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Preview

Friday night football returns to Stark’s Park this weekend, with Ayr United the visitors as Ian Murray’s men look to retain their healthy lead at the top of the Championship.

Saturday’s sensational win over Dundee United at Tannadice lifted Rovers five points clear of United, albeit the Taysiders have played one game fewer.

The Honest Men go into this one on the back of their own 1-0 win from last weekend, triumphing over Airdrieonians thanks to Anton Dowds sixth goal of the season.

That win lifted Lee Bullen’s side above Airdrie in the table, and they now sit sixth in the table, four points outside the promotion playoff spots, but just two points above the relegation places.

The three points were welcome for Ayr, as it was their first league win since defeating Dunfermline back in October.

This will be the two sides second meeting this season, with Rovers winning 2-1 at Somerset Park back in September.

A three minute first half brace from Dylan Easton put Rovers in control at the interval, only for Anton Dowds to reduce the arrears early in the second period.

However, Rovers kept Ayr at arm’s length for the remainder of the match, to see out a trademark slender win.

That was Rovers first win over Ayr in four attempts, although the recent record between the two is dead level, with four wins and two draws apiece from the last 10 meetings.

Friday evening’s match referee will be Craig Napier.

 

Head-to-Head Record:

Raith Rovers wins: 59

Ayr United wins: 56

Draws: 51

Reports

Raith Rovers draw 4-4 with Ayr United

Raith began the game quickly with good intent to get an early opener, the first big chance coming only 5 minutes in after Ross Millen found Jack Hamilton with a delightful cross, but Hamilton’s effort went straight at the Ayr goalkeeper for a comfortable save.

Raith continued to search for the opener creating a wonderful opportunity after a Josh Mullin freekick found Sam Stanton, he volleyed the ball towards goal but unfortunately it deflected wide off his own teammate Lewis Vaughan.

Ayr were somehow able to take the lead completely against the run of play in the 29th minute, with McGeady taking a shot from distance low and hard past Dabrowski. GOAL AYR 0-1

Raith scored what was almost an instant equaliser, scoring only 23 seconds after kicking off, after Vaughan played the ball through to Stanton and he took the ball around the goalkeeper and passing the ball into the back of the net. GOAL RAITH 1-1

The game got heated when the Ayr captain McGinty put in a nasty challenge on Dylan Easton, earning a red card in the 43rd minute.
It only took 2 minutes after the Red card, for Raith to take the lead with a delicious cross from Millen finding Vaughan, and he headed the ball into the top far corner of the goal. GOAL RAITH 2-1

Half Time: RAITH 2-1 Ayr

Ayr came out for the second half looking the much better team, it only took 10 minutes to find the equaliser with another strike from distance, this time by Dempsey. GOAL AYR 2-2

In the 63rd minute, 10 men Ayr took the lead through Chalmers, when he cut in onto his left foot and placing the ball into the far top corner. GOAL AYR 2-3

In the 70th minute Aidan Connolly came on for Shaun Byrne and in the 75th minute Jamie Gullan came on for Josh Mullin.
It only took 6 minutes for Gullan to make an enormous impact winning a penalty after being chopped down in the box, Lewis Vaughan stepped up to take the penalty, and he expertly found the goalkeepers top right corner, scoring the equaliser. GOAL RAITH 3-3

Ayr once again took the lead with a shot from distance by Rose in the 85th minute, somehow managed to wriggle under Dabrowski. GOAL AYR 3-4

Raith found the belief to get something from the game when in the 91st minute Connolly managed to pick out Vaughan with a chipped ball over the defence, and Lewis headed the ball past the Ayr goalkeeper to seal his hat-trick, scoring in typical Raith fashion: late. GOAL RAITH 4-4

Full Time: Raith 4-4 Ayr

Photos

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the 4-4 draw at Stark's Park:

Live Updates

0'
Not long till kick off!
0'
Teams are heading up the tunnel… Rovers in dark blue and Ayr playing in pink.
0'
Raith kick off, shooting into the South Stand goal.
3'
Hamilton with a half chance in front of goal. Header from 12 yards floats into Mitch's arms.
11'
💬
Fairly scrappy game so far…
12'
First corner of the game for Ayr.
14'
Dick sends in a great cross. Reading clears over the bar, for a Rovers corner. Looked like that clearance could have gone anywhere.
15'
Chalmers loses his man down the right, into the box and he just clears the bar. That was a chance.
16'
Hamilton turns Musonda on the by line, his shot is blocked for a corner.
21'
Stanton wins a corner, at the Main Stand flag.
22'
Corner not cleared well. It's another corner for Raith.
24'
💬
Possession 52%-48% Raith. Corners 4-1 Raith.
27'
Vaughan with the left foot shot in a crowded box. Deflected wide.
28'
⚽️
Goal Ayr!
28'
⚽️
McGeady totally unmarked travels 20 yards and then strikes a low shot from outside the box, past a diving Dabrowski.
29'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
29'
⚽️
STANTON sent through with a wonder pass from Vaughan. He rounds the keeper and slots home from an angle.
33'
🤕️
Stanton looks in a bit of bother. Hoping it's not too bad.
36'
↔️
Stanton replaced by Smith
40'
Raith fans very vocal as they think it's a penalty. Ball goes out and the outcome is a Rovers corner.
42'
Straight red for McGinty for a knee high challenge on Easton.
44'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
44'
Superb cross from Millen on the right, VAUGHAN with the glancing header that lobs over the keeper, Mutch. Lovely effort.
45'
Mullin sends in a rasping cross just inside the box. It's just too strong for the forwards.
45'
Dowds shot deflected and easily held by Dabrowski.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 2-1 Ayr United.
45'
💬
Jings! What a first half of football.
46'
💬
Teams are on their way out again. Will be Ayr to kick off.
46'
Second half starts!
47'
↔️
Senga replaces McGeady
54'
⚽️
Goal Ayr!
54'
⚽️
Dempsey again left unmarked. He turns 22 yards outside the box and shoots low past Dabrowski.
56'
Dowds clean through. Dabrowski races out and just makes it to clear in time.
57'
Byrne booked for a late challenge.
59'
Mullin with the half chance. His header from far out doesn't fluster Mutch in the Ayr goal.
62'
⚽️
Goal Ayr!
62'
Chalmers races down the right, he curls a great shot into the top corner.
66'
Mix up 30 yards out gifts Ayr another change. This time the long range shot whistles past the post.
69'
Connolly replaces Byrne
71'
↔️
Amartey replaced by McKenzie.
72'
Corner Raith.
73'
Smith wins another Raith corner.
74'
Brown's shot from outside the box goes near. Just past the post.
74'
↔️
Mullin replaced by Gullan.
79'
Corner Raith.
79'
Penalty Raith.
79'
Gullan upended in the box.
80'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
80'
⚽️
VAUGHAN roofs a penalty into the top left corner.
82'
Huge save from Dabrowski! Left hand slaps the ball to safety.
83'
↔️
Rose replaces Dowds
83'
↔️
Bryden replaces Chalmers
83'
⚽️
Goal Ayr!
83'
⚽️
Dabrowski lets a 30 yard shot straight at him trundle under his arms and into the goal.
86'
Corner Raith.
86'
Vaughan unmarked inside the box. He heads wide. That was a great chance.
90'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
90'
⚽️
Connolly cheeky chip into the box and VAUGHAN dunks a header over the keeper.
93'
Corner Ayr.
94'
Full time: Raith Rovers 4-4 Ayr United.