Raith Rovers 2 v 0 Dunfermline Athletic [Match Report]

Click here or read below for my match report of the Irn-Bru First Division fixture between Raith Rovers & Dunfermline Athletic. It was published on the official Raith Rovers website.

Derby Day Delight For Rovers

Two second half goals in five minutes sent Raith Rovers three points clear at the top of the Scottish First Division this afternoon.

Substitute Iain Davidson broke the deadlock on the 73rd minute and just five minutes later Laurie Ellis doubled Rovers’ advantage to send the home side on their way to three points.

Dunfermline had a host of great opportunities in the first half but failed to take advantage and were punished by a determined Raith side, despite striker John Baird missing a penalty on the 49th minute.

It was the Starks Park side who dominated the first fifteen minutes of the match, but apart from an Iain Williamson header Rovers had nothing to show for their hard work.

Dunfermline started to see more of the ball and on the 23rd minute Nick Phinn had a great chance to put the away side ahead as he ran the length of the Rovers half, waltzing past the defence, but his effort wasn’t clinical and David McGurn made a comfortable save.

Minutes later, midfielder Stephen Simmons passed straight to Dunfermline’s Willie Gibson and McGurn was relieved to see the winger’s shot flash past his post.

Ellis had a shot saved by Chris Smith before Gibson was causing more problems with a dangerous corner on the 33rd minute. Rovers fans had Willie Dyer to thank as the full back kicked Andy Kirk’s goal-bound header off the line.

The Pars continued to press forward before the break, but Joe Cardle and Chris Higgins couldn’t make their shots count.

Raith started the second half with real desire and they were rewarded with a penalty on the 48th minute. Mark Ferry clipped a lovely ball through to John Baird who was brought down by the outrushing Smith. Baird, the First Division’s top goal scorer had his head in his hands moments later as Smith made amends for his mistake with a great save from the striker’s penalty kick.

Despite the disappointment of missing a golden opportunity, it didn’t seem to affect Rovers as they began to match their rivals in all areas of the pitch, but they again came close to losing a goal on the 70th minute when Phinn’s swerving effort clipped the crossbar.

Rovers punished Dunfermline for wasting their chances when just minutes later Davidson broke the deadlock. Allan Walker’s cross was bundled in by the club captain minute with one of his first touches of the ball.

Raith now had the momentum and just five minutes later they sealed the game with Walker the provider again. The midfielder’s corner was met by the onrushing Ellis and the ball rebounded off Smith and into the back of the net.

Dunfermline now looked demoralised and they should have been three goals down seven minutes before time. Substitute Jamie Mole did some great work down the right wing, slotting a great ball through two Dunfermline defenders, but with all the time and space in the world Gregory Tade scuffled the ball wide of the post.

In the end Tade’s miss didn’t matter and Rovers saw the match out to gain the three points. The win marked Rovers first league win over Dunfermline at Starks Park since the New Year derby in 2000.