Sat 9th March / 15:00 / Championship 23/24 / Stark's Park / home
Raith Rovers vs Dunfermline Athletic
Line Up
Report
Raith make it five in a row.
Raith Rovers made history as they extended their winning streak against local rivals Dunfermline Athletic to five after dispatching their opposition with a 2-0 scoreline.
Ian Murray made several changes for the season’s sixth Fife derby, with Stanton, Brown, and Easton making their way back into the starting 11.
Kick-Off
Both teams started the match slowly, with Dunfermline having a bit of the ball but failing to do much with it. An early booking occurred after Dunfermline’s Matthew Todd was adjudged to have committed a dive; the afternoon’s first yellow card of many.
After what can only be described as a scuffle broke out in the centre-circle, the booking count was upped to four, including Dunfermline manager James McPake.
Rovers started to threaten as the half-time interval approached and were duly rewarded for their efforts. After Vaughan fired a close-range freekick on target, Pars keeper Mehmet could only parry the effort towards the head of Sam Stanton, who confidently headed home to open the scoring in the 38th minute.
Half-Time
Raith were let-off early on in the second half after keeper Kevin Dabrowski produced an absolute wonder-save, denying a close-range volley that was destined for the top corner.
After a flurry of Dunfermline set-pieces and forward pressure, the score remained 1-0 to Rovers as Dabrowski went onto remain relatively untroubled. Both teams made changes as they tried to score the next crucial goal.
That crucial goal would end up going Rovers’ way, however. After a free-kick was smartly taken quickly out wide, the ball was worked in and across the Dunfermline box to an awaiting Dylan Easton, who fired his shot across goal and into the far-left side of the net, doubling Rovers’ lead in the 78th minute.
Raith only went on to create more chances in the final few minutes, with a few half chances leading to nothing and a lot of shielding the ball in the corner taking place, as they attempted to secure their first two-goal victory of the season.
A third seemed destined to go Rovers’ way after they were awarded a penalty in the final minute of the match. Substitute Callum Smith stepped up to take the spot-kick but it was met by the hands of Pars keeper Deniz Mehmet who went the right way. Moments later, the full-time whistle brought the afternoon’s proceedings to a victorious end.
Full Time
Having gained another three valuable points, as well as retaining the bragging rights in the Fife Derby, Raith remain in the chase for the Scottish Championship title as they keep up with Dundee United. With four points separating the teams, and Raith with a game in hand, it is still all to play for as they travel to Partick Thistle this Tuesday.
Attendance: 6,274
MoTM: Sam Stanton
Written by Hamish Rankine