Line Up

Report

Raith Rovers picked up their first league win of the season on Saturday after an early goal proved to be the difference in a 1-0 result away to Ayr United.  

Raith’s team lines saw two changes since their opening day draw to Queen’s Park a week earlier. Barry Robson opted to swap Jai Rowe for Josh Mullin on the right, whilst Shaun Byrne started over Lewis Vaughan in the midfield. The duo joined an otherwise unchanged nine-man bench, which left Ayr to kick off Raith’s first away fixture of their league campaign.  

Ayr worked the ball back to their goalkeeper, David Mitchell, from the start. Raith pressured as a team and forced a wayward pass from the keeper, which fell to Dylan Easton in the middle of the park. A good number of Ayr fans who were still making their way to the terracing could only watch as Easton spectacularly lobbed the ball over Mitchell and into the net from over thirty yards out. With only thirty seconds on the clock, Raith had the earliest lead in the country on the day.  

Raith continued to push forward in the wake of their near-instantaneous early goal. Easton couldn’t have come closer to finding the net again after his free-kick rattled the top-left joint of the goal in the 16th minute. A long-range volley from Josh Mullin just eight minutes later had Mitchell scrambling in order to punch over his bar.  

For all of Raith’s efforts, a one-goal margin was all that split the two sides at halftime after a dominating Rovers display.  

Ayr started the second half with intent and tested Josh Rae in the 53rd minute with a bouncing low strike towards the bottom left corner. Raith’s shot stopper palmed the effort away, before producing a point-blank, Peter Schmeichel-esque save to deny the rebound – much to some audible appreciation from the travelling support.  

Ayr persisted as some more half-chances came and went, but Raith’s constant forward pressing was still causing them trouble. Jack Hamilton and Richard Chin entered the fray in the 68th minute, with Easton and McMullan departing.  

Chin terrorised Ayr’s defence in the 22 minutes he was on the pitch, with his chipped effort narrowly going by the post in the 81st minute. 

Late interventions from Rae and Hanlon ensured that Ayr didn’t find the net, whilst the energy of Chin and late substitute Montagu further forward continued to frustrate the home side’s back line.  

Kevin Clancy brought the match to a close after five minutes of injury time, awarding Raith with a hard-fought but well-earned three points on the road.  

The addition of said three points puts Raith up to fourth in the table with two matches played. A two-week gap now follows, before Dunfermline travel to Starks Park for a televised Friday night Fife Derby on the 22nd of August.  

Written by Hamish Rankine  

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today’s game at Somerset Park - Ayr Utd v Raith. It’s bright and breezy afternoon.. two changes to the team in come Byrne and Mullin. Rowe and Vaughan on the bench
0'
Raith defending by the away end and Ayr get the game underway
1'
It’s EASTON…massive fantastic start. A monumental error from Mitchell sees Easton latch on to the ball and chips the ball and it falls into the back of the net
5'
Good strong play from Doherty as McMann charges down the left but Doherty uses his strength to shield McMann away from the ball and win possession
7'
McMullan tries to fight his way through but is deemed to have fouled just outside the Ayr box
8'
McMullan again puts pressure on Liam Dick this time who has a weak pass into the box and Mitchell is slow to react but eventually does so
11'
Ball switched out to Mullin who takes the ball deep crosses the ball into the box Easton has a strike and Mitchell gets down to save
13'
Free kick Raith after McMullan is challenged approx 20 yards out main stand side - Mullin to take
16'
Freekick Raith approx 20 yards out new stand side - Easton takes it and hits the corner of the bar
18'
Stevenson with a throw in new stand side falls to Brown he lobs it up to McMullan but the speed of the ball is too much
20'
Rus for Ayr after picking up an Easton wayward pass but the shot is weak and doesn’t trouble Rae
21'
Corner Raith- Mullin takes it - ball is played so deep it goes straight out
23'
🟨
Foul on Easton approx 20 yards out just outside the D (Liam Dick receives a yellow) Easton takes it but hooks it too high and goal kick
24'
Mullin comes so close, his shot has Mitchell stretching to save, Raith corner
28'
Mullin and Doherty linking well with the latter trying to cross the ball into the box but slips
30'
Oakley takes advantage of a very loose ball from Stevenson. He’s one on one with Rae and and Rae does well to get a foot to the ball to clear
33'
Ayr corner ball played into the centre of the box and Oakley jumps up heads towards goal and Rae comfortably collects
34'
Ayr free kick approx 30 yards main stand side and it’s wasted out for a goal kick
36'
Easton decides to have a shot but it doesn’t trouble Mitchell
40'
Freekick after Rus fouls Doherty approx 35 yards out
42'
Ayr corner from main stand side. Ball played short and spread out to the other side, they have a shot but it doesn’t trouble Rae who collects comfortably
45'
Bang on 45 min ref blows for half time- strong start for Raith after a wonderful Easton goal on the run up to the first minute. Raith have fairly dominated the first half
45'
Second half gets underway- no changes
47'
Ayr corner - ball played to the back post and straight out for a goal kick
50'
Fouls on McMullan after his shirt is pulled on the half way line ball played quickly
53'
A strike from Watret forcing Rae to get down and Ayr have a second chance and another save from Rae
58'
🟨
Booking for Walker after a foul on Easton on halfway line - freekick Raith
59'
Foul on Mullin in the centre circle - freekick Raith nd ball played by Fordyce low and Ayr pick it up
63'
Ayr corner - Ayr pressing a lot at the moment - as they make a double substitution off go Bonnar and Walker and on come Main and Thomas - front the corner ball played to front post and eventually played out for Ayr throw in
66'
McMullan has the ball and stumbles second chance falls to Brown who has a shot and outstretched Mitchell saves - corner Raith which doesn’t come to much
67'
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Raith make a double substitution off go McMullan and Easton and bring on Chin and Hamilton
73'
Raith corner - Mullin plays the ball deep and Ayr win the ball from Byrne and thump the ball up the park
75'
Free kick Raith after a foul on Mullin - he takes it plays the ball into the Ayr box Hamilton can’t quite get a head to it
76'
Raith corner and ball played into the box and Hamilton this time connects well and heads the ball straight to Mitchell
77'
Good play from Raith as they wake up in this half - play ends with Doherty turning and having a pop
78'
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Ayr make a substitution off goes Rus and on comes Hastie
78'
Hanlon with a vital toe poke as he stops Ayr equalising - Ayr corner and ball played into the box and then out for a goal kick
81'
Ball falls to Chin, he has a man beside him he tries to chip the keeper but the ball goes wide - opportunity to extend the lead lost
85'
Chin again on the left hand side takes the ball to the byline and is challenged by McAllister
88'
↔️
Raith forced to take Brown off through injury and bring on Montagu
90'
Shot from Main and Rae gets down to palm save
91'
Great challenge from Stevenson as he stops an Ayr advancement
92'
🟨
Wall for McAllister for a shove on Chin as he loses the battle
93'
Well intercepted by Hamlin as Ayr advance … play ends with Rae collecting the ball
94'
Chin again is fouled after a great challenge,
95'
Ref blows for full time Ayr 0 Raith 1 (Easton 1’) a very good dominating game from Raith with Ayr strong for 20 out of the 90min - cracking game and highlights to look forward to

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