Preview

All roads lead to Lanarkshire as Rovers head to the Fountain of Youth Stadium as they know only a win will do if they are to remain in the hunt for the Promotion Play-Offs. 

John McGlynn’s side head to Hamilton in good spirits after last week’s stunning late Matej Poplatnik winner against Partick Thistle in Maryhill saw their season take yet another twist in the tale as they mounted the pressure on their Glasgow counterparts going into the final two games.

 That would turn out to be Poplatnik’s sixth goal in seven games and his 11th in all competitions this season, something that has proven to be invaluable to John McGlynn’s side as they look to pull themselves over the final hurdle after a turbulent season. 

Accies however also come into the game full of confidence after managing to get one over club legend Dougie Imrie last time out as they saw off Morton 1-0 in Inverclyde. 

Stuart Taylor’s side won the game thanks to David Moyo’s 5th minute strike and they come into the game off the back of a run that has seen them only lose once in their last five games. 

 The fixture has provided plenty of drama so far this season, where Rovers threw away a four goal lead against then manager, Brian Rice’s side on the opening game of the campaign before a 3-0 reverse at tomorrow’s venue and a draw back at Stark’s Park see the Rovers have a slight psychological edge going into the tie. 

 

 

Head-To-Head Record:   

Accies Wins: 8   Raith Rovers Wins: 7  Draws: 8   

Current Form:   

Raith Rovers: D-W-L-L-W 

Accies: L-W-D-D-L  

Top Scorers:   

Raith Rovers: Matej Poplatnik 11, Dario Zanatta 9, Aidan Connolly 7,  

Accies: Andy Ryan 9, David Moyo 8, Andy Winter 4 

Referee: Steven McLean 

Reports

Rovers hopes for the play-off places rest on a knife edge after Ben Williamson’s double against Hamilton Accies gave his side the slimmest of chances of extending their season in a 2-0 win at New Douglas Park. 

Strikes either side of half time from the Rangers loanee meant that the goal deficit between his side and promotion rivals Partick Thistle is eight goals heading into the final day. 

Rovers could’ve been ahead after five minutes after Ross Matthews was cynically brought down by Steve Lawson to prevent the midfielder running into the box, this allowed Ethan Ross to step up, but his right footed effort from 20-yards was well held by Fulton in the middle of the goal. 

Ben Williamson thought he’d won his side a penalty two minutes later as Rovers looked to get an early goal. He raced onto Benedictus’ long ball over the top, beating O’Reilly for pace and he looked to have been brought down by the Irishman, and despite an initial look to award the spot kick he waved play on.  

Rovers blistering start would be rewarded with 11 minutes on the clock. A ball into the feet of Reghan Tumilty saw him sprint away down the right hand side, giving the ball to Connolly who drove through the Accies midfield, giving the ball out to Williamson who managed to slip the ball into the feet of Poplatnik with a first time pass from the right hand side of the ‘D’ who took a touch to take Popescu out of the game before seeing his shot blocked, allowing Williamson to follow up with a header that Fulton could only tip onto the post as it bounced off the woodwork and back into the net. 

Rovers were unlucky not to be two up with 21 minutes on the clock after Josh Mullin’s ball forward was picked off by Sam Stanton on halfway, who immediately played Ethan Ross in down the left hand side free in the channel. His first time pass picked out Aidan Connolly who darted from the right hand side into the edge of the area and his first time effort was beautifully struck as it rattled off the bar and off the line which saw the hosts let off yet again. 

Matej Poplatnik thought he had doubled his sides lead in the closing stages of the first half but for the linesman’s flag. A great piece of play from Aidan Connolly saw him play a first time reverse cross back into the box, looking to beat the offside trap after his initial corner was cleared, his effort found Poplatnik who was free in the box and he made no mistake in slotting the ball into the bottom left corner, but the linesman’s flag was already raised for offside. 

However it would be Ben Williamson who doubled his and his side’s advantaged 13-minutes after the restart. Ethan Ross' hooked ball over the top down the left channel was chased down by Williamson, who outmuscled O'Reilly on the left hand edge of the box, he then moved away with the ball and into the box and kept his composure to slot the ball into the bottom right corner. 

Rovers looked to see the game out and were unlucky not to get a third on two occasions as slips from Sean Mackie and Sam Stanton saw good slick moves break down at the vital moment. 

But it was nearly a dream debut for Accies man, Adam McGowan, who managed to get away down the left and cut inside Brad Spencer on the edge of the area. His left footed curling effort was a good one, good enough to have Jamie MacDonald scrambling as his effort flew just the wrong side of the post. 

The result left many wondering "what if" after Thistle’s 1-0 victory over Dunfermline, but there could yet be another twist in the tale in what has been a rollercoaster of a season. 

Photos

© E Doig

Highlights

Interviews

John McGlynn spoke to RaithTV after today's win:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to the Fountain of Youth Stadium for Raith's penultimate match against Hamilton
0'
It's sunny with a chilly breeze here. Teams warming up on the park. Twenty minutes to go
0'
Raith get the game underway
0'
Raith shooting towards the supermarket end
1'
Brown on the break but Ross is there to challenge
2'
Hamilton thump the ball up the park but Tumilty is there to head back to MacDonald
3'
Nearly a mistake by MacKay
4'
Free kick Raith approx 25 yards out
6'
Ross takes it gets it over the wall but straight to Fultons arms
7'
Williamson harrasses O'Reilly forcing the latter to get the ball back to the keeper
8'
Great ball from Poplatnik to Tumilty who runs up the park has a pop but it's direct to the keeper
9'
⚽️
GGGOOOAALLL RAITH
10'
Poplatnik with a lovely ball to WILLIAMSON who fires home for Raith it looks like it had been cleared off the line but ref says goal
12'
Good catch by MacDonald as Hamilton have a shot
14'
Hamilton have broken through and look likely to score but thankfully linesman flags offside
16'
Corner Raith as Poplatnik pushes forward
18'
Good linking play by Raith as they move upfield. Play ends with Tumilty's shot wide
19'
Good ball from Matthews to Williamson who is hauled to the ground. Free kick Raith and a yellow card for O'Reilly
21'
Oooofft ….Connolly fires a ball from the edge of the box but it hits the underside of the bar and bounces out
22'
Hamilton get the ball into the danger area but McKay is there to head clear
23'
Mullin from the edge of the box fires the ball low but thankfully it's wide
24'
Musonda slips, Hamilton get the ball into the box they have a shot but it's over the bar
25'
McKay with a toe in to stop Moyo in his tracks
27'
Free kick Hamilton after Stanton fouls Lawson
28'
Hamilton get the ball into the box McKay heads clear. MacDonald for Hamilton gets the ball back into the Raith box and Musonda clears
29'
Tumilty manages to put Brown off his stride … corner Hamilton
30'
Lawson for Hamilton gets the ball over and into the Raith box but Mimnaugh is ruled offside
32'
Matthews booked for a foul on Brown
33'
Mimnaugh takes the free kick it's thankfully too much and out for a goalkick
34'
Brilliant challenge by Poplatnik to stop Moyo
35'
Stanton sees an opportunity and has a pop but it's off target and ball goes wide
36'
Hamilton corner
36'
Ball it's out into the danger area but Moyo heads well over the bar
38'
Williamson tries to steal the ball but Popescu shields the ball well back to Fulton
39'
Williamson wins a corner for Raith as he pushes down the left hand side
40'
Ball falls to Bene who thumps it over the bar
41'
Free kick Raith after a foul on Toss deep in Hamilton half
42'
Raith fans think Poplatnik has scored but he's offside
45'
Ref blows for half time Hamilton 0 Raith 1 ( Williamson 10')
45'
Hamilton get the second half back underway
46'
Williamson gets the ball forward he passes back to Ross who tries to get the ball low through the box but no one can convert
47'
Smith for Hamilton tries to get the ball into the Raith box but Benedictus heads clear
48'
Ross to Williamson who wins a corner
49'
Tumilty does well to win the ball at the far corner he is fouled as he turns and runs
50'
Stanton booked
51'
Hamilton manager booked
52'
Raith free kick after Matthews is fouled
54'
Hamilton push forward as Mullin gets the ball into the danger area but Raith head clear
55'
MacDonald comes thundering out to clear the ball
57'
⚽️
GGOOOAAALLLL RAITH
57'
He keeps on going to keep winning the ball on the edge of the box he looks up and WILLIAMSON shoots low and across the goal for the ball to slot in just in time
59'
↔️
Raith sub off two goal scorer Williamson and bring on Spencer
61'
MacDonald clears just in time as Moyo comes charging in
63'
↔️
Raith being forced into a substitution as Ross has to come off and Zanatta is brought on
66'
Hamilton free kick just in the Raith half
68'
Ball passed to Connolly he has a shot but his effort is well wide
69'
Corner Raith
69'
Connolly's ball from the corner falls straight into the hands of Fulton
74'
Good turn by Sanatta but his first touch is a tad too heavy
74'
↔️
Double substitution by Raith off goes Poplatnik and Musonda on comes Varian and Mackie
74'
↔️
Hamilton also make a substitution off goes Brown and on comes McGowan
77'
Varian gets the ball into the box, idea shooting opportunity for Mackie but he trips over fresh air and falls to the ground
78'
Corner Hamiton
78'
From the corner Hamilton deliver the ball into the box but they head wide
79'
Mackie with a good ball to Stanton but he's beaten to the ball
79'
↔️
Hamilton make a second substitution off goes Moyo and on comes Nicolson
80'
Ten minutes to go Hamilton 0 Raith 2(Williamson 10' 57')
82'
🤕️
Play halted as Matthews receives treatment
83'
He's back on his feet and play gets back underway
85'
Mackie to Stanton who gets the ball low into the box but Fulton gets down to gather
85'
Varian tries to fight his way through he feels there has been a hand ball but ref says no
88'
Hamilton close as their shot has MacDonald outstretched
91'
Tumilty has a late effort but the ball is well over the bar
91'
Mackie booked
92'
Popescu's freekick gets over the Raith wall and the ball it's just over the Raith bar
93'
Ref blows for full time Hamilton 0 Raith 2 ( Williamson 10' 57'). Raith played well, job done for this week. Final league game against Kilmarnock on Friday evening. See you there