Raith Rovers FC vs Airdrieonians FC | Raith Rovers Football Club

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Raith have ended a streak which every Rovers fan will be glad to see the end of, after beating Airdrie 1-0 at Starks Park on Tuesday night. Such a result has put an end to a seven-match winless streak against their north-Lanarkshire based opposition.

Collins made two changes to the team that faced Livingston just three days earlier, with Stevenson replacing the suspended Liam Dick, and Lewis Jamieson making way for Dylan Easton.

Airdrie got the match underway, and had a strong start in the opening few minutes. Raith struggled to retain the ball, but kept Airdrie quiet to some possession-based football.

The Rovers got into the swing of things as they started attacking down the right-flank. Some fast runs from Pollock led to some dangerous looking passes into the Airdrie box, but these ultimately ended with Airdrie clearing – bar a passionate looking penalty appeal from Raith.

Raith continued to push down the right, with Fankaty Dabo and Pollock linking up well. A similar ball in from the right found Sam Stanton, who quickly spun and laid a ball off to the edge of the box. Raith Skipper Scott Brown was there to meet it emphatically as he curled his shot across goal and into the bottom left corner. “Broony” had fired his team into the lead with exactly 20 minutes on the clock.

Airdrie went straight for it from their kick off, but the eventual effort landed just wide of the mark. Raith struggled to hold onto the ball for the next ten minutes or so, but did well to recover when Airdrie pressed forward.

Dylan Easton came close towards the end of the second half after being put through on goal by Brown, but he couldn’t convert after the Airdrie defence closed him down. The half-time whistle blew just a few minutes after.

Airdrie again started the second half quick, but some Raith defending left Dabrowski with only a few tame efforts on goal to deal with.

After having a slow start to the second half, Raith opted to change things hastily with a triple change on the 65th minute. Smith, Gibson, and Mullin entered for Hamilton, Byrne, and Pollock.

Both sides seemed to struggle to make any proper attacking inroads as the match went on. Raith had some half chances through a tame header and a Very close call after Smith found himself in the way of Johnson’s pass from the back; a deflection that easily could have ended up in the visitor’s own net.

The final few minutes were a very nervy time for the Raith support, with and Airdrie goal looking likely if not for an impressive close-range save from Dabrowski.

Raith managed injury time well, and the final whistle blew to the joy and relief of the home crowd.

This very important win for the Rovers has propped them up one place in the league to 7th, but all focus will now be on their next match as Ayr come to Kirkcaldy in just three days’ time.

Live Updates

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Airdrie get us kicked off at Stark’s Park.

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Airdrie with the early possession, keeping the ball well.

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Airdrie break forward and cross into the box but it’s cleared out well.

10'

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Rovers now the more dominant of the sides, with good link up play across the pitch but nothing into the box yet.

12'

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Finlay Pollock breaks down the right wing and plays a great ball across but it’s the Airdrie man who reaches it first.

13'

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Corner Raith.

14'

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Finlay Pollock jumps highest at the back post but the ref seems it a foul. Free kick Airdrie.

15'

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Nice passing down the left by Rovers, but the ball back across the middle falls to no one.

16'

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Fankaty Dabo picks the ball up on the edge of the box, cuts inside and his left footed shot goes just over the bar.

18'

Finlay Pollock wins the ball well, Fankaty Dabo keeps it in and fires a through ball to Jack Hamilton. He finds Lewis Stevenson whose shot is blocked and picked up by Murray Johnson.

19'

Nice passing between Finlay Pollock and Fankaty Dabo down the right.

20'

⚽️

GOAL RAITH! Scott Brown collects the ball on the edge of the box and curls his shot perfectly into the bottom corner.

22'

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Airdrie instantly attack from their kick-off but no danger.

24'

Adam Frizzell’s cross fires straight across the Rovers box. The ball comes back in but is fired wide.

26'

Dylan Easton bursts forward into space but his final pass is intercepted.

28'

Finlay Pollock crosses but it’s cleared.

29'

Jack Hamilton beats his man but his touch is too heavy.

30'

Jack Hamilton chases the ball and hits the first time volley. Saved. Corner Raith.

33'

Corner Airdrie.

34'

Callum Fordyce tries to reach the header but his touch goes out for another Airdrie corner.

34'

Scott Brown does well to block. Throw in Airdrie in line with the penalty spot.

35'

Kevin Dabrowski punches out the dangerous ball into the box.

36'

Foul throw given against Airdrie.

39'

Paul Hanlon with a strong foot denies Airdrie a chance on goal.

41'

Free kick Airdrie just inside the Rovers half.

42'

Scott Brown runs through towards the box and picks out Dylan Easton. He can’t connect well and his shot curls over.

46'

Callum Fordyce with too light a pass back, Kevin Dabrowski does well to react and clear.

47'

The ball’s played into the Rovers box but Kevin Dabrowski catches without issue.

48'

Airdrie shoot from distance. Kevin Dabrowski again catches with ease.

48'

Jack Hamilton is flattened. Free kick Raith 35 yards out.

49'

Dylan Easton’s ball is too heavy. Goal kick Airdrie.

50'

Corner Airdrie.

51'

Shouts of handball from Airdrie fans, however no penalty given.

58'

Neither team creating any chances.

58'

Sam Stanton wins the ball and plays Dylan Easton through on the left. Lewis Stevenson overlaps but Easton’s pass is intercepted.

62'

Good play by Raith. Finlay Pollock beats his man on the right, crossed into Jack Hamilton but he just can’t connect well enough to trouble Murray Johnson.

66'

Triple sub. Callum Smith, Ross Matthews and Lewis Gibson replace Sam Stanton, Shaun Byrne and Jack Hamilton.

68'

Great chance leads to a Raith corner.

68'

Another big chance, Callum Smith leaps at the back post and heads back to Finlay Pollock whose header is just too weak.

70'

Fankaty Dabo does well to track back and clear the ball as Airdrie edged into the box.

72'

Callum Smith closes down Murray Johnson and gets a touch but can’t get it under control.

73'

Throw in Raith in line with penalty spot.