Raith Rovers FC vs Greenock Morton FC | Raith Rovers Football Club

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Raith failed to make a two-goal comeback count against Morton on Saturday, with a late goal from the visitors sending all three points back to the west of Scotland through a 2-3 scoreline.

Neill Collins named Finlay Pollock on his starting line-up in place of Callum Fordyce – a change which was made at half-time against Partick the week prior, and one that resulted in an attacking change in shape for the Rovers.

The visitors got the game underway on the cold but clear afternoon and quickly took advantage of a slow start from the Rovers…

A smart through ball into the Raith box got the better of the Rover’s defence, with the ball deflecting its way to the feet of Morton’s Filip Stuparevic. The Serbian striker blasted a shot on goal from a tight but close angle which resulted in Dabrowski not getting enough of a touch to stop the effort hitting the net in the sixth minute of the match.

Raith almost had an early reply a couple of minutes later, but Jamieson’s effort from close range was eventually put out for a corner – courtesy of a brave block from the Morton defence.

Raith’s corner led to nothing, but around ten minutes later it was Morton’s turn to fire a corner of their own into the box. Alex King did exactly that, which allowed Stuprarevic to glance a header into the net from just three yards out. The Motherwell loanee had grabbed his second of the afternoon and put his team two goals up with around 25 minutes played.

Raith thought they had got a goal back before half-time, but Hamilton’s header on goal was adjudged to have not crossed the line after Morton cleared – much to the protest of the entire Raith team.

Hamilton suffered a nasty head knock right on the stroke of half-time, and for the second time in as many home matches, Raith were forced into a change at half-time through injury. Lewis Gibson replaced Hamilton, who after a period of treatment, managed to walk off the pitch.

A good bit of play down the wing from Gibson won Raith a free-kick 15 minutes later with Dylan Easton stepping up. The Rover’s man whipped in a dangerous ball in from out wide, which found it’s way into the net via an own goal from Morton’s Zak Delaney.

Lewis Gibson continued to cause trouble for the Morton defence and went onto win a penalty after being bundled over in the Morton box. After some lengthy delays involving the Morton goalkeeper, Easton fired the ball into the right side of the goal, levelling the match with just 10 minutes to go.

Raith threw everything they had at the Morton goal as they tried to net a winner, but it was Morton who would celebrate a late goal. A ball across the Rover’s box missed the feet of several Raith defenders, which left Morton’s Michael Garrity to tap into an empty net from no less than a couple of yards out.

Raith couldn’t find a leveller in the injury time that followed, meaning Morton left Starks Park with all three points. Raith now only remain a point above Morton in the league, although a multitude of goals scored elsewhere in the league now puts Raith up to 6th albeit on goal-difference. The Rovers will be hoping to make that gap a points-based difference next Saturday, when they travel to play 7th placed Hamilton.

Live Updates

Welcome to today’s league match where 7th place Raith meet 8th place Morton - 4 points separate the two teams. It’s chilly, bit of a breeze but bright.

Morton get the game underway- Raith shooting towards the away fans this half

Delaney tries to feed the ball to Moffat, it’s overweighted and Dabrowski comes out to shield the ball for a goal kick

Freekick Morton ball drops into the Raith box and Dick heads clear

Goal Morton Stuparevic in deep in the 18yard box with a low shot, ball goes under Dabrowski and into the net

Lovely ball from Dabo to Pollock who feeds the ball across goal mouth

11'

Jamieson about 7 yards out squanders an opportunity

14'

Morton freekick drops to edge of box, miscommunication to Hamilton as he leaves the ball to leave field of play, corner Morton. Ball played deep and Dabrowski catches

15'

Freekick Raith about 20 yards out, Dabo and Easton are lining up for it. Dabo looks like he’s taking it but Easton’s curling effort goes just wide

19'

Corner Raith at Balwearie side, ball not lifted high enough and Morton clear

21'

Freekick Raith deep in their half after a foul on Dabo, Dabrowski takes it

23'

Morton score from a corner - Stuparevic again

26'

Dani’s pass to Easton doesn’t work out as Easton miss times the collection

31'

Pollock to Dabo but the latter miss times the spead of the ball as it goes to the byline and out for a goal kick

32'

Cracking strike from Hamilton forcing Mullen to out stretch the ball away

33'

Raith corner - ball played deep, eventually falls to Hanlon who wins another corner

34'

Raith think they’ve scored from. Hamilton effort but the ref hasn’t given it. It looks as though the ball didn’t cross the line

37'

Hamilton effort goes just wide

37'

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Booking for Wilson (I think, difficult to read the numbers on the back of their shirts)

42'

Pollock crosses across the goal mouth, Morton clear. Ball falls as far as Byrne who takes a pop, Mullen saves

45'

Head knock to Hamilton, Morton player and Easton indicate to the bench ref fails to see but linesman should have indicated to stop play earlier. Ref eventually stops play, then blows for half time. Hamilton still receiving treatment

45'

Raith 0 Morton 2 (Stuparveic 5’, 25’)

45'

Raith get the second half underway, shooting towards their own fans. Half time substitution for Raith off goes Hamilton and on comes Gibson

47'

Mullen handles the ball outside the box, linesman sees it and indicates nothing to the ref

49'

Jamieson with a lovely flick to an open area in the box, Easton runs on to it, fouled in the box ref says no penalty

51'

Dick feeds the ball outside to Stevenson he lays it off for Gibson who crosses into the Morton box - they clear

52'

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Morton sub off Stuparevic and bring on Davies

55'

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Booking for Mullen for taking too long

56'

Freekick Raith after Gibson fouled by Gillespie

56'

From Easton’s freekick GOAL … ball played deep and it’s in the back of the net from an own goal

56'

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Before the freekick played Raith made a substitution off went Pollock and brought on David

59'

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Morton sub off King and bring on Shaw

61'

Good effort from David as he tries for the second, ball goes over the byline off a Morton player should be a corner for Raith but ref says goal kick???

62'

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Booking for Brown

64'

Tasty play from David as he and Easton work well, final effort is blocked

65'

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Morton sub off Moffat and bring on Garrity

67'

Gibson launches ball to back post and Morton clear

68'

Brown has the ball approx 25 yards out shhhoooot, he does and ball goes over the bar