Report

Raith Rovers picked up three crucial points on Friday night after putting a trio of goals past Ayr United in Kirkcaldy.

An early opener set the Rovers up for a successful evening, which was thoroughly consolidated in the second half, alongside a well-earned 15th clean sheet of the league season.

Dougie Imrie made one change to the side that lost 0-2 just three days earlier against title-chasers Partick Thistle, with Jai Rowe replacing Jordan Doherty – a casualty of the Partick game. Lewis Vaughan and Scott Brown returned to the bench, after a couple weeks on the sidelines due to injury.

Raith were quick off the blocks on the night, with a lively start paying off in just the 6th minute. Innes Cameron got onto the end of Lewis Stevenson’s forward pass, before deftly lobbing the ball over Max Thompson and into the net for a spectacular opener for the Rovers.

A series of fouls broke up the play in the wake of Raith’s early lead, but Josh Rae was left with little to do in the Rovers goal as the half progressed.

Both sides were forced into changes in the first half due to injuries, with Shaun Want replacing Nick McAllister in the 28th minute. Raith’s turn was next as Paul Hanlon went down with the ball out of play in the 39th, and was swiftly swapped for Darragh O’Connor.

The remainder of the half lacked any substantial chances, although Raith were involved in yet another involuntary substitution before the second half got underway. Andy Winter found himself on the receiving end of a rough challenge just moments from the break, which led to the Livingston loanee being forced into making way for Josh Mullin during the interval.

Ayr emerged the more energetic side from the break, but a few early probes were well defended from Rovers’ back line. A couple of corners came along for the visitors, but were ultimately cleared.

The Rovers rebounded and managed to work the ball out to substitute Mullin on the right wing, who drove towards the byline before firing a cross into the six-yard box. Cameron was all but obliged to meet, thundering a header goalwards from close range for both his and Rovers’ second of the night, right on the hour mark of the match.

Kai Montagu seemed to pick up a slight knock before the goal, and was changed for Richard Chin before play got back underway.

Ayr had a bit of a burst of energy as they tried to get back into the match, but another corner came and went without any threat to the Raith goal.

Raith went up the other end following Ayr’s set-piece, which saw Mullin put Chin through on goal. The latter was heavily hassled by the Ayr defence, and whilst his initial shot cannoned off Thompson, the substitute did well to regain his footing before slotting home into an empty net for Raith’s third of the night in the 67th minute.

A third and final forced change for the Rovers saw Brown replace Ross Matthews, whilst Vaughan came on for Dylan Easton at the same time.

The duo of substitutes looked sharp after their introduction, with Brown getting a fair portion of the South Stand on their feet after letting fly from outside the box in the 89th. His effort narrowly whistled past the post, but Raith would again come close in the short amount of time that followed.

Mullin was up next to have a try on goal after a ball to the back post landed at his feet, but his short-range attempt was deflected out for a corner. Such a set-piece was never taken though, with proceedings brought to a close immediately after.

A crucial three points means Raith have taken six points from nine at Stark’s Park in less than a week, and puts the Rovers eight points ahead of 8th with five games to go.

Next up for Raith – a Challenge Cup final against Inverness Caley Thistle awaits, with a trip to Firhill pencilled in for next Sunday.

Photos