Report

Raith Rovers’ steady but goalless away form continued on Saturday after drawing 0-0 against the historically tricky Airdrieonians F.C.  

The first match of the new year had a bit of everything, barring any goals. Both sides had chances to find the net on the day, but a combination of panic and misfortune got in the way.  

After losing both Lewis Stevenson and Ross Matthews to injury a week earlier, Dougie Imrie had only eleven outfield players at his disposal, with Lewis Vaughan, Calum Fordyce, Paul Hanlon, and Shaun Byrne also missing out to injury, whilst Joshua Mullin served the remainder of a two-match suspension.  

However, reinforcements were sought amid the squad’s ongoing injury crisis, which saw the young trio of Callum Hannah, Logan Raeside, and Lewis Gibson return to the club from their respective loan spells, with all starting on the bench for this match. Imrie also utilised the new loan signing of Andrew Winter, who started up top after joining the club on loan from Livingston just one day earlier.  

Airdrie kicked the first ball of 2026 as they got the match underway, but it was The Rovers who had the more promising start to the match.  

An early burst forward from Ewan Wilson allowed a cross to make it to Jack Hamilton at the back post, who did well to knock the ball back across the face of goal. Harry Stone was first to it though, punching the ball clear of the Airdrie goal in the end.  

Raith kept up their efforts, but Airdrie started to threaten – coming close in the 24th minute after Sean McGinty narrowly fired a free shot over the bar from the edge of the box.  

There was a strong penalty shout for The Rovers around the half-hour mark after Darragh O’Connor was seemingly hauled down by the shirt in his pursuit of a high ball, but nothing came Raith’s way, with play continuing.  

The best chance of the half came from some good play between Easton and Wilson down the left side, which resulted in the latter getting a quick shot away from around ten yards out. Stone did well to react in time, palming the corner-bound effort away safely, before the halftime whistle went moments later.  

Momentum swung in the second half, which saw Airdrie create a few dangerous-looking chances of their own. Raith defended well at times, limiting any early efforts on goal to a close-range header that ended up over the bar.  

Airdrie were almost gifted a goal on the hour mark after a miscommunication at the back left Josh Rae in no-man’s land. Euan Henderson had a goalkeeper-less net to aim at, but his effort from 12 yards ended up clipping the post on its way out for a goal kick – much to the delight of the travelling support.  

Raith seemed to rally in the wake of such a scare, which saw them get further up the park as full-time drew near. A spectacular, Van Persie-esque diving header from Jai Rowe almost got the defender back on the scoresheet, but his effort cleared the bar in the end.  

Rowe very nearly won it for The Rovers in the 88th minute with another header towards goal, but this attempt crashed into the crossbar before ultimately being cleared. In turn, Airdrie almost went end-to-end and capitalised from a slip from Nsio, but Rae was on hand to clear the danger, before the full-time whistle went shortly after.  

Another point on the road keeps Raith in sixth place, trailing 2 points behind Dunfermline Athletic, who have a game in hand after a weather postponement this weekend.  

Next up, Raith return to Starks Park this Saturday for a league match vs third-placed Arbroath, but not before a Challenge Cup tie against Queen of the South this Tuesday.  

Written by Hamish Rankine

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