Report

The Rovers’ hopes of a top-four finish were dealt a serious blow on Saturday after losing 2-1 away to Arbroath.

The Lichties got themselves ahead just moments before the break, before they doubled their lead towards the end of the second half. Raith created a grain of hope with a late goal, but they couldn’t find another before full-time.

Dougie Imrie made one change to the side that cruised to a 0-2 win over Queen’s Park midweek, with Ross Matthews starting over Scott Brown, who took a place on the bench. Jordan Doherty was ruled out long-term in a pre-match interview, whilst Innes Cameron remained absent through a minor injury.

Raith got things underway at a windy Gayfield Park, but it was Arbroath who started on the front foot – forcing a block and a save inside the opening five minutes. The hosts caused a bit of chaos with a corner shortly later, but the eventual effort on goal narrowly bobbled past the far post in the end.

Raith got themselves in the game and created probably the best chance of the opening half an hour after Josh Mullin crossed a ball into the box from the left wing. Jack Hamilton was at the back post, but some hassling from the Arbroath defence forced the striker into an awkward effort on goal from the angle. Hamilton got a good connection from the cross, but the woodwork would deny his attempt to score against his former club.

Arbroath continued to threaten though, moving the ball quickly along the deck as they advanced up the pitch. Such efforts would eventually net them the opener after Jacob MacIntyre got on the ball following a series of slick passes from the Lichties. The young midfielder took a touch, before drilling an effort into the bottom left corner of the Raith goal from around 25 yards out – putting the hosts ahead with halftime just seconds away.

Imrie refrained from making any changes before the restart, but switched things up shortly after in the 57^th minute via a triple change. Mullin, Nsio, and O’Connor made way for Chin, Hanlon, and Brown.

Abroath kept up their efforts on the Rovers’ goal though, with a low but comfortable save from Rae, coupled with a crucial-looking deflection from Fordyce, keeping the deficit to one goal as the 80^th minute approached.

After introducing Andy Winter in place of Hamilton, Imrie used his fifth and final substitution in the 78^th minute, with Kai Montagu coming on for Matthews.

Arbroath gave themselves a bit of breathing room in the 83^rd minute after a couple of slack passes along The Rovers’ back line put Rae under a bit of pressure. The Raith keeper attempted to clear, but Aberdeen loanee Findlay Marshall managed to win possession before passing into an empty goal for the hosts’ second.

Raith wouldn’t go completely quietly though, and pulled one back after Kai Montagu got onto the end of Richard Chin’s pass across goal on the stroke of the 90^th minute. Montagu scored into an empty net, but it would only prove to be a consolation in the end…

Raith couldn’t create the chance needed to find a leveller in the four minutes of injury time that followed, consigning The Rovers to their first defeat after a run of four consecutive victories.

The result almost definitely remits Raith to a fifth-place finish at best. A televised trip to table-topping St. Johnstone makes up The Rovers’ second-last game of the season, pencilled in for this Friday night.

Written by Hamish Rankine.

Highlights

Photos