Line Up

Preview

After a late comeback in Maryhill against Partick Thistle secured a point for Raith Rovers on the opening day of the Championship last weekend, they return to Stark's Park to welcome Morton as their first guests of the new campaign.Goals in the final seven minutes from Dylan Easton and Kieran Mitchell snatched a draw last time out, after Rovers had went behind in the opening minutes against Thistle, and Ian Murray's men will be hoping to take that momentum into this weekend's fixture versus Morton.The Greenock side, under the guidance of Dougie Imrie, enjoyed an impressive campaign last season, missing out on the playoffs on the final day, and they started this one in fine fettle too, kicking things off with a reasonably straightforward 3-1 win over Ayr United.Saturday's visitors held the upper hand in the fixtures last term, losing just one of the four league meetings, although Rovers did prevail on penalties in the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup.That solitary league win for Rovers came almost exactly 12 months ago, when goals from Liam Dick and Aidan Connolly put Rovers two to the good, but a late Cameron Blues goal ensured a nervy final 10 minutes.After this match, Rovers will have a brief hiatus from league duty, with Hibernian next up at Easter Road in the last 16 of the Viaplay Cup.Saturday's match referee will be David Munro.

Head-To-Head Record

Raith Rovers Wins: 57

Greenock Morton wins: 67

Draws: 37

Reports

Jack Hamilton opens the scoring

Raith began the game looking to impress their home fans at Starks Park, wanting to earn their first victory in the league this season. Raith got off to a great start, within 2 minutes, with Josh Mullin’s corner finding the diving head of Euan Murray, but the ball was somehow blocked on the line.Raith were able to take an early lead in only the 4th minute, when Dylan Easton played a fantastic through pass to find Lewis Vaughan, he then squared the ball and Jack Hamilton was there to score a goal that all good strikers love, a tap in from 3 yards. GOAL RAITH 1-0!Raith soon doubled the lead in the 14th minute, when Dylan Easton was brought down in the box by Muirhead, giving Raith a penalty, Lewis Vaughan took the penalty and smashed the ball into the goalkeepers bottom right corner. GOAL RAITH 2-0!Morton scored only 3 minutes later with the man who gave away the penalty scoring a fantastic towering header into the roof of the net. GOAL MORTON 2-1! No more big chances came for the rest of the half. Half Time.Raith made the first big chance of the second half when Ross Millen found Lewis Vaughan with a long ball, Vaughan decided to try a first time chip over the former Raith goalkeeper, MacDonald, however Vaughans audacious effort went just wide.It took until the 71st minute for the next big chance, it came from Morton, they had a corner that was delivered into the box with great precision, the first contact was made by a Morton player and the ball was headed down into the path of Crawford, he made no mistake and got his shot away quickly, to equalise for the visitors. GOAL MORTON 2-2!Raith quickly re-took the lead only 5 minutes later with an absolute wonder goal, a mistake was made by Broadfoot on the half way line when he took too long to clear the ball, the ball was robbed off of him by the hard working Callum Smith, he then ran into the box looking for support, but the closest Raith player was Stanton, however he was fouled off the ball so Smith had to do it on his own, he faked a shot with his right foot to beat the on rushing defender, he cut onto his left foot and placed the ball perfectly into the far bottom corner of the goal. GOAL RAITH 3-2!Impactful substitute Ethan Ross won a 2nd penalty of the afternoon in the 90th minute, his skill and pace being too much for Broadfoot to deal with. Mullin stepped up to take the penalty, but MacDonald made a great save to keep it only 3-2. Full Time.MOTM Callum Smith

Photos

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after today's win in the cinch Championship:Goalscorer Callum spoke to RaithTV after today's 3-2 win at Stark's Park:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to today's opening home Cinch Championship league game… Raith Rovers v Greenock Morton
0'
Morton get the game underway
1'
Early corner for Raith, ball played weakly to the front post and Morton clear. Another corner to Raith
2'
It was close for Raith… from a third corner the ball is played into the mix, there is a scramble but MacDonald gets down to gather for Morton
3'
⚽️
GGOOOOAAALLLL
5'
Watson heads back to Dabrowski after Morton move forward
8'
Power with a long ball but Liam Dick is covering well to get the ball back to Dabrowski
9'
Good play from Hamilton as he tries to take on the last man but he can't quite get the ball under control
12'
PENALTY RAITH
13'
Vaughan to take against MacDonald
13'
And he SCORES
15'
Morton corner and Watson heads clear
16'
Muirhead scores for Morton
17'
Freekick Raith after obstruction on Mullin
20'
Watson boots clear as Morton try to press
21'
Freekick Morton after Hamilton fouls in line with the home dugout
23'
Mullin with a good ball played into the Morton danger area but unfortunately it goes out
24'
Booking for Waters after fouls Mullin. Raith freekick in line with the home dugout
25'
Good switch of play ball from Easton to Mullin but Morton are there first
26'
Hamilton booked for kicking the ball away after he is judged to be offside
30'
It's been a quick 30min but Raith 2 Morton 1 … tempo has been good between both teams, my opinion is, Raith are on top
32'
Good ball from Liam Dick as he sees Smith at the back post. He heads towards goal but MacDonald saves
34'
Corner Raith
35'
Corner from Mullin falls to a Morton player who clears
35'
Murray down in the Raith box which looked like a sore head received from Quitongo… Murray back on his feet
37'
From a Raith freekick Mullin's ball falls into the Morton box, MacDonald punches clear
40'
From a Morton corner Watson heads clear. Morton have a second bite but Hamiton blocks
43'
Ball falls to Mullin just in Morton box but he swings at fresh air
44'
That is a bad tackle on Liam Dick from Quitongo
45'
Quitongo revives a booking
45'
+1 Liam Dick is back in his feet
45'
+ 2 Liam Dick slides in to clear the ball as Morton press
45'
+3 Quitongo asks to be subbed as he goes down off he goes and on comes Oakley
45'
+5 ref blows for half time just as Watson has a powerful clearance
45'
Raith get the second half underway. There is a goal correction for the first half the scorer for Raith's first goal was actually Hamilton
45'
Watson has received a yellow card
45'
It also looks like Blues for Morton also got a yellow
47'
McGrattan tries to have a pop but it doesn't trouble Dabrowski who gets down to collect
48'
Freekick Raith after Stanton is fouled in the centre circle
52'
Raith make a substitution off goes Easton and making his home debut on comes Byrne
54'
Vaughan tries to go for a tight angled shot but the ball hits the side netting
55'
Boyd and Millen both receive yellows… freekick Raith deep in their half
58'
Freekick Raith after Vaughan is fouled in front of the main stand
58'
Mullin takes it and Morton clear ball falls back to Vaughan but he can't process the ball
59'
Vaughan receives a yellow
61'
Hamilton passes to Vaughan but his return pass is too far forward
65'
Morton have been on top for the last 5/10 min
67'
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Raith make a double substitution off goes goal scorers Hamilton and Vaughan and on come Ross and making his return Brown
70'
Corner Morton … ball is played into the Raith box there is a scramble and Morton score
73'
Freekick Raith after a foul on Smith.. approx 25 yards out
75'
⚽️
GOOOAAALLLL he picks the ball and goes for a belter of a run. He has one job to do and SMITH executes it well
76'
Raith move forward again.. Ross has the ball he passes to Stanton he can't slot home
82'
Great movement of play from Raith as they progress up the field … play ends when Millen sees Mullin but Morton intercept
83'
Morton freekick and Muirhead takes it.. it's high and over the wall but wide of the goal
85'
Stanton powers forward but his pass into the box is intercepted
86'
Morton sub off Boyd and bring on King
87'
From a Morton corner Brown heads clear
87'
Smith could go for a run but he passes. To Mullin unfortunately the pass isn't accurate enough and it allows Morton to get back in numbers
88'
Penalty Raith as Ross goes down in the box
89'
Mullin takes it and MacDonald saves it by getting down with an outstretched leg
91'
Ross thinks he can go for a run but ref calls for a foul by Liam Dick