Report

Raith Rovers couldn’t build on their three-point gap to the bottom of the table on Saturday after suffering a sore 3-0 defeat away to local rivals Dunfermline Athletic.

The Pars picked up a well-earned goal in the first half and sealed the deal late on with two 90-plus minute strikes.

Dougie Imrie made three changes to the starting lineup after a 2-0 defeat away to Ross County two weeks earlier, with Jai Rowe, Josh Mullin, and Jack Hamilton all being called on to start. Innes Cameron and Ross Matthews rotated to the bench, whilst captain Scott Brown missed out entirely due to injury.

Dunfermline got things underway on a blustery yet bright afternoon at East End, and looked the more dangerous of the two sides early on. The hosts were forced into an almost instant change though, with an injured Olly Thomas being replaced by Chris Kane in the 5^th minute.

The Pars continued to work the ball into Raith’s penalty area as the match progressed, which would eventually pay dividends as the half-hour mark approached.

A simple pass out wide gave Andrew Tod time to pick out Callumn Morrison, who had made himself available just on the edge of the box. The Pars’ attacker did well to control the ball, before slotting an effort into the bottom left corner from around 15 yards out – putting Dunfermline a goal up in the 27^th minute.

The Rovers had to make a substitution of their own shortly after, with Innes Cameron coming on for an injured Jack Hamilton in the 29^th minute. Raith went on to have their most substantial chance of the half once play resumed, but Dylan Easton’s 25-yard free-kick ended up over the bar.

Dunfermline repeatedly caused bother down the left wing, and should probably have scored after a ball in from Morrison caused a goalmouth scramble. A series of Rovers blocks kept the ball out of the net though, which kept the deficit to one as halftime approached.

Controversy erupted two minutes before the break after Morrison put in a high-looking challenge against Lewis Vaughan in the middle of the field. Raith fans and players alike protested the nature of the dangerous tackle, but a yellow card was all that was shown in the end.

The Rovers emerged from the break with an apparent energy about them, winning some high balls in the final third and progressing in a way that was absent in the first half. The Pars kept pressing though, which almost caught Raith out a handful of times.

Cameron had a chance to level the match after a good run saw him get on the end of Darragh O’Connor’s long ball into the Par’s box. Cameron almost beat the defence, but some pressure ultimately meant his effort from 15 yards safely ended up in the hands of Billy Terrell.

Imrie used his remaining four changes between the 60^th and 70^th minutes, which involved Vaughan, Mullin, Easton and Doherty leaving the pitch for Chin, Matthews, Winter and Montagu.

Raith kept their attacking efforts up as time started to run out, but Dunfermline would soon snuff out any plans of an equaliser…

After again utilising their left flank, the Pars played a ball across the Rovers’ goal, courtesy of Tod. Early substitute Kane was there to meet it, and calmly directed the ball into the net from six yards out in the 90^th minute.

The Pars struck again before the final whistle after a turnover of possession in the midfield saw Tod get on the end of Charlie Gilmour’s through-ball in the 93^rd minute. Tod bore down on goal from wide, with some Raith defenders in tow, but the Dunfermline man made no mistake, poking the ball past an on-rushing Josh Rae to put the result beyond any doubt.

The match was brought to a close a few moments later, consigning Raith to a heavy Fife Derby defeat. With the Rovers now finding themselves placed seventh and just three points clear of last place, all focus will be on this Saturday’s home match against ninth-placed Airdrie.

Written by Hamish Rankine.

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