Sat 10th August / 15:00 / Championship 24/25 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Partick Thistle
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Report
Stark’s Park’s first taste of the 2024/25 championship season ended with success on Saturday, with Raith coming out on the right side of a 1-0 scoreline against Partick Thistle.
Rovers started the match slowly, whilst Partick piled on the pressure in the first 15 minutes. Raith’s defence was called into action as they successfully defended three Partick corners in quick succession.
As the game went on, Raith gradually started to come into the game as they began advancing into their opponents final third. After a few corners of their own, the match still looked like anyone’s game as it remained goalless.
The deciding factor of the afternoon came soon enough however, after some clinical play down the right side from Josh Mullin led to the winger bursting into the penalty area. Mullin collided with the Partick defence, but play went on as the ball found its way to Raith’s Lewis Gibson, who was also brought down as he attempted to control the ball. Penalty Rovers.
Dylan Easton took the responsibility of penalty taker, and cooly dispatched his attempt as he slotted the ball away into the bottom right-hand corner. Raith were a goal to the good just over 25 minutes into the game.
Both sides continued to test each other, with Partick coming close twice after a goal-mouth scramble harmlessly rolled out for a goal-kick. Dabrowski kept Raith ahead after Partick Skipper Brian Graham unleashed a half-volley from the edge of Raith’s box; an effort denied through an acrobatic save from Raith’s Keeper.
Half Time
Both sides produced some good chances early on into the second half, with Raith continually advancing well down the left flank. Partick came close with a free shot from the edge of Raith’s box, which ended up in the safe hands of the Raith Keeper.
The match started to heat up as the second half progressed, with protests being launched continuously at the afternoon’s referee. With bookings being dished out to both teams, the match reached its boiling point in the 76th minute, just ten minutes after Aidan Connoly was substituted onto the pitch.
Aiming to win a dead ball in the middle of the park, Connoly raced to beat his opposing counterpart to the ball. Partick’s Stephen Robinson unleashed a dangerous challenge on Connolly, which led to the midfielder being dismissed from the match via a straight red card. Partick now found themselves goal and a man down with around 25 minutes still to be played.
Thistle continued to threaten, but Raith came centimetres away from burying the game with a second after Josh Mullin curled an effort onto the bar. After some good game-management, the final whistle blew, earning Raith their first win of the season.
Full Time
With a free week next up for Raith, their next league match takes place on the west coast as they face a “quick off the mark” Ayr Side.
MOTM – Kevin Dabroski
Attendance – 4002
Written by Hamish Rankine
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