After reaching the quarter finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy quarter final last weekend by defeating Morton, Raith will hope to continue their winning ways, when Arbroath visit Stark's Park this Saturday.
The Red Lichties didn't fair quite so well in their own Challenge Cup tie last week, with a much changed side going down by five goals to one to Dunfermline, making it just one win in seven games for Dick Campbell's side, which came against Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup.
Their last league win came back in October against Hamilton Accies, but that was very much a vital one, with the Angus currently ninth, two points better of than Accies, who are bottom.
Raith's last league win was also against Hamilton at the start of November, and a run of three straight defeats in the league has seen them slide down the table to seventh, seven points away from a coveted playoff spot.
This will be the sides second meeting this season, with the last coming at Gayfield in October, with a Sam Stanton goal enough for Rovers to take all three points.
However, Arbroath were the winners the last time the two sides met in Kirkcaldy in January of this year. Reghan Tumilty had given Rovers the lead at the end of the first half, but goals after the interval from Jack Hamilton and Nicky Low handed the Smokies a 2-1 victory.
Saturday's match referee will be Calum Scott.
Head-to-head record
Raith Rovers wins: 47
Arbroath wins: 34
Draws: 20
Reports
The game of 2 half’s
Raith Rovers started off the better side against Arbroath at a cold Stark's Park, with the early possession and a high press providing an early goal from a Ross Millen cross that Arbroath’s Ricky Little poked into the back of his own net. GOAL 1-0 Raith.
RICKY LITTLE'S OWN GOAL OPENS THE SCORING
The Rovers then continued to dominate the game in the early stages but without too many penetrative passes. Arbroath had a decent Bobby Linn freekick saved by Andrew McNeil, but other than that, the Rovers were dominant. Ethan Ross unfortunately had to come off only 24 minutes into the game where he was replaced by Lewis Vaughan.
Unfortunately, from a Raith point of view the dominance did not turn into a half time lead as Arbroath scored an equaliser in the 44th minute after a beautiful freekick, the delivery landing on the head of Arbroath’s number 3 Colin Hamilton for him to nod into the back of the net. 1-1 HT.
The second half was by far the opposite from the first, as Arbroath started the better of the two sides with them passing the ball better than Raith and creating the better chances.
Rovers Man of the Match Andrew McNeil made a fantastic double save to keep his side in it.
ANOTHER FINE SAVE FROM ANDY
The second half gradually faded, and became very poor with not many chances coming for either side until the last minute when a Connor O’Riordan header was cleared off the line by an Arbroath defender. FT 1-1.
Photos
The Foodbank donations kept on comming BUT THEY DESPERATELY NEED MORE
Kirkcaldy Fords Electric van was filling up with donations for the Foodbank
THE MATCH OFFICIALS SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE KIRKCALDY FOODBANK COLLECTION
GORDON REDFORD AND HIS GUESTS ENJOYING THEIR PRE-CHRISTMAS MEAL IN THE RAITH SUITE
MATCH SPONSORS CARR’S FLOUR MILL IN THE 27-11 LOUNGE
THE COLD WEATHER DIDN’T DETER OUR MASCOTS AVA SHORT AND LEWIS SOMMERVILLE
PRE MATCH IN THE JIM McMILLAN CLUB
THE MASCOTS AVA SHORT AND LEWIS SOMMERVILLE WITH ROARY , THE REF AND CAPTAINS
EX ROVER DYLAN TAIT BATTLES IT OUT WITH SCOTT BROWN
SCOTT BROWN
KIERAN NGWENYA WATCHED CLOSELY BY THE GAFFER
MAN OF THE MATCH ANDREW McNEIL
RICKY LITTLE’S OWN GOAL OPENS THE SCORING
THE SOUTH STAND CROWD CELEBRATE THE GOAL
SMILES ALL ROUND
CONNOR AND RYAN HOLD OF SCOTT BITSINDOU
GREAT SAVE FROM ANDREW McNEIL
CONNOR CLEARS IN THE RAITH BOX
SCOTT WINS THE TUSSLE
GOALMOUTH ACTION IN THE ARBROATH BOX
ALL WRAPPED UP FOR THE COLD WEATHER
JAMIE GULLAN
AIDAN CONNOLLY
RYAN NOLAN TOP OF THE TRIO
LEWIS ON A RUN
LEWIS VAUGHAN SKIPS PAST SCOTT BITSINDOU
CONNOR O’RIORDAN STARTS A DRIVE FORWARD
ROSS MILLEN
COLIN HAMILTON SCORES THE EQUALISER FOR ARBROATH
MATEJ POPLATNIK WAS LUCKY FOR 50-50 WINNER DOUGIE LOWRIE
ALL READY FOR THE HALF TIME FUN
THE YOUNG RAITH FANS WERE HAVING A BALL
HALF TIME BALL THROW WINNER LOGAN MURRAY WITH ROARY
ANDY STOPS AN ARBROTH EFFORT ON GOAL
ANOTHER FINE SAVE FROM ANDY
AIDAN CONNOLLY
DYLAN’S JUST WONDERING
KYLE CONNELL SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING HIMSELF
CAPTAIN SCOTT
SAM STANTON WINS THIS AERIAL BATTLE
BATTLING SCOTT DRIVES THE BALL FORWARD
GREAT CONTROL FROM LEWIS
CORNER RAITH IN THE DYING MOMENTS
A CLOSE THING FROM RAITH’S LATE CORNER
MAN OF THE MATCH ANDREW McNEIL WITH MATCH SPONSORS JIM GIBB AND LORRAINE KANE OF CARR’S FLOUR MILL
Mascots Lewis Sommerville and Ava Short lead out the teams
Ian Murray looks on as Ethan Ross makes his way up the park
GOAL….Little gets a foot to Millen’s cross…..
…and sends the ball past Gaston
….The ball’s in the net and the fans celebrate
Jamie Gullan salutes the cross
All smiles as Rovers go one up
Man of the Match Andy McNeil pulls off a great save from a free kick
Dylan Tait tries a shot
Tait fouls Stanton but the ex Rover came off worst
Tait is in obvious pain and the Rovers doctor Jimmy Parris is on the scene pronto
A sad sight as Dylan Tait leaves the field on a stretcher
Ethan gets some Carol singing practise in a week before the big man comes.
Jamie Gullan goes for a cross
Ethan Ross charges up the park
Ryan Nolan takes charge in the box
Captain Scott Brown lays the ball off to Millen
Brad Spencer pulls the trigger
Ryan Nolan boots the ball clear
Connor O Riordan gets his head on a Rovers corner
Jamie Gullan comes in to land on Hoti
GOAL… Hamilton sends the ball past McNeil to get the Lichties level
Lewis Vaughan battles with Bitsindou
Andy McNeil uses his fingertips to keep the ball out
Lewis brings the ball down
Lewis races Little for the ball
Sam Stanton keeps an eye on Hilson
Hello Santa, is it next week yer comin….bring us a bag o goals please
Bitsindou is all over Lewis Vaughan
Lewis and Brad close in on Hilson
Kieran Ngwenya and Dale Hilson look terrified of that ball
Connor O’Riordan heads a corner clear
Sam Stanton deep in thought
Smile…It’s christmas
Oakley looks a bit fed up but Kyle’s there to look after him
Hilson and Ngwenya are stiil terrified of that ball
Kyle Connell on the attack
Lewis Vaughan is sent flying
Smile Broony yer on Raith TV
Dylan Easton heads upfield
Sam Stanton gets some power on the header
Lewis ye don’t need yer fingers to count the goals…1 and 1 is 2
Sam Stanton
Dylan Easton has his eye on the ball
Ryan Nolan gets the better of Shanks
Kieran Ngwenya heads
Ryan Nolan gets his head to a corner in the dying minutes….
Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after today's draw at Stark's Park:
Live Updates
0'
A late change to the line up sees Raith cup hero, Andy McNeil replace Jamie MacDonald in goals.
0'
Both teams out and we're waiting for the coin toss.
0'
Arbroath start the first half. They're shooting into the North Stand goals.
2'
Bright, early start for Arbroath.
5'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
5'
⚽️
Good move down the right, Millen decides to cross the ball, rather than pass to Connolly. It was the right decision as Little volleys into his own net, under pressure from Gullan.
8'
Stanton clattered in middle of park, 35 yards from goal.
9'
🤕️
Dylan Tait down and looks in a bit of bother.
11'
↔️
Hoti replaces Tait
12'
Connolly set up from the left. Tries a shot, but deflected over for a corner.
15'
Raith Rovers 1-0 Arbroath
16'
Gold stops Ross, illegally. It's a yellow for the challenge.
23'
🤕️
Ross is down, off the ball. Think his game might be over.
24'
↔️
Vaughan replaces Ross
25'
Little is a lot late with a tackle. It's yellow.
26'
Spencer turns and sets himself up for a 20-yarder. Not enough power on it. Easily saved.
29'
Connolly and Millen linking up well. Corner Raith.
29'
Vaughan takes a quick corner to Connolly. To cut a long story short, it's another Raith corner
30'
Raith Rovers 1-0 Arbroath
35'
💬
Millen and Connolly having a good first half together.
37'
Silly booking there for Gullan as he pulls back the Arbroath defender, then kicks the ball away.
44'
⚽️
Goal Arbroath
44'
⚽️
Free kick crossed in from the right. Hamilton unmarked in the box heads home.
45'
+1 big chance for Arbroath. Luckily shot/cross whizzes past the far post.
45'
+4 half time: Raith Rovers 1-1 Arbroath
46'
Vaughan kicks off the second half.
50'
Incredible double save from McNeil!
60'
Corner Arbroath
61'
Second corner for the Red Lichties
61'
Raith Rovers 1-1 Arbroath
63'
↔️
Easton replaces Spencer
63'
↔️
Connell replaces Gullan
66'
💬
Been fairly quiet…
70'
O'Riordan does well to nullify an Arbroath attack. Corner Arbroath
70'
Vaughan has to clear the danger for another Arbroath corner.
71'
Another good chance for Arbroath. No one able to put the ball in the net.
72'
↔️
Stewart replaces Oakley
75'
Raith Rovers 1-1 Arbroath
78'
Easton tries a speculative shot from 30 yards out. Past the post.
