Raith Rovers 1 v 0 Hamilton Academical [Match Report]

Click here or read below for my match report of the Co-operative Insurance Cup Second Round fixture between Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical. The match report was published on the official Raith Rovers website.

Ferry Sinks Accies

Mark Ferry scored the only goal of the game as First Division Raith knocked Premier League Hamilton out of the CIS Cup.

At one goal to the good Rovers had a chance to double their lead as Derek Lyle pulled Mark Ferry’s shirt in the box, but Gregory Tade saw his penalty saved by the leaping Tomas Cerny. 

Despite Hamilton manager Billy Reid urging his team up the pitch for a final crusade, Raith held strong and progressed to the third round.

It was the Lanarkshire side that came flying out of the traps in the first period and they should have taken an early lead when a deflected freekick fell to the unmarked Joel Thomas who narrowly missed the target.

The game began to even out with Marco Paixao keeping David McGurn busy in the Rovers goal, while Tade’s cross-come-shot flashed over the roof of Accies net, much to the relief of the stranded Cerny, and Baird also sent a shot wide of the target

Moments later, the Hamilton keeper’ did well to tip Allan Walker’s powerful freekick wide of the post, before Thomas missed another fantastic opportunity for Accies. Willie Dyer lost his footing as a cross arrived into the Rovers box, but Thomas headed over the bar from just six yards, meaning the sides headed into the break goalless.

This time it was the home team that started the half brighter. A corner on the 52nd minute was flicked on by Laurie Ellis before a succession of shots were fired towards goal. Ferry came the closest to scoring when 

Cerny did well to push his close range effort wide of the post.

Reid sensed his side were struggling and quickly subbed Thomas and Gary McDonald for the fresh legs of Grant Gillespie and Jon Routledge. One minute after their arrival Dougie Imrie found a way through the Rovers defence and hit a shot inches over the crossbar.

However, ten minutes later the Kirkcaldy side were causing more problems. Stephen Simmons played a delightful cross ball to Tade and the Frenchman cut inside supplying a powerful cross into the six yard box, only to see the sliding Walker hit the ball over the bar.

Ferry Connects To Put Rovers Ahead

Rovers were now well on top and the 68th minute Cerny parried a shot from the clean through Tade, but Ferry was on hand to blast the rebound into the back of the empty net.

The Starks Park side appeared to tire, yet Accies fans watched in despair as Flavio Paixao failed to connect with a deep Imrie cross and James McAllister fired wide in the box when he should have been hitting the target.

The contest appeared to be over on the 84th minute when referee Eddie Smith pointed to the spot after Ferry’s shirt was pulled in the box by substitute Lyle. However, Cerny saved Tade’s strike.

With only one goal in it, Reid pushed his team forward in the dying minutes but the closest they came to scoring was a 25-yard freekick from Imrie, which stung the palms of McGurn.

Hamilton’s losing run continues, however Rovers find themselves on a five game winning streak and will be looking to continue their rich vein of form on Saturday as they face Greenock Morton at Starks Park.

Picture © Jim Foy.

Written by Will Lyon