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Love might have certainly been in the air on Saturday, but goals were definitely not after Raith earned a point on the road in a goalless draw against Morton on Valentine’s Day.

On a festively fitting afternoon of re-acquainting, Ian Murray faced off against his former side for the first time since his departure over 18 months ago. Dougie Imrie also returned to his old outfit, having managed Morton for four years before making the switch to Raith a little under three months earlier.

Imrie made two changes to his line-up after a 2-1 defeat away to Ayr two weeks ago, with Lewis Vaughan and Paul Nsio starting over Andy Winter and Josh Mullin. The pair joined a slightly thinner bench this time around, with injuries to Paul McMullan and Innes Cameron ruling the duo out of this match – denying the latter any chance for a debut after signing on loan two weeks prior.

Morton got things underway on a crisp but fair afternoon at Cappielow Park, amid a handful of postponements elsewhere. The home side were forced into an early substitution, with Cameron MacPherson replacing his injured namesake, Cameron Blues.

Morton came close early on after Curtis Main, who had netted against Raith two weeks earlier for Ayr before transferring on loan to Morton, unleashed a shot from a tight angle from the right. Rae looked to have it covered, but the effort deflected off the post and safely out of play.

Raith went on to fashion some half-chances of their own as the half progressed. Lewis Vaughan did well to get a shot on goal away on the spin, but his effort from around ten yards out was held well by Murray Johnson.

The halftime interval came and went without much to note, which again saw Morton work the ball into the box on a few early occasions. Raith’s defence held strong, denying any real chance for a promising shot on goal until the 62nd minute, when a ball to the back post fell in the path of Grant Gillespie just ten yards from goal. Jai Rowe had other plans though, putting in an inch-perfect block which yielded some unsuccessful penalty claims from the home side.

Things heated up shortly after, with a bit of a physical disagreement resulting in four yellow cards being dealt out in the 65th minute.

Both managers made some changes as full-time neared, but the scrappy flow of the match remained. Vaughan managed a deft effort with almost the last kick of the ball, but his close-range flick didn’t cause any bother for Johnson in the Morton goal.

The final whistle produced an audible air of dissatisfaction, in which both teams might have seen an opportunity to gain points go amiss.

The additional point keeps Raith in sixth place, and just three points shy of fourth, but further postponements across the league somewhat complicate the current table.

Next up – Raith return to Starks Park for a televised Friday night fixture against league leaders, St. Johnstone.

 

Written by Hamish Rankine.

Live Updates

0'
Morton get the game underway - Raith in their Home kit shooting towards the home fans this half
0'
Gillespie looking for the foul after O’Connor leaves a trailing leg, ref says play on, ball played into the Raith box but nothing comes of it
2'
Gillespie steal th ball from Vaughan, runs up field passes to Garrity to his left who in turn passes to Delaney who crosses into the Raith box, a shot is made ball hits side netting
6'
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Morton forced into an early sub as off goes Blues and on comes MacPherson
7'
Long ball from Doherty upfield to Vaughan but latter is checked out
8'
Free kick Morton after Hanlon fouls Brophy about 25 yards out
9'
MacPherson delivers the ball into the Raith box and Rowe clears
10'
Brophy has a pop it’s ambitious and Rae gets down to save
15'
Been good play from Raith as the ball is played across the park, play ends with Nsio trying to cut the ball back int he Morton box and is intercepted
16'
Ball falls to Wilson in the Morton box, he takes a strike and ball goes across the goal mouth and out for goal kick
17'
Morton from a corner get the ball into the Raith box, Rowe heads clear and play ends with Vaughan shielding the ball out for play and Raith goal kick
18'
Brophy from Morton’s left in the Raith box tries for goal, Rae is under pressure gets down to save
21'
Cries for Penalty as Rowe is challenged just in the Morton box - it’s a decent shout to be fair but was the ref blindsided tho?
24'
Vaughan with a corner for Raith, looks a new from the training ground as players away far side of back post however his execution to deliver is poor
27'
Garrity looking dangerous with the ball, he takes pop and it hits the back of the legs of O’Connor
30'
Easton with a shot in the D but its blocked
33'
Doherty with the cross to Rowe, intercepted by Morton and out for a Raith throw in
34'
Shot by Vaughan and Johnson has to get down to save
34'
Freekick Morton approx 25 yards out central to the Raith goal - Delaney runs over it and MacPherson takes the kick and ball is wide and high
37'
Vaughan wins the ball look up and delivers the ball to Hamilton but he’s beaten to the ball
41'
Corner Morton ball delivered to centre of 6 yard box and Rowe heads over
42'
Third Morton corner in a row as per others ball delivered and Rowe clears
45'
+1 Rowe delivers a low pass into the Morton box, Hamilton charges in but is beaten
45'
+3 ref blows for had time Morton 0 Raith 0
45'
Raith get the second half underway- Raith shooting towards the away fan this half (not that any are behind the goal)
46'
Vaughan with and early effort, it’s a tight angle and ambitious and well over the bar
51'
Doherty with a long range effort but it’s over the bar
53'
🟨
Yellow card for Brown
55'
Long ball to Hamilton he’s is well offside and linesman eventually lifts his flag
55'
Hamilton sees Vaughan making the run times his pass well but Morton get a touch to it before Vaughan
57'
🟨
Garrity booked
60'
Morton corner ball into Raith box and headed clear
62'
Morton pressing they get into the box and it’s a strong challenge from Rowe, Morton want a penalty but ref says no
65'
🟨
Well, after a wee handbags four bookings have been handed out 2 for Raith O’Connor and Nsio and 2 for Morton Gillespie and Garrity
69'
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sub by Rairh as off goes Nsio and on comes Matthews
71'
Freekick Morton as Easton fouls
71'
Good delivery into the Raith box from Ballantyne as Morton attack
75'
Double substitution for Raith off go Easton and Hamilton and on come Winter and Montagu
76'
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Morton sub off Garrity and bring on Shaw
81'
Freekick Raith after Mintagu is man handle to the ground by the collar of his shirt
83'
Again another freekick after Main fouls Montagu - ball played into the 18 yard box but nothing comes of it
85'
Morton sub off Brophy and bring on Crawford
90'
Booking for Matthews after a high footed challenge
91'
Booking for Ballantyne after taking Brown out - one of those had to take for the team- as Brown was on the charge
93'
From Raith freekick ball into the 6 yard box, Vaughan can’t connect and a Johnson collects
94'
Ref blows for full time Morton 0 Raith 0 a game where both teams are equal in possession and ability

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