Line Up

Report

Raith Rovers stunted Falkirk’s Championship Title party plans on Saturday after manufacturing a miraculous 3-1 comeback away to the league leaders.  

Falkirk took the lead early on through Calvin Miller, but a red card to the hosts helped Raith score three late goals in the dying moments of the match.  

Barry Robson kept the same starting 11 that featured against Airdrie in a 1-1 draw at Starks Park a week earlier. The only change to the team sheet involved Andrew McNeil, who returned from loan in emergency fashion to replace an injured Kevin Dabrowski.  

Falkirk kicked the match off in front of a sold-out crowd – with over seven thousand home fans hoping to see a trophy lift come the fulltime whistle.  

Falkirk’s attacking intent was made clear early on, with Josh Rae being kept busy in the Raith goal. Raith’s shot-stopper was bested in the 15th minute however, after Calvin Miller smartly fired an effort through the keeper’s legs for the opening goal of the match.  

The remainder of the half saw a few half chances for both sides, but Falkirk deservedly went into the break a goal to the good.  

Raith did well to defend a flurry of Falkirk corners and Rae pulled off a Schmeichel-esque save to stop Falkirk from grabbing a second. As Raith started to make some attacking in-roads down the other end, the momentum quickly started to shift…  

Sean Mackie’s sliding tackle through Jamie Gullan at the half-way line earned the Falkirk defender a yellow card, and his lunging effort on Jordan Doherty just three minutes later led to a red card being shown his way. With around half an hour left to play, Raith had a one-man advantage.  

Raith made some changes as the half progressed, with Connolly, Byrne, and Marsh entering the field as part of some attacking changes. Raith bombarded their opponents’ goal but as full time approached, The Rovers had nothing to show for their efforts. Falkirk were mere minutes away from winning the league.  

Raith had some (somewhat dramatic) other plans in store however…  

With 90 seconds left of regulation time, Connolly whipped a cross into the area and Fordyce – a centre half turned striker – met the ball at the back post before heading back across goal. Aiden Marsh’s subsequent close-range header sent the nearby travelling support into raptures after his effort hit the back of the net. The game was level, but Raith were far from finished.  

Vaughan got himself on the end of a Rovers throw-in just two minutes after Raith’s equaliser and lobbed a ball straight into the danger area. Paul Hanlon incredibly controlled the ball down just six yards from goal before slotting an effort through Hogarth’s legs for Raith’s second. The travelling fans who had just managed to return to their seats were once again going ballistic. 

Any thoughts of a Falkirk equaliser were immediately put to bed after Lewis Vaughan was bundled down inside the box in the 94th minute. Penalty Rovers.  

Dylan Easton stepped up and comfortably grabbed his 12th league goal of the season after placing his penalty into the bottom right corner. 

After a three-goal salvo from Raith inside just seven minutes, the fulltime whistle brought the afternoon’s proceedings to a close. Falkirk’s party was off, whilst Raith’s play-off hopes have never looked more alive.   

With just two league games to go of the 2024/25 season, Raith host Morton next Saturday in their final home match. The Rovers now sit level on points with 4th place – meaning the slim margin of just three goals is all that stands between Raith Rovers and a place in the Premiership promotion playoffs.  

  • Written by Hamish Rankine  

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today’s Championship game at The Falkirk Stadium - Falkirk v Raith Rovers
0'
Falkirk get the game underway, Raith defending the away end this half
2'
Freekick Falkirk on halfway line after Brown fouls
5'
Both teams settling in at the moment - Falkirk have pressed but Raith coping
8'
Adam’s passes to Miller who is on the Raith box but Hanlon is there to cover and cleqr
9'
Arfield only has Rae to beat but the latter is solid and corner Falkirk - ball played deep and out for a goal kick
12'
Ball played to Gullan but he’s judged to be offside
14'
Stevenson crosses the ball into the Falkirk box but it’s cleared
15'
Ross feeds the ball to Miller who slots the ball home for Falkirk
20'
Falkirk corner - ball played by Spencer deep but punched clear by Rae
21'
Ball played to Oliver who turns but his strike is weak and comfortably managed by Rae
22'
Corner Raith - ball played deep but cleared by Falkirk
23'
Strong challenge from Brown on Ross who is rolling around the floor - ref plays on and Ross gets up
25'
🟨
Yellow for Arfield as he brings Vaughan to the floor
26'
Freekick from Gullan to Easton but the latter loses possession in the Falkirk box
26'
Mullin can’t find the toe to poke the ball home from Raith as the ball slides passed the goal mouth
27'
Corner Raith ball played to the hands of Hogarth
32'
Falkirk think they have won a corner but Stevenson has angled the challenge well and ref says goalkick
33'
🟨
Gullan chests the ball down to Matthews but possession lost. Thirty seconds later Brown is booked for a challenge on Ross - freekick Falkirk
35'
🟨
Stevenson booked for a challenge on Miller
37'
🟨
Easton booked for mouthing off to the ref
45'
Ref blows for half time Falkirk 1 (Miller 15’) Raith 0
45'
↔️
Raith get the second half underway - Falkirk make a half time substitution off going Donaldson and on comes Lang. Raith shooting towards their own fans this half
46'
Gullan’s freekick is too heavy and goes out at the far post
47'
Falkirk ball played to Miller but he's offside
48'
Mullin slots the ball to Gullan and his challenged and ball out for Raith corner - ball played deep and ref blows for a foul, Stevenson feels it he who was fouled
51'
Falkirk corner after Arfiled slots the ball to Lang and Raith intercept. From the Falkirk corner ball is played directly to the hands of Rae.
54'
Falkirk corner after Hanlon’s clearance goes out - ball played short and Miller tries to find a way through, passes to Ross and Rae makes an excellent save - Falkirk corner
56'
Mullin heads clear a Falkirk freekick - corner to Falkirk where the ball is played to back post and cleared
57'
🟨
Booking for Mackie
58'
Raith free kick ball played long, Vaughan can’t get it under control
59'
Stevenson does well to hold off Ross before a ‘slam dunk’ on the byline
61'
🟥
It’s a second yellow for Mackie - red card
62'
Gullan freekick and Raith shoot left, right and centre but can’t find a way through
64'
↔️
Falkirk sub off Arfield and bring on Thomson
69'
↔️
Raith sub off Brown and Mullin and bring on Byrne and Connolly
70'
↔️
Falkirk sub off Oliver and Ross and bring on MacIver and Nesbitt
72'
Corner Raith - ball played deep but Lang heads clear
74'
Stevenson played the ball deep into the Falkirk box but they head clear
74'
Vaughan is in the box he has two Falkirk payers around him he turns this way and that and manages to slot the ball through from a tight angle but Hogarth gets down to save
77'
Byrne has the ball but he should have shot for goal - instead it falls to Gullan, Stevenson then Gullan and they can’t find a way through
80'
↔️
Raith sub off Stevenson and bring on Marsh
81'
Matthews feels he has won a corner as Tait blasts it out
83'
🟨
Yellow for MacIver
83'
🟨
Yellow for Doherty
85'
Freekick Raith - ball falls deep but again they can’t put the ball away
87'
IT’S MARSH WORH A DELIGHTFUL NEAR CORNER HEADER
89'
Falkirk try to run free again but Rae gets down to save
89'
Easton tries to find a way through now
90'
↔️
Falkirk sub off Tait and bring on Yeats
91'
YYYAAASSSSSSSSSASSSS
91'
It’s HANLON who smashes, grabs and steals the day
94'
IT’s a RAITH PENALTY
94'
Easton to take -
94'
He steps up and SCORES
97'
Ref blows for full time Falkirk 1 (Miller 15’) Raith 3 (Marsh, 94, Hanlon 91 Easton 97p) Raith they came, they saw, they conquered and took three points back to Kirkcaldy- enjoy the Tennent’s tonight Raith fans

Photos

Secret Link