Click here or read below for my match report of the Irn Bru Scottish First Division fixture between Falkirk and Raith Rovers. It was published on the official Raith Rovers website.
Stalemate At Falkirk
Raith Rovers rounded off a fantastic year with a well earned draw at the Westfield Stadium.
The majority of the match was an even contest with both sides unable to break each other down but as legs began to tire near the end, opportunities followed.It was the visitors that had the best two chances, both falling to Gregory Tade in the dying embers of the game. However, Falkirk goalkeeper Robert Olejnik was in fine form, denying the Frenchman one-on-one both times.
Despite a poor first half display from both sides, the signs were initially positive as Falkirk's Mark Stewart broke free at the back post only for former Falkirk stopper Mark Campbell to make a superb sliding tackle just in time.
After twenty minutes of play being stuck in midfield, Mark Twaddle made a neat run down the left hand side but was averted by Rovers captain Grant Murray. After the resultant corner, Raith broke up the pitch and Scott McBride hit an effort wide of the post.
Moments later, the ball was at the other end of the pitch as Kenny Deuchar nodded a dangerous header across goal, but thankfully for the 547 away fans, Campbell was on hand to head over his own bar for a corner.
The rest of the half produced few other chances and it was made harder to watch by referee Stevie O'Reilly as he persisted in talking to players for long spells after strong tackles. Indeed, three minutes from the break Raith gaffer John McGlynn was given a warning by O'Reilly for seemingly voicing some concerns over his performance.
Within five minutes of the second period Raith created the best chance of the match so far, as a cross-cum-shot from McBride was nearly diverted in at the back post by Tade.
John Baird and Allan Walker had attempts on goal for Raith which were followed by a tricky Kieran Duffie shot, however, David McGurn in the Raith goal did well to tip over.
Half chances appeared at both ends, with the majority created for Raith by Tade and Walker while Burton O'Brien and substitute Kallum Higginbotham fired over for Falkirk.
The Kirkcaldy side looked to have taken the lead on the 76th minute as Baird fired a well struck effort into the bottom corner but he was adjudged to be offside.
As the game drew to a close, Falkirk had numerous scrambles in the Rovers box, with the home support often crying for a penalty to be awarded.
In the last minute of regulation Raith should have taken the lead as Tade found himself clean through on goal after a long ball but his effort was well saved by Olejnik.
Much to the Falkirk keeper's horror, three minutes into stoppage time, Tade was one-one-one with him again. The Austrian made another fine block with his legs, but this time the ball fell to Baird on the edge of the box, who fired another shot at goal. With Olejnik beaten, Rovers fans thought Baird had scored, only for Scobbie to clear the ball off the line.
The final action of the match was a Raith corner swung in by Walker and the home fans watched on through their fingers as Laurie Ellis headed the ball across goal, inches from the head of the inrushing Baird, and wide of the post.
A draw was the fairest result, but both teams will still feel that they had enough chances to win the match.
With Dunfermline Athletic thumping Cowdenbeath by five goals, the New Year derby between the Pars and Raith becomes more important. A Raith win on Sunday would take them just one point behind their West Fife rivals, with a game in hand.
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