Report

Raith Rovers fell to a late Morton equaliser on Saturday, with both teams scoring a goal apiece before the final whistle blew in Kirkcaldy.  

Jack Hamilton’s first-half header gave The Rovers a good foundation to build on, but Morton’s 90th minute leveller from a corner left a bitter atmosphere in the home end once all was said and done.  

Barry Robson stuck with the four-man back line that had worked in his team’s 2-0 result against Partick Thistle a week earlier. There was one change in the midfield, with Paul Nsio getting his full debut after Shaun Byrne picked up a knock in training mid-week. Callum Fordyce also dropped from the team sheet, with a serious shoulder injury unfortunately ruling the defender out for the foreseeable future.  

Morton got the match underway and took little time in establishing their attacking intentions. The visitors failed to capitalise from a handful of early corners, but a Morton-heavy start had Raith fans looking for more. 

The match balanced out soon enough, but an element of passiveness remained as halftime approached. There was a minor flashpoint on the stroke of the half-hour mark after Dylan Easton went down under a challenge, but referee Colin Steven deemed the attempt simulation – booking Easton for his efforts.  

Just as another goalless first-half was looking likely, Jordan Doherty battled his way down the right flank in the 39th minute before swinging a ball into the penalty area. Jack Hamilton was outnumbered two-to-one by Morton defenders, but that didn’t stop the striker from guiding a header into the far side of the goal from six yards out, putting Raith a goal to the good going into the break.  

Robson made a change at halftime with Ewan Wilson replacing Lewis Stevenson at left back, before Paul Nsio nearly doubled the Rovers’ lead just three minutes into the second half. The debutant’s strike from over 20 yards looked goal-bound, but James Storer in the Morton goal pulled off a top-drawer save to keep the game to a one-goal margin.  

Raith continued their positive start to the second half, but Storer wouldn’t be tested to the same degree, with some ultimately tame efforts on goal being the result of The Rovers’ efforts.  

The south stand unanimously protested in the 80th minute after Easton was hauled down to the ground by Aaron Comrie, but Colin Steven waved play on – with Comrie going on to collect the loose ball. Easton almost crafted a second goal for The Rovers just moments later after he skilfully beat the Morton defence down the left wing, but his cutback across the face of Morton’s goal was missed by Jack Hamilton.  

Morton had the ball ping-balling around Raith’s penalty area on two occasions as the 90th minute approached, but some last-ditch defending from Raith quelled the visitors’ efforts. 

A clearance on the final minute of the 90 gave Morton a corner, which made the home support watch on with a sense of dread. That dread instantly turned to disappointment a few seconds later after Kris Moore neatly flicked the ball into the net with his heel at the back post.  

Raith couldn’t muster a reply in the four minutes of additional time that followed, which left the sound of the final whistle to consign both teams to a draw.  

The result drops Raith to 6th in the table, albeit tied with both Dunfermline and Ayr on points, whilst Morton climbs to 7th. The Rovers have a chance to get some more points on the board this Saturday, with an away trip to Queen’s Park on the cards.  

Sponsor’s MOTM – Jack Hamilton 

Written by Hamish Rankine 

Photos