Fri 22nd December / 19:45 / Championship 23/24 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Ayr United
Line Up
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: