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Midweek madness

Rovers travelled north to face Arbroath on the back of more late drama in the 4-3 victory over Partick Thistle. Ian Murray – knowing a victory would take his side top of the league – made four changes: bringing in Scott Brown, Aidan Connolly, Callum Smith and Jamie Gullan. The hosts had Jim McIntyre in the dugout for his first proper game in charge.

Arbroath started on the front-foot without really troubling Kevin Dabrowski’s goal whilst, going the other way, Gullan had a free kick saved by Derek Gaston. It didn’t take Rovers too long to stamp a bit of authority on the game, though. Sam Stanton battled well for the ball in the box, and his knock-down was perfect for the in-rushing Aidan Connolly to blast home, after 19 mins. Arbroath 0-1 Rovers.

However, Rovers’ lead only lasted ten minutes: an Arbroath cross from the left evaded everyone, but Liam Dick was adjudged to have fouled in the process and a spot-kick was awarded. Jermaine Hylton dispatched from the spot to restore parity in the game. Arbroath 1-1 Rovers.

Half-time: Arbroath 1-1 Raith Rovers

Rovers’ first chance of the second half fell to Brown at the back post but the Stark’s Park skipper put it just wide. As the half progressed, both sides continued to press for a winner but both defences looked in dogged mood to prevent it.

As the 90th minute approached, the travelling support thought Rovers had found – as with so often this season – a late winner, when substitute Lewis Vaughan headed towards the bottom corner but as Rovers appealed for a goal, the offside flag went up.

But Rovers weren’t finished! This remarkable season of late goals took another twist when Lewis Vaughan carried the ball down the left side, before cutting back and curling a cross-come shot into the back post. Despite the efforts of Arbroath defender Colin Hamilton, this one was destined to find the net and sent Rovers’ fans into 95th minute victorious delirium. Arbroath 1-2 Rovers.

The relentlessness of this Rovers’ side had paid off again and the three points back headed to Kirkcaldy – meaning Rovers go above Dundee Utd ahead of the top of the table clash at Tannadice this weekend.

Full-time: Arbroath 1-2 Raith Rovers

Crowd: 1,445

by David Proudfoot

Photos

© Eddie Doig 2023

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the win at Gayfield:

Live Updates

0'
Arbroath get the game underway. Raith shooting towards the Pleasureland area
3'
Arbroath have the early corner .. ref blows for a foul as one of their players clambers over the back of ours
3'
Hylton passes to Bird who has a pop but thankfully his effort goes wide
5'
Freekick Raith approx 20yards out
5'
Gullan takes it, goes over the wall but straight to the hands of Gaston
9'
Freekick Raith after a foul on Easton
9'
Freekick Raith after a foul on Easton
11'
Stanton with a lovely pass to Gullan.. all he has to do is shoot but he quickly is surrounded.. ball deflects as he has a pop, corner Raith
12'
Freekick Arbroath as Brown is deemed to have fouls Bird
17'
Good play from Raith as they push forward, pressuring the Arbroath defence
18'
GOOAAAL
18'
Good play from Raith as Millen gets the ball into the Arbroath box and into the mix… it's CONNOLLY who blasts the ball home
22'
Corner Raith after Easton brings the ball to the byline and Arbroath knock the ball out
27'
Great play from Raith as Stanton plays to Smith who returns the pass but Stanton's low shot is blocked by Galston
28'
Penalty Arbroath
29'
Hylton scores
34'
Scott Brown plays the long ball to Liam Dick but Galston gets there first
35'
Byrne with the long ball to Connolly but C Hamilton has it covered
41'
Freekick Raith
44'
Freekick Raith just in their half after Brown fouled
45'
+1 ref blows for half time Arbroath 1(Hylton 29') Raith 1(Connolly 18')
45'
Second half is underway
45'
Raith have come out and putting the pressure on Arbroath. Play has ended with Gullan offside
48'
Raith had a freekick just in the D which was deflected for a Raith corner
50'
Booking for O'Brien
50'
Raith freekick at halfway line
51'
Stanton lays the ball on to Gullan but Arbroath intercept
53'
Freekick Raith after Dick fouled at the edge of the Raith box by McIntosh
57'
Raith corner
57'
Easton does well to keep frighting to keep the ball
58'
Smith with a long range effort… ball goes just wide
60'
Dick does well to out off Stewart as Arbroath push forward
61'
Freekick Raith after Bird fouls
62'
Stanton picks up the ball he tries to take it up the line but he's under pressure and ball goes out of play
63'
Byrne intercepts a cutback
65'
Freekick Arbroath after O'Reilly fouls Bird
66'
Freekick ball is floated into the Taith box and Byrne clears
66'
Stewart for Arbroath floats the ball into the Raith box and Dabriwski punches clear
66'
↔️
Arbroath sub off Jacob's and bring on Norey
68'
The wind has picked up here in Arbroath, Raith should use it to their advantage as it's blowing towards the Arbroath goal
70'
Long ball played to Smith but he's judged to be offside
70'
A hopeful shot from Easton. Right direction but way too high
71'
Liam Dick's pass to Connolly is intercepted, Arbroath turn and put the pressure on
72'
Arbroath corner
72'
Ball from the Arbroath corner is out into the danger area … foul given to Raith
73'
↔️
Raith sub off Gullan and bring on Vaughan
74'
Raith corner
75'
Ball from the corner is placed in the Arbroath box but they get up and head clear
76'
Freekick Raith after a foul in Byrne
77'
↔️
Arbroath sub off Bird and bring and Dunnwald- Turan
80'
Well played between Vaughan and Byrne
81'
↔️
Raith sub off goal scorer Connolly and bring on Mullin
82'
From the Raith freekick Vaughan plays the ball low but it's straight to Galston's hands
83'
Booking for Slater .. freekick Raith on halfway line
84'
↔️
Arbroath sub off Slater and bring on Lyon
85'
Freekick Raith deep in their half after a foul in Stanton
86'
Booking for Byrne, something must have happened during the altercation after Stanton was fouled
88'
Crowd today is 1445 with 500 Raith fans
92'
It looked like a late winner for Raith but we were fooled
93'
Freekick Arbroath just in their half
94'
GOOOOAALLLLL ANOTHER LATE WINNER
94'
It's VAUGHAN
94'
Arbroath 1 ( Hylton 29') Raith 2 (Connolly 18', Vaughan 94')… Cracking game ahead on Saturday