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Raith Rovers made it two wins of out two for the week, after defeating 3rd placed Ayr United 2-0 on a drizzly and dreich Friday night at Starks Park.  

Neill Collins switched a few players around for his 10th game in charge of the Rovers, with a change of formation demanding three alterations to the starting 11. Liam Dick, Lewis Jamieson, and Callum Smith replaced Jack Hamilton, Shaun Byrne, and Finlay Pollock – with the latter trio having all started against Airdrie just four days earlier.  

With no-one safe in the stadium from the relentlessly misty weather, Raith got the match going after a pipers Lament honoured the Rovers closest home match to Remembrance Day.  

Neither side took much time to get started, with Raith winning a corner in the opening couple of minutes. Ayr did well to force a Dabrowski save just a few minutes later.  

The first goal of the night came not long after when a pin-point ball from Stevenson found the feet of Dylan Easton, who managed to get a quick effort on goal in the form of a half-volley. With the Raith support on their feet, Ayr’s keeper Liam Russell got a strong hand to deflect away, but only as far as a lurking Lewis Jamieson. The St Mirren loanee calmly passed the ball into the empty net – scoring his first league goal for Raith and giving his side the lead with 18 minutes played.  

 Ayr seemed far from disheartened though, and thought they had the equaliser 10 minutes later after the ball was headed into the Raith net from a corner routine. With a foul in the build-up however, the goal didn’t stand, and The Rovers remained in the lead.  

Raith doubled their advantage just a few minutes before half-time after some quick-fire one-touch football down the left wing gave Stevenson a chance to fire a ball across the Ayr box. The veteran left-back produced one of the passes of the season as he found Jamieson at the back post, who capped off a sublime “tiki-taka” team goal – comprising of five one-touch passes and a first-time finish. With just three minutes left of the second half, Raith were two goals to the good through a Jamieson brace.  

Callum Smith picked up an unfortunate injury seconds before the half-time whistle, which led to Jack Hamilton taking his place when the teams re-emerged for the second half. Ayr also made two changes as they attempted to get back into the game.  

Jamieson came close to completing what would have been a well-deserved hattrick twice in the second half, but two important interventions from Russell prevented such a feat. With 75 minutes on the clock, the striker had earned a rest as he was replaced by Pollock, with Byrne also replacing Stanton.  

Ayr created a few half chances in the second half and had some periods of extended possession. Raith kept their efforts up however, with Hamilton and Brown coming close to clinching a third for Raith. After four minutes of injury time, the final whistle blew. 

Six points, Three Goals. Two Clean sheets. Throw in an early goal of the season contender and its fair to say it’s been a positive few days for Raith and their fans. With the team now sitting in 7th place, they will be hoping to keep the good times rolling when they face Partick at Firhill this Saturday.  

Live Updates

0'
As this is the closest home game to Remembrance Day so there will be a Piper’s Lament before the game
0'
Raith kick off tonight’s game - shooting towards the away fans this half
2'
Early corner to Raith ball fed to front pat and headed away
3'
Reading tries to put the pressure on Dabrowski but it his effort is over the bar
4'
Long ball from Ayr but Bavidge is offside
6'
Low shot from Jamieson from left side of Ayr box but it doesn’t trouble Russell
8'
Bavidge with a shot, Dabrowski palm saves, Dabo is there to chest the ball down to allow Dabrowski to pick up- good play from Dabo
10'
Smith wins Eairh a corner as he takes the ball to the byline
11'
Raith freekick into the Ayr box, Russell punches clear
12'
Ayr corner - ball played short. Play ends with another Ayr corner
15'
Liam Dick caught late as he clears the ball down bottom left corner at Railway stand
17'
Cross into the box from Easton but it carries on through
18'
⚽️
GOAL …. JAMIESON slots home as Russell makes a bit of a mess of a clearance
22'
🟨
Booking for Easton as he is deemed to have dived into the Ayr box
24'
Smith with a low drive into the Ayr box but no Raith player to slot home
26'
Ref blows for for a foul after Brown tugs the shirt of an Ayr player
33'
Ayr corner - ball played deep it’s headed into the mix and McMann is judged to have fouled with a push just as the ball falls into the Raith net - no goal
37'
Ayr freekick after Hanlon fouls approx 25 yards out
42'
GOAL - a lovely assist from Stevenson as he puts the ball into the box and JAMIESON pokes home
45'
+1 free kick Ayr approx 25 yards out after Brown is judged to have fouled? McLennan of Ayr is booked for pushing Brown
45'
+2 ref blows for half time Raith 2 (Jamieson 18’, 42’) Ayr 0
45'
↔️
Raith make. Substitution off goes an injured Smith and on comes Hamilton
45'
Ayr make two substitutions off go Oakley and Syla and on come Henderson and Rus
51'
Stevenson with a lovely back heal to Brown but the latter can’t quite get to the ball
54'
Great effort from Jamieson forcing Russel to clear but the ball falls to the other side of Hamilton who can’t latch on
60'
Dabo with what could have been a perfect pass to Hamilton but he released the ball too early
62'
↔️
Ayr sub off Bavidge and bring on Murphy
63'
🟨
A questionable booking for Stevenson
64'
A sweet pass from Stevenson to Jamieson, he has only the keeper to beat but his first touch is poor
66'
Corner Ayr - ball played deep and cleared. Ayr launch the ball back into the Raith box and play ends with Dabrowski comfortably collecting the ball
67'
Dabrowski again gets down to his right to smother an incoming ball
73'
↔️
Ayr make a double substitution- off go Reading and McKenzie and on come Musonda and Walker
74'
🟨
Brown booked
75'
↔️
Raith double substitution- off go Stanton and goal scorer Jamieson and on come Byrne and Pollock
78'
Another fantastic pass from Stevenson for Liam Dick to latch on but he loses possession
79'
Raith corner ball played to the centre of the box and ball headed over the bar
88'
Stoppage to treat Walker - match attendance is 3427 with 255 away support
90'
4 additional minutes
91'
Two man of the match awards this evening first is to Lewis Stevenson and the second is to Lewis Jamieson
94'
Ref blows for full time Raith 2 (Jamieson 18’, 42’) Ayr 0 - good hardworking play from Raith tonight sees them move up to 6th place

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