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Raith Rovers journey to Cappielow ended with defeat on Saturday, with two second-half Morton goals proving to be the deciding factor in the eventual 2-0 result.  

Raith Gaffer Neill Colins named an un-changed starting 11 when compared to the team that overcame Falkirk just one week earlier. Callum Fordyce was the only addition to the squad as he returned to the bench after a nine-week absence through injury – sustained in the very first game of the league season.  

Raith got the game underway and made their presence known early on as they occupied Morton’s penalty area. Morton kept their defence tight however, quelling the Rovers to a couple blocked efforts towards goal.  

Morton came into the game shortly after, with a quick ball through the middle of the park resulting in Kevin Dabrowski’s first save of the afternoon as he parried the long-range effort away for a corner.  

Just over 15 minutes in, Dylan Easton came inches away from a goal of the season contender as he let fly from 35 yards out. Raith fans could only watch as the ball swerved through the air before thundering off of the top-right corner of the woodwork and back into play.  

Shortly after, a coming together in the Raith box between Dabrowski and Ali Crawford had the home support in uproar as they demanded a penalty. Play continued however, with the incident being deemed fair by the afternoon’s referee.  

Morton’s last chance of the first half led to a fine save from Dabrowski, with the shot-stopper clawing a goal-bound effort away from the top-right corner. The first half was brought to a close shortly after.  

Raith made one change for the second half as Scott Brown replaced Shaun Byrne in the midfield.  

Morton struck early on in the second half after Zak Delaney floated a ball into the Raith box. Team-mate Filip Stuparevic rose to meet the ball on the penalty spot, before perfectly heading the ball into the far corner of the Raith goal. Morton had the lead just 4 minutes into the second half.  

The home side wasted no time in doubling their lead either. Morton cleared their lines and found themselves one-on-one with Dabrowski after an unfortunate deflection in Raith’s midfield put them through on goal. First-half substitute Michael Garrity made no mistake as he fired his effort into the net via the right goalpost. A five-minute double salvo from the Morton side left Raith two goals down with over 35 minutes left to play.  

Morton continued to threaten before the Rovers subbed on Fankaty Dabo and Lewis Jamieson for Connoly and Freeman.  

The changes led to some promising looking football from Raith – with wingback Dabo looking lively. Callum Fordyce got back to the pitch for the last 15 minutes, but unfortunately no Raith goal came before the final whistle.  

Next up, Raith Rovers celebrate Ross Matthew’s testimonial year at the club as they host Hearts at Starks Park in a midweek friendly. With a free weekend creating a gap in league fixtures, Raith now have some time to prepare for their next league match – at home to Queens Park.

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today’s William Hill Championship league game at Cappielow - Morton v Raith
0'
Ross Matthews gets the game underway. Raith defending the away end this half
3'
Both teams settling into play at the moment. Neither team troubling each others defence
5'
Raith being a menace in the Morton box - Hamilton with the only effort towards goal but ball blocked
9'
McGinn picks up a loose ball and drives through the centre, no one going to him and he has a pop, Dabrowski dives and palms away to his right - corner Morton
11'
From a second Morton corner ball played to centre at edge of Raith 6yard box and ball headed away
12'
Pollock keeps going on the left as the ball played back to Mullen, the latter gets the ball away just in time
13'
Pollock with a tight effort which forces Mullen to palm away
16'
Freekick Raith deep in Morton half after Delaney fouls Connolly
17'
Easton with a shot that hits off the Morton bar
18'
Dabrowski tires to bring a loose ball back into the Raith box however as he does so Morton press and Dabrowski has to dive back into the 18yard box to stop the ball - heart in mouth moment
21'
Murray with an effort which is wide
22'
Connolly with a first time effort but ball goes over the bar
24'
Lyall gets the ball into the Raith box he feeds a pass to McGinn who tries to cut back in- ball blocked and cleared
27'
Murray does well to hold off a Morton attack
28'
Ballantyne picks up the ball he charges forward his pass is intercepted
29'
Matthews ball to Pollock doesn’t quite come to fruition as Raith push forward
30'
Crawford with a shot which takes a deflection - Morton corner
31'
From the Morton corner ball played to front post and Connolly heads clear. Ball eventually falls to Moffat who has pop and straight to the hands Dabrowski
33'
Moffat again tries to find a way through his effort is week and doesn’t trouble Dabrowski
35'
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After a small stoppage in play to treat Crawford for Morton, Morton sub off Crawford and bring on Garrity
38'
Moffat has the ball in the D and he dives into the Raith box to look for a penalty
40'
Delaney with a shot, its goal bound and Dabrowski with an outstanding diving right arm save to deflect the ball away
41'
Good linking play from Raith which ends with Easton passing to Pollock, he has a pop and ball is deflected for Raith corner
42'
Morton charge forward and Matthews does enough to challenge to avoid a foul being created
43'
Lovely layoff to Pollock who charges into the Morton box - he shoots straight at Mullen
45'
+1 Stuparevic with a shot, Dabrowski saves
45'
+2 ref blows for half time
45'
Game is back underway - Raith shooting towards their own fans. Raith have made a substitution off goes Byrne and on comes Brown
49'
Goal Morton- ball played into the box and Stuparevic heads the ball into the back of the net
53'
⚽️
A long ball switch of play from Morton to Garrity who takes the ball forward and slots the ball home for Morton
55'
Hamilton with a low effort which doesn’t trouble Mullen
56'
Stevenson tries to play the ball through to Pollock - ball intercepted
57'
Booking for Wilson for a heavy foul on Pollock in front of the dugouts
59'
↔️
Morton sub off Wilson and bring on Blues
61'
Ballantyne cuts the ball into Moffat who turns in the Raith box has a shot - Dabrowski gets down to smother
63'
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Raith make a double substitution off goes Freeman and Connolly and on come Dabo and Jamieson
64'
Jamieson with the long ball switch to Pollick but ball too heavy for Pollock to keep in play
66'
Morton fire a ball in from edge of 18yard box Morton insist it has hit off the hands of a Raith player as ball fires through- ref says no
67'
Hamilton is through takes too long to pull the trigger and Morton steal the ball
68'
Brown and Pollock up however the latter is bullied off the ball by Ballantyne
69'
🟨
Yellow card for Stevenson for a foul in Morton half
73'
↔️
Morton make a double substitution off go Stuparevic and Lyall and on come Reynolds and Gillespie
74'
Dabo floats the ball into Morton box forcing a Raith corner
76'
↔️
Raith sub off Pollock and welcome back Fordyce. From a Raith corner ball played to front post and Morton head clear
78'
Freekick Raith as Easton tries to go forward and is fouled however has no options to pass tho
80'
Dabo gets the ball across the face of goal but Raith can’t poke that ball home
82'
↔️
Raith sub off Matthews and bring on Mullin
86'
Easton see Mullin running through and his pass is accurate but Mullen reads well and comes out to smother
95'
Play has stopped for Mullen to receive treatment and Morton can’t decide whether to play Ballantyne in goals instead … they’ve opted for Mullen
96'
Great ball from Dabo into the Morton box but they head clear
97'
🟨
Gillespie booked for a foul on Dabo
98'
Freekick is played straight into the hands of Mullen
98'
Red ends the game Morton 2 (Stuparevic 49’, Garrity 54’) Raith 0

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