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Raith Rovers picked up a point away to Airdrie for the first time in over five years after playing out a goalless draw on Saturday.  

The Rovers avoided a fifth straight defeat at the Excelsior Stadium, even after Airdrie almost found the net with the last act of the match.  

Barry Robson made three changes to his starting eleven after losing 2-0 to St Johnstone a week prior, with Jai Rowe and Jack Hamilton taking the places of Shaun Byrne and Lewis Vaughan. Ewan Wilson was rotated for Lewis Stevenson, which marks his full Raith debut after joining on loan from Motherwell three weeks earlier.   

Airdrie got the afternoon’s proceedings underway and managed to see off a few early Raith efforts – even despite a speedy booking for Lewis Strapp in the 5th minute.  

Both sides started to work the ball into their respective final third, but each attack broke down at the final pass with neither keeper really being called into action at any point in the first half.  

Jack Hamilton got involved often as he led Raith’s attacking line. The striker could have had his best chance of the afternoon in the 29th minute after a challenge from Matthews put him through, but referee Ryan Lee awarded Airdrie a free kick after deeming the tackle a foul.  

A flurry of set-pieces made up the remainder of the half before the interval. Raith switched Paul McMullan for Richard Chin before the second half commenced, and an early period of pressure unfolded as Chin caused a bit of early attacking chaos.  

Raith were inches from taking the lead in the 52nd minute after a long throw into the box eluded Airdrie’s defence. Hamilton turned the ball goalwards, but a goal-line clearance prevented his effort from finding the net. A scramble in Airdrie’s penalty area ensued, but the home side eventually cleared for good.  

Raith continued to dominate the second half, but Airdrie remained a threat. Lewis Vaughan entered the field in the 58th minute and almost scored just ten minutes later as he bore down on goal. Connelly in the Airdrie net did well to meet him quickly though, and the ball ended up drifting harmlessly out for a goal kick.  

Raith endeavoured in crossing, passing, and dribbling their way into Airdrie’s penalty area, but a golden chance just didn’t come along.  

With injury time almost over, Airdrie’s Cole McKinnon unleashed a shot on goal from just inside the box. An unorthodox header from substitute Aaron Reid took the ball away from Rae, and time stood still as the ball deflected off the bar and down towards the goal line. The ball bounced on the right side of the line for the travelling Rovers’ fans however, and Rae scrambled to smother the ball.  

That last gasp bit of action was the final moment of the match, with a chorus of unsatisfied grumblings filling the stadium upon the conclusion of a 0-0 draw.  

Raith still sit second in the league on eleven points, although their immediate competitors continue to have a game in hand.  

A return to Starks Park is pencilled in for next week, with third-placed Arbroath next up on the fixture list.  

Live Updates

0'
Airdrie get the game underway .. Raith defending the North stand this half
1'
early freekick for Raith as Hamilton’s pass to McMullan sees the latter fouled approx 35 yards out
2'
Easton takes it l, long ball int the box, Fordyce heads down to centre of box but ball cleared
3'
Hamilton with a great ball to McMullan l who takes the ball near the byline tries to cross the ball in and out for a corner as it gets then hand of an Airdrie player
5'
🟨
Booking go Strapp as he wipes out Rowe online the main stand line - freekick Raith
7'
Doherty does well to protect the defence line as Mochrie sticks to his side
10'
Wilson tries to feed the ball to Hanlon but the weight of the pass is too heavy and goal kick
13'
Mochrie picks up a slack ball from Brown.. he goes for the run steps to the left and has a shot in the box it’s low but doesn’t come to anything
20'
corner Airdrie after they work well together to get the ball int the Raith box - ball played to back post and headed out for a corner main stand side
21'
from the consecutive corner for Airdrie ball played to centre of box and headed over the Raith bar - goal kick
22'
Rowe passes to McMullan , but the return hasn’t paid off as Rowe hasn’t run on - goal kick
24'
Wilson sees an opportunity and releases the ball to McMullan but the latter is judged to be offside
26'
McMullan releases the ball to Hamilton but Hamilton’s first touch is poor
28'
a fair tackle there from Raith just outside the Airdrie box as they press but ref blows and free kick Airdrie
30'
corner Airdrie - ball played to front of 6 yard box and Raith head clear
31'
perfect ball played to Hamilton on the edge of 18 yard box and he completely miss kicks
33'
corner Raith as Hamilton forces the corner as he puts the pressure on in the Airdrie box - ball played to far side of six yard box and another corner for Raith
34'
from the Raith corner ball played to penalty spot and headed away play ends with another corner to Raith - ball played to centre of the mix and Fordyce is up and heads to the hands of Connelly
36'
Fordyce does well to control the ball and keep it from Mochrie
45'
+4 ref blows for full time Airdrie 0 Raith 0
45'
↔️
Half time substitution for. Raith as off goes McMullan and on comes Chin - Raith also get the game underway
45'
chin immediately makes an impact and wins an early corner for Raith - ball played short by Wilson to Chin who returns the pass and whips the ball into the box
46'
Another corner by Raith and same play happpens as with the first.. short ball by Wilson to Chin, return pass and Wilson whips the ball into- Doherty heads out
50'
throw in dem Raith by Wilson sees the ball end at edge of box and flicked towards goal and Connolly gets down to collect
52'
scramble in the Airdrie box as Raith for the ball towards goal. It’s cleared from the line and continues to pose a threat but eventually play ends
55'
chin with an excellent run and stays on pace with the Airdrie defenders gets the ball into the 18yards box weighted a little to heavy keeps chasing and it looks like Airdrie player slips but ref blows for a foul
57'
Fordyce clears as Airdrie now make the threat
58'
good play between Rowe, chin and Easton - play ends with a Raith corner
59'
🟨
Scott Brown booked for a challenge on Henderson at that’s way line as they make a break
61'
Easton and Hamilton work well in the Airdrie box Hamilton cuts the ball back to Brown and the shouts of shoot sound from the Raith crowd, he does so and blasts the ball over the bar
62'
↔️
Airdrie sub off Strapp and bring on MacDonald
64'
Doherty to Chin who sees Rowe to his right, he whips the ball into the box but it goes straight through
68'
↔️
Raith sub off Hamilton and bring on Vaughan
68'
Raith corner as Chin’s effort is knocked out - ball played to edge of 6 yard box and Vaughan heads towards goal
71'
end to end stuff there as Airdrie and Raith test each others defence and goal keepers
72'
↔️
Airdrie make a double substitution as off go Mochrie and Barjonas and bring on Reid and Armstrong
73'
corner Airdrie - ball played to far side of six yard box, Airdrie ping iron Wilson heads clear Airdrie go for the second bite and Rae collects
76'
chin again with run who cuts the ball back to Rowe who floats the ball into the box but its weighted too much and Vaughan can’t do anything with it
78'
Chin with a lovely pass to Vaughan who runs on he gets round the keeper but his touch to do this is way too heavy and out for a goal kick
79'
Doherty with a clever head down, takes the ball to the byline goes for the cross and wins a corner- ball played to the centre but finds it way out to the far left
82'
Raith win a freekick l!! Quickly taken ends with Easton going for a pop and Airdrie head over the bar
86'
Rowe with a near cross into the Airdrie box but Raith can’t capitalise
87'
Brown with a beat pass to Chin who takes it tight to the byline his low pass is blocked
90'
🟨
Booking for Ross for a hefty challenge in Chin
91'
Easton turns on edge of 18 yard box and has a pop and ball just wide
94'
McKinnon has the last pop as the ball hits off the Raith bar and Rae scrambles to collect- ref then blows for full time Airdrie 0 Raith 0. Raith fought for the second half but could find the break through and take away a point

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