Ayr United FC vs Raith Rovers FC | Raith Rovers Football Club

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Barry Robson’s first match in charge of Raith Rovers ended in defeat on Saturday, after a quick fire first-half hat-trick from George Oakley sealed all three points for Ayr United.

Robson’s first team selection was largely unchanged from recent weeks – with several injuries still plaguing the squad. Sam Stanton replaced Ross Matthews, and a late injury to Paul Hanlon in the pre-match warm-up led to Callum Fordyce taking his place in the starting 11. Jordan Doherty was named on the bench; with the December signing having to wait until January before he could contribute to any match-day efforts.

Raith kicked the match off and quickly found themselves on the back foot. Ayr worked the ball to the byline, which allowed Jamie Murphy to cut the ball back to Oakley on the edge of the six-yard box. Ayr’s number 9 made no mistake as he fired the ball into the roof of Raith’s net, putting his side ahead just two minutes into the match.

Ayr continued to dominate the left wing as they committed players towards the touchline. Raith survived a few more attempts on their goal, but they couldn’t stop a second from hitting the net eventually. A corner into the box found the head of Oakley, who leapt from from the six-yard line to meet the cross. The striker powered his header into the bottom right corner and ran away celebrating his second goal of the match with just twelve minutes on the clock.

Ayr almost scored their third after Murphy hit the post, but Oakley was the man to make it three after a ball to the back post ended up at the striker’s feet. The 29-year-old sealed his 25-minute hat trick after slotting the ball in from close range, meaning Raith had a mountain to climb with an hour of football still to be played.

With no more goals before the end of the half, Robson decided to make some changes during the interval. Freeman and Jamieson departed for David and Doherty, with the latter making his debut for the club.

A few more injuries struck the team in the second half with Liam Dick and Shaun Byrne having to leave the match just six minutes apart from each other.

A handful of set-pieces created half-chances for both sides throughout the second half, but neither could convert as the end of the match approached. Ayr made a series of changes late on as they saw the match out and the full-time whistle signified a defeat for the Rovers.

Such a result means Raith still sit 6th in the Championship, with four points separating them from 4th and just one point from 5th. The Rovers’ trilogy of away matches continues next week, with a trip to 5th placed Morton up next on Saturday the 11th of January.

Live Updates

Raith get the game underway - Raith shooting towards their own fans this half

Oakley close as his header goes just over he bar -early test for Dabrowski

Ayr feed the ball into the Raith box and it’s Oakley with a close range shot and ball hits the roof of the net

Liam Dick feed the ball to Easton who is on the edge of the box, he tries to turn left and right but is heavily marked

Easton is trying to find a way through, he has Connolly there to help in the Ayr box but chooses not use him

Ayr release the ball into the Raith box, it’s loose and it’s Stevenson who reacts fastest to clear

10'

Long ball played to Jamieson but he’s closely marked and Ayr have the ball under control first

10'

Oakley takes the ball to the byline and cuts the ball back into the Raith box, Ayr have a shot and ball blocked

11'

From an Ayr corner ball played to front post and it’s a free header for Oakley for his second goal

14'

Connolly to Easton, he tries to reply back but Ayr intercept

15'

Jamieson picks up the ball, goes forward feeds to Easton in his left. Easton tries to cut the ball back but loses possession

19'

Ayr with a freekick on the sideline in Raith half, ball played to centre of pitch and it’s Dempsey who controls and has a powerful pop, forces Dabrowski to tip the ball over the bar

20'

Ayr freekick approx 23 yards out, ball is lifted but thankfully doesn’t dip enough and ball over the bar

22'

Ball played long and on the ground to Jamieson but its weighted too much as McMann is able to charge to get the ball away

24'

Low shot to the Raith front post, Dabrowski gets down and palms away

25'

It’s Ayr again - it’s a hatrick of Oakley

32'

Slight change of formation, Connolly has been pushed out to the right, Stevenson has been pushed in to the midfield area allowing Liam Dick to run the left line

37'

Murphy’s effort for Ayr is skied

40'

From an Ayr corner at main stand side- ball played short then fed over to the far post, Raith clear

45'

+1 ref blows for half time Ayr 3 (Oakley 2’, 11’, 25’) Raith 0

45'

Half time subs for Raith off go Freeman and Jamieson and on come David and Doherty

47'

From an Ayr corner ball played to back post, headed into the mix and eventually in the hands of Dabrowski

48'

Byrne feeds the ball out to Connolly who tries to whip it into the Ayr box bit ball straight ti the hands of Stone

50'

Ayr whip the ball into the Raith box, takes row goes before Dabrowski can get a tight hold of the ball

55'

David with the ball, he keeps fighting forward, take the ball into the box and challenged. Ball out for a Raith throw in

57'

Raith corner ball played to centre of box and eventually headed over the bar

61'

Raith sub off Liam Dick and bring on Mullin - captains arm band handed to Murray

65'

Good ball from Doherty to Mullin, the latter is bullied off the ball at the byline

66'

Good ball from Mullin the David, who is being well marked, who fights his way through and travels up field and is eventually muscled off the ball in the Ayr box

69'

Raith being forced into a substitution as Byrne is hobbling off injured - and Gibson will replace him

73'

🟨

David receives a yellow

77'

Murray feeds a great ball to Connolly but he can’t quite cross the ball into the box for David

78'

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Ayr sub off McLennan and Stanger and bring on McKenzie and Howley

82'

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