Sat 24th August / 15:00 / Championship 24/25 / / away
Ayr United vs Raith Rovers
Line Up
Report
Rovers went into the game positively, with Paul Hanlon back from injury and making his first competitive start.
It was however Ayr who had the stronger start to the match itself, getting a couple of early chances and putting our new-look back four to the test early on.
Rovers found themselves back in the game quickly though, beginning to dominate possession without creating any real chances.
Everything changed at 38 minutes, with Kevin Dabrowski passing out to a tightly defended Shaun Byrne on the edge of our own box.
Byrne’s touch took him back towards Dabrowski, before falling to the ground and reaching for the ball believing he was brought down by the two Ayr players behind him.
Referee Iain Snedden instantly pointed to the spot, initially pulling out a yellow before changing his mind and issuing Byrne with a straight red.
Anton Dowds calmly slotted away the penalty and Rovers were behind by one going into half-time.
Despite being a man down, the second half panned out fairly evenly, both sides pressing and playing some nice passing football through the middle.
With all Rovers players forward and looking for an equaliser in the final minutes of the game, Ayr broke forward again, ending up one on one with Dabrowski and Ethan Walker made no mistake with his finish.
Next up is Livingston at Stark’s Park.
Live Updates
0'
Welcome to Somerset Park for today’s league game against Ayr. It’s sunny but windy- awaiting both teams to make their entrance
0'
Ayr get the game underway - Raith defending the away end this half
2'
Ayr free kick after Dowds fouled just in Raith half
3'
Ayr free kick again after Matthews fouls - approx 20 yards out
4'
Henderson takes it ball falls into the back post area of the Raith box - Raith clear
6'
Rus with a long ball and Mullin there to shield the ball out of play for a goalkick
9'
Murphy trying to feed the ball through the Raith defence - doesn’t trouble Dabrowski
13'
Raith do well to steal the ball from Dowds deep in the Raith half
15'
Stevenson working well to get the ball into the Ayr box, Ayr defending well and clearing
16'
From a Raith corner ball played deep and play ends with another corner to Raith
16'
The second corner is played short but Raith can’t break through
17'
Liam Dick with a low effort but has no real power and out for a goalkick
19'
Rus with a shot which will be difficult for Dabrowski to see, he dives to his left and somehow ball is blocked before it reaches him
22'
Reading tries to put the cross in but ball blocked by Mullin
25'
Dabrowski gets a hand to a ball, ball falls for a second chance to Ayr and Murphy has a pop and ball hits off the post
28'
Corner Raith - ball played to back post Hanlon there and ball out for a goalkick
30'
Dempsey with a powerful shot which is fortunately high and over the bar
33'
🟨
Easton booked
36'
Oakley has a pop and ball blocked by Hanlon
38'
🟥
Penalty Ayr after it’s judged that Byrne stopped the ball with his hands as he went down in the box - Dowds scores
45'
Booking for Ayr’s Stanger and Raith free kick approach 30 yards out- ball played to far post and out for a goal kick
45'
+1 half time Ayr 1 (Dowds 39’) Raith 0
45'
Raith get the second half underway, shooting towards their own fans this half
46'
Ayr starting strong as they immediately push - Watret with a pass to Henderson who finds Rus, his effort is headed away by Hanlon
46'
Again Watret making his presence felt as he cuts the ball back to edge of the Raith box - ball cleared
50'
Ayr float the ball into the Raith box - Dabrowski comfortably collects
51'
Ayr with a shot just outside the Raith box - it’s over the bar
52'
Smith receiving treatment in the half way line - looks like he rolled his ankle after a challenge from Ayr
53'
Smith back on his feet and Raith with a freekick on the half way line
55'
Ball is rolling freely across the danger area in the Raith box- thankfully cleared
58'
Corner Raith as they work well to push forward
59'
Mulling with a great ball into the box - Stone collects
61'
↔️
Raith sub off Gibson and Easton and bring on Connolly and Jamieson
67'
Ayr with low shot which Dabrowski collects
70'
↔️
Ayr sub off Murphy and bring on Hastie
73'
Ayr corner - ball played deep and out for a goal kick
74'
Freekick Raith just in Ayr half after a foul on Connolly
75'
Mullin with a great challenge and gets the ball forward play ends with offside
77'
Ayr sub off Henderson and bring on Walker
79'
Ayr foul after Matthews is judged to have fouled Dempsey
81'
Ayr come close as Dempsey brings the ball just into the box and shoots, his effort is wide of the far post
82'
Corner Raith after good play from Matthews as he feeds the ball well to push Raith forward
83'
Ball played deep into Ayr box and Liam Dick heads the ball into the mix but cleared
84'
Today’s attendance is 2928
85'
Double substitution for Ayr as off go Oakley and Rus and on come McKenzie and Syla
87'
🟨
Booking for Connolly as he manhandles an Ayr player to the ground edge of Raith box - ball is over the wall and straight to Dabrowaki’s hands
90'
Ayr score - two Raith players pulled down to the ground on the run up - Walker the scorer
91'
Mullin with a shot but straight to the hands of Stone
