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Raith Rovers battled for another win on the road on Saturday after managing to protect a slim 1-0 lead whilst down to ten men against Greenock Morton.

The stalemate was eventually broken soon after half-time when Dylan Easton added another goal to his already impressive tally for the season, but a Raith red card later on gave The Rovers a lot of defensive work to do.

Barry Robson fielded the same starting eleven that lost 3-2 away to Partick Thistle one week earlier. Richard Chin and Josh Gentles were absent through international duty, which meant Callum Hannah and Logan Raeside made their way onto an otherwise unchanged bench.

Raith kicked the match off on an unusually sunny September afternoon in Greenock, which saw Josh Rae play a long ball immediately from kick-off – a theme which would prove pivotal later.

Dylan Easton managed to get some early efforts on goal, but his volley from the edge of the box and subsequent thirty-yard free kick caused little trouble for James Storer in the Morton goal.

Morton had a similarly distanced free kick of their own around ten minutes later, with Eamonn Brophy’s attempt on goal forcing Josh Rae into a diving, fingertip save over the bar.

The halftime whistle signalled the end of a balanced yet uneventful half of football and, after a Morton substitution, the second half was soon underway.

Both sides persisted with a long-ball strategy, but it was Raith Rovers who would capitalise from this after Rae’s box-to-box kick allowed Dylan Easton to head straight past Storer for an opener in the 52nd minute. An unlikely assist for goalkeeper Josh Rae – and a ninth goal of the season for Dylan Easton.

Both teams racked up the corner count in the minutes that followed, but some deft headers off target meant the scoreline remained unchanged.

Morton pushed forward as the 80th minute approached, which caused Josh Mullin to slide in as he attempted to regain possession. The Rovers’ wide man got his timing wrong though, and a late challenge saw the referee reach straight for his red card. Raith were down to ten men with more than ten minutes to go.

Protests erupted from the home end after some last-ditch Raith defending led to a penalty claim from Morton, but a corner was all that was awarded. The noise from the Morton fans would only grow moments later when the ball hit the back of The Rovers’ net, but some obstruction on Rae between the sticks led to the referee disallowing what would have been an 84th minute equaliser.

All the momentum was with Morton as the match’s final minutes played out, but the man-down Raith side held strong until the full-time whistle.

Raith now sit in second place on goal difference after having played one match more than most of the league, but ten points from five matches, combined with two wins from three games away from home, creates a promisingly positive start to the season.

Next up, Raith return to Starks Park to face current league leaders St Johnstone on Saturday.

Live Updates

0'
Raith get the game underway, Raith defending the away end first half
2'
Ball falls to Easton just outside the Morton box but he’s surrounded
6'
Both teams equal on pace and possession at the moment, neither had a chance on goal, until Easton there having a pop
8'
Sean Byrne receiving treatment at the moment after a tackle sees him come off second best in the midfield - some discomfort but up on his feet
9'
Fordyce with a long all but mopped up by the Morton defence
11'
Freekick from Mullin sees his ball float into the Morton box but it’s headed clear
13'
Freekick Raith down the centre just outside the D - Easton takes it, ball clears the wall and Storer down to save
18'
Stevenson takes the ball for a run up the left hand side cuts it in to McMullan who blooters the ball
18'
Doherty does well to keep the pace of Moffat and stops Moffat advancing
19'
Doherty and Moffat again as the former blocks an attempted cross from The latter.
22'
Foul on Brophey just outside the Raith box - freekick played low and blocked by the Raith wall
23'
Foul by Byrne on Shaw - Morton freekick approx 23 yards out powered down the middle and forces Rae to outstretch to finger tip away and put out for a corner
27'
Morton were looking for a penalty as Brophey goes down in the box, ref correctly says no
30'
Mullin decides to have a strike approx 22 yards out, it’s low and not on target
33'
🟨
McMullan booked - looks like an altercation between him and a Morton player main stand side
35'
Mullin tracks back well and clears a Morton ball in the Raith box
37'
Great ball to Easton- he struggles to get the ball under control, play ends with a corner to Raith
38'
From the corner ball played deep into the Morton box and Storer punches clear
39'
Nice ball falls to Matthews he takes it to the byline and tries to win a corner but it doesn’t come to fruition
42'
Byrne is fouled about five yards don’t the Morton half - freekick Raith - Mullin plays the ball into the Morton box but a foul occurs freekick Morton
45'
+2 ref blows for half time Morton 0 Raith 0 - both teams equal possession and cancelling each other out
45'
Morton get the second half underway, they also mate a half time substitution , off goes Robertson and on comes Gillespie
47'
Mullin tries to play the long ball to Brown but he has two Morton players by his side and can’t latch on to the pass
48'
Block by Fordyce as Morton put on the pressure
49'
💬
Raith shooting towards their own fans this half
51'
Long ball played to EASTON he calmly chips home to score goal number one for Raith
53'
🟨
Booking for Matthews after a foul on Gillespie
53'
↔️
Morton sub off Moffat and bring on Garrity
55'
Corner Morton - ball played just at front post headed towards goal and goes just wide of back post
58'
Mullin takes the ball into the box and tries to cross and Morton head out- corner Raith
58'
↔️
Raith sub off McMullan and bring on Hamilton - corner takes place after the substitution, ball played to front post and Morton head clear
61'
Raith link well passing the ball to and fro in front of the Morton box, doesn’t come to anything tho
62'
Good ball from Stevenson as he see Hamilton getting into the box but he’s beaten to the ball
64'
↔️
Morton sub off Blues and bring on Adeloye
67'
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Raith sub off goal scorer Easton and bring on Vaughan …. brown booked just before it
68'
Corner Raith - ball played by Mullin to the centre of the box and Hamilton heads wide
75'
Raith freekick played long to Hamilton who heads the ball into the box, Vaughan runs in but he’s beaten to the ball by Storer
77'
🟥
Mullin red card - goes in late
81'
Corner Morton, main stand side - ball played to back post and Rae gets down to smother
82'
Morton go on the attack, Raith being stretched, Adeloye goes down in the box looking for a penalty ref plays on ball scoots around and out for a Morton corner
84'
Before Morton corner, Morton substitution off goes Comrie and on comes McKay - corner played looks like Morton score at the back post but ref disallows it
86'
Morton applying the pressure they have the ball in 6yard box, shoot low and Rae gets down to smother
87'
Corner Raith - ball played short between Vaughan and Hamilton , the play short pass but Hamilton judged off side
89'
Raith play a free kick chip the ball and the Morton player catches the ball, ref blows for a foul but no card
91'
Morton again squeezing the pressure as the ball just goes wide of the Raith post
93'
Morton are pushing Raith back and a yellow for Vaughan just outside the Raith box
93'
Ref blows for full time Morton 0 Raith 1 (Easton 51’) and much fought match this afternoon - Raith playing with ten men for last 20 - three points back to k’dy

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