Raith Rovers FC vs Partick Thistle FC | Raith Rovers Football Club

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Raith Rovers 0 – 2 Partick Thistle

Raith Rovers couldn’t make their game in hand count on Tuesday, after losing 0-2 at home to title-chasers, Partick Thistle.

A well-worked goal in the first half gave the visitors a solid foundation, and some good defending in the second allowed the Jags to grab a late goal with almost the last kick of the ball.

Dougie Imrie made one change to the team that started in a 3-1 win over Airdrie just three days earlier, with Kai Montagu replacing an injured Lewis Vaughan. A number of players remained absent for the Rovers, including captain Scott Brown, Shaun Byrne, Jack Hamilton, and Paul McMullan.

Things got going after an issue with the home-end goals was rectified, with Raith having the stronger start of the two sides. Dylan Easton came close in the 7^th minute with a diving header at the far post, but Lewis Budinauckas did well in the Partick goal to scramble across and hold his attempt.

Raith kept their efforts up but couldn’t find any more breakthroughs and were dealt a blow after Jordan Doherty was forced off due to injury in the 34^th minute. Jai Rowe came on in his place.

Partick hadn’t really tested Rae as the 40^th minute approached, but a slick move down the left wing allowed Aidan Fitzpatrick to find Ben MacPherson unmarked towards the back post. The latter wasted no time in getting a shot away, hitting the back of the net from close range for Partick’s first of the evening.

Raith came out in the second half strongly and nearly levelled things in the 49^th minute through Dylan Easton. The Rovers’ man cut inside from the left before getting a shot away, but his effort cannoned off the crossbar from close range, before eventually being cleared.

Partick rallied and started to create some chances of their own – calling Rae into action after Fitzpatrick’s effort looked destined for the net. The Rovers’ keeper did well to parry away.

Richard Chin replaced Andy Winter in the 60^th minute for Raith, but both sides continued to cancel each other out.

An element of caginess took over the match, with a series of fouls, bookings, and substitutions breaking up play as the 70^th minute came and went.

Raith had a couple of good chances late on, with Easton’s bouncing volley from close range being easily held, before Chin miss-hit a shot from eight yards in the first minute of injury time.

Partick went on to make the most of Raith’s attacking efforts and found some space on the right in the last moments of the match. Aidan Fitzpatrick took advantage, curling an effort into the bottom left corner in the 93^rd minute.

The match was ended moments after the restart, awarding Thistle their first league win in Kirkcaldy in over 15 years.

The game-in-hand aspect for Raith will soften the blow, but the lack of an additional three points means the Rovers remain 7^th and sit five points clear of 9^th with six games to go.

Next up – Raith return to Starks for a third consecutive home match in six days as they take on 5^th placed Ayr United this Friday night.

Written by Hamish Rankine.