Thu 23rd May / 20:00 / Premiership 23/24 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Ross County
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Raith Rovers 1 – 2 Ross County
Raith commenced the first half of their two-legged tie against Premiership side Ross County on Thursday evening, where they fell victim to two set pieces in a 2-1 defeat.
Ian Murray made only one change to his starting 11, compared to the one which successfully faced off against Partick Thistle six days prior. Ross County Loanee Kyle Turner was a forced omission from the squad due to a rule stating he could not play against his parent team. Jack Hamilton took his place in a change which saw several players take up different positions on the night.
Kick Off
County wasted no time in showing off their fast style of football, as they advanced into the Raith half with some quick and sharp passing. Raith grew into the game, however, and limited their opposition to mostly long-range but wayward shots on goal.
Even with numerous free-kicks and corners awarded to both sides during the first half, neither team could open the scoring and the half-time whistle signalled the end of a goalless half.
Half-time
It was Raith’s turn to show signs of a quick start. After some neat football, Rovers’ #7 Aidan Connoly took his chance to cut inside and curl a shot towards goal. The south stand collectively rose to their feet, before watching the ball fly just narrowly wide of the post.
That quick start would soon be quelled, however, with County now on the attack just seconds after Raith’s previous attempt. After a scrappy period of play, the away side managed to get a shot away, which seemingly deflected out for a corner.
Starks Park would subsequently get its first taste of VAR, with some heavy appeals leading to a check for a potential handball. One agonising wait later, the referee returned from the screen to award the visitors a penalty.
Ross County’s Yan Dhanda stepped up and absolutely blasted the ball into the net, but only after a heavy deflection in off the goalpost. County had their first just 7 minutes into the second half.
Raith continued to press forward, and managed to get some more shots towards goal. Little success was found however, with some very attacking substitutions going onto enter the fray.
County grabbed their second of the evening through a corner, after a good ball into the box met the head of their #5, Jack Baldwin, who made no mistake as he powered the ball into the net from the edge of the six-yard box. Raith now had a mountain to climb with just under half an hour to go.
Raith didn’t let up though, and entered their best spell of the game as they controlled the ball and looked for an opening. Shaun Byrne found such an opening, as he produced an Iniesta-like pass through the County lines towards a charging Ross Matthews. One first-time cross later from the right side of the box led to Sam Stanton throwing himself towards the ball, who hammered the ball home and cut the deficit in half with around 8 minutes to go.
Raith almost grabbed a second, after a long ball found the feet of substitute winger, Josh Mullin, who could onto drag the ball wide after doing well to bring the ball down on the edge of the box.
After some more half chances ensued in the 7 minutes of injury time, the first leg of this premiership play-off tie finished with Raith a goal down, who will now head to Dingwall in just 4 days’ time.
Full Time
Attendance – 6,216
Written by Hamish Rankine.
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