East Fife vs Raith Rovers

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Pre-season derby kicks off new campaign

Rovers made the short journey to Methil to start their pre-season friendly programme. This one took on extra significance as it was also celebrating the testimonial for East Fife’s Pat Slattery. With the hosts having beaten Dunfermline just the night before, this was nicely poised to provide Rovers with a tough challenge after just a few days back in training.

Rovers fans were initially shocked to see a long list of trialists on the bench but were quickly reassured that all new summer signings are in fact listed as so until July. The starting line-up took a pretty familiar look with only new face being Callum Fordyce, who was in to partner Euan Murray in central defence. Notable absentees, however, were Lewis Vaughan and Sam Stanton.

After giving the aforementioned Slattery a guard of honour, the game quickly got underway. Rovers were first to threaten when Dylan Easton’s mazy run saw him brought down on the corner of the box, but Josh Mullin’s resultant free kick was comfortably saved. The hosts were next to try and carve an opportunity: nice work down the left got them into the box but Fordyce was quickly over to sweep up the danger.

Rovers probably should have taken the lead with the next chance. Mullin whipped the ball in from the left and Jack Hamilton was left unchallenged but his header wasn’t a clean one and it cleared the crossbar.

The first half ended 0-0 with neither team really posing a threat on the opposing goal.

Half-time: East Fife 0-0 Raith Rovers

Second half saw Rovers introduce a host of new signings with Paul Hanlon, Lewis Stevenson, Kieran Freeman, Lewis Gibson, and a more familiar face – but now officially a Rovers’ player – Shaun Byrne. These changes also gave Rovers a chance to try out a different shape tactically.

The second half itself however didn’t really improve with both teams using it – expectedly – as a good run out. Saying that, a quick free kick from Scott Brown put Gibson away on the left and his cross would’ve been perfect if Rovers had a striker in the middle.

It was the hosts that started to look the more dangerous and had a goal disallowed for offside after a corner was headed down and tapped into the net. Kevin Dabrowski continued his fine form from last season first saving a header to his right then somehow turning a point-blank shot down to his left round the post.

The game ended 0-0 with both teams relatively happy with a good work out and touch-wood, no injuries. Next up for Rovers is a trip to Montrose on Wednesday before the only home friendly against Inverness on Saturday.

Full-time: East Fife 0-0 Raith Rovers

By David Proudfoot

Live Updates

Today’s preseason friendly with East Fife for the Pat Slattery Testimonial is underway

Play halted for the moment as Dabrowski receives treatment

Good ball crossed in to the East Fife box from Mullin reaches to far post

Newton picks up a slack pass, drives forward but Brown is there to nick the ball away just on the 18 yard box

11'

Good play from Connolly as he flicks the ball to Smith, however the return doesn’t work out

13'

From a Raith corner ball played short to Easton who lifts the ball goal bound but McFarlane collects

15'

Some of the new signings and Callum Hannah make their way for a warm up to the applause of the Raith support

17'

As with of play to Connolly who passes to Matthews but he can’t keep the ball in play

18'

It looks like Austin has broken through the Raith defence and scores but linesman indicates offside

20'

From a Raith corner ball played to front post, East Fife head to keeper

21'

Ball played to Mullin, he keeps the ball in play and cuts the ball back in the six yard box but East Fife clear

25'

Raith freekick just outside the 18 yard box, Mullin takes it gets the ball over the wall and McFarlane gets down to collect

30'

Long ball played to Connolly but he’s judged to be offside

31'

Easton with the ball drives forward and challenged on the edge of the 18 yard box

33'

East Fife push forward and look dangerous in the box but Fordyce is there to clear, East Fife corner which eventually gathered by Dabrowski

35'

Long ball from Brown upfield but it’s too much for Connolly to latch on to

37'

Ball played to Hamilton in the box… he’s approaching 3 yards out and heads over the bar

40'

Excellent ball played to Matthews, ball is passed back and forth by Raith and play ends with Connolly getting the ball into the East Fife box but ball cleared

44'

From an East Fife corner ball played to centre of box and headed clear - ref blows for half time

46'

Number of half time changes on come Freeman, Gibson, Byrne, Hanlon and Stevenson off go Liam Dick, Murray, Matthews , Smith and Mullin

50'

East Fife have also made a number of changes at half time, on come Millar, Docherty, Healy and Trialist C and off go Austin, Peggie Munro and B Easton

56'

Good ball from Gibson across the 6 yard box and Connollybis just a tad late to slot the ball home

57'

It looks like Slattery for East Fife has also gone off and Trialsit D is on

59'

East Fife make two substitutions as off go McFarlane and Shepherd and on come Fleming an another player with no number on the back of his shirt or shorts

61'

Trialist D for East Fife pushes into the Raith box but Fordyce is there to block

62'

Fordyce with the header clear and results in East Fife corner… ball played and they think they score but offside

67'

Corner Raith , ball played by Connolly to back post but whistle blown for foul on Fleming

68'

East Fife sub off Trouten and bring on Nicol

70'

Nice ball from Connolly to Gibson but the latter couldn’t connect

72'

Raith sub off Connolly and bring on Montagu