Report

Raith Rovers increased the gap over Dunfermline Athletic in the league to ten points on Friday after winning the season’s final Fife derby 2-0.

Goals that came either side of half-time from Finlay Pollock and Paul Hanlon sealed an important three points for The Rovers against their struggling local rivals.

Barry Robson made one change to his starting eleven, with Josh Mullin replacing an injured Scott Brown after the captain limped off in a goalless draw against Livingston nine days earlier.

Dunfermline opted to change halves from the kick-off, which left Raith to kick the match off.

Raith couldn’t have come closer to scoring in the opening seconds after winning a freekick straight from kick off. Gullan’s thirty-yard effort from wide rattled the cross bar, with The Pars going on to clear soon after.

The match slowed as Dunfermline looked to play out from the back. Raith’s defence remained un-troubled though, and The Rovers started to work their way up the pitch soon enough.

Raith found a breakthrough in the 22nd minute after Hanlon re-gained possession close to the halfway line. Easton collected, and The Rovers showman played an immaculate through-ball with the outside of his foot past the Dunfermline defence. Finlay Pollock had Benedictus for pace as he raced clean through on goal, and the youngster expertly rounded the on-rushing Pars’ keeper before slotting home under pressure.

Raith continued to control the game and repeatedly broke into Dunfermline’s penalty box. A few half chances came along, but The Pars’ defence intervened with some well-timed blocks and tackles.

The half-time whistle signalled the end of a comfortable forty-five minutes of football for The Rovers, and both teams emerged unchanged for the second half.

A series of Raith corners made up the opening minutes of the half, but it would be a different kind of set-piece that Raith would capitalise from a few minutes later.

Raith won a freekick in the 55th minute near the right touchline after Wotherspoon wiped Pollock out, and Gullan stepped up to swing the ball in. His cross flew to the back of the six-yard box, and Hanlon managed to get in front of his man to tap in from close range.

Dunfermline nearly replied instantly after working the ball into Raith’s box straight from the restart. An instinctual block from Euan Murray deflected a goal-bound effort from The Pars though, and Raith’s two-goal lead remained intact.

Dunfermline grew into the match as the minutes ticked on and Michael Tidser used his bench in the form of a triple substitution in the 60th minute. Raith soaked up the pressure though, which left Rae with little to do in The Rovers goal.

Robson made his first change as Lewis Vaughan replaced Dylan Easton in the 77th minute, and Raith saw the remainder of the match out well.

A vital derby win for the Rovers means Dunfermline’s eight-year hunt for a win at Starks Park continues. More importantly, Raith have kept their promotion play-off hopes alive whilst continuing to build a gap between themselves and the relegation playoff spot, where Dunfermline continue to reside.

Next up, Raith now begin a trilogy of away fixtures, with the first instalment taking place against Partick Thistle this Friday night.

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