....GOAL!....Aidan's shot flies past Ridgers
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- Aidan celebrates with Ross Millen
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- Liam Dick on the ball
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- Tom Lang looks on as Ryan gets the ball
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- Ridgers looks to be beaten but did it cross the line.....
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- ....Rovers players thought so but the ref said no
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- William Akio replaced Jamie Gullan
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- Akio gets his head on the ball
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- Brad Spencer sends the ball past Allardice
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- Akio beats Ridgers but the flag is up
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- Sam Stanton replaces Dylan Easton
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- Akio charges upfield
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- Akio tries a shot but it's weak
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- GOAL! Billy McKay heads past Jamie for the equaliser
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- Sam Stanton sends the ball upfield
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- Sam Stanton gets the ball with Walsh in pursuit
Pictures © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY
Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the 2-2 draw with Inverness CT:
After edging out Linlithgow Rose in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup on Tuesday evening, Raith Rovers return to league action this weekend, when they face Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Stark’s Park.
A brace from Jamie Gullan saw Rovers into the next round, where they’ll face a home tie against Motherwell on the second weekend of February.
Saturday’s opponents go into this one in fine fettle, with a 0-0 draw against Queen’s Park last time, following excellent wins over Cove Rangers and Arbroath, 6-1 and 4-1 respectively.
That sequence has helped ease relegation fears around the Caledonian Stadium, after eight league games without a win had seen them slide down the table.
However, in a tight division, they now sit sixth in the table, one place and point better off than Raith, and just three points behind fourth placed Partick Thistle.
Tuesday’s win now makes it eight games without loss for Raith in all competitions, but they’ll need to overturn a horrendous record against Inverness, if they’re to get the three points.
Rovers have now went 30 matches without a win over Inverness in 90 minutes, with this season’s fixtures producing a 2-0 defeat at Stark’s Park in September, and a 1-1 draw in Inverness in November, with Sam Stanton opening the scoring after 13 minutes, only for Robbie Deas to equalise before half time.
Inverness have had some movement in the January window, with George Oakley leaving the club to join Morton, while right midfielder, Jay Henderson has joined on loan from St Mirren.
Saturday’s match referee will be Scott Lambie.
Head-To-Head Record
Raith Rovers wins: 5
Inverness Caledonian Thistle wins: 17
Draws: 7