Archives | Dunfermline 3 Raith Rovers 1

Michael Tidser`s first taste of a Fife derby was a successful one and bred optimism as the Pars lifted themselves out of the play-off spot at Hamilton`s expense.

Both sides had new management in place for this the third Fife derby of the 2024-2025 season. This time it was Michael Tidser`s team v Barry Robson`s and there were new faces in both squads as well. Three players have so far been signed in the Tidser era `“ strikers Connor Young, Ephraim Yeboah and winger Archie Stevens. The Pars starting eleven showed three changes Rangers youngster, Stevens starting with David Wotherspoon and Kieran Ngwenya lining up in place of Joe Chalmers, Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Matty Todd. Connor Young and Yeboah were on the bench.

Barry Robson went with the same side that comfortably saw off Hamilton on Tuesday night to go into sixth place. After a one minute applause in tribute to the late Jimmy Calderwood, Wotherspoon kicked the game off attacking the goal in front of a noisy Rovers support. It was Rovers keeper Kevin Dabrowski who was first into action holding a fourth minute Chris Kane header.

In the opening ten minutes Dunfermline looked stronger and more eager. Stevens was immediately very involved, his pristine no.14 shirt not clean for very long. First Raith effort in 15 minutes from Jamie Gullan trickled wide left. Lewis McCann worked the ball in from the left but his cross found no one challenging at the back post. Five minutes later there was a let off after Tobi Oluwayemi passed the ball to Finlay Pollock on the right side and fortunately the shocked Rovers forward more or less passed the ball back to the Pars keeper.

McCann pressed in the Raith box and Wotherspoon forced a 29th minute corner. That was defended but quickly Wotherspoon teed up McCann for a shot from 25 yards out that the Polish keeper held. Gullan tried a shot from a similar distance that Oluwayemi held dropping to his right but really it was the home side doing most of the attacking. Ngwenya powered a shot in 33rd minute shot that unluckily hit the stantion to the left of goal.

There was loud appeals in 39 minutes when Ross Matthews hauled down Wotherspoon as he ran on to a Hamilton through ball. No free kick and play went back to the other end where Rovers Dick and Easton played around the box without creating any danger. It was Josh Mullin who tried the shot but was way off target. Next time in the box Easton went down in a challenge with Tommy Fogarty and referee Grant Irvine pointed to the penalty spot. Easton took charge of the 43rd minute penalty and sunk the ball into the bottom right. 0-1

It was harsh for Dunfermline to have to go in behind at the interval. They had competed well in the first half.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 1

Oluwayemi held a Matthews shot in the first minute of the second half and the away side threatened through Mullin but Fogarty cut out his cut back. Stevens won a 49th minute corner on the right and from that Dunfermline were awarded a penalty. Ngwenya`s cross was met by Fogarty and the far post and Dabrowski blocked his header only for Hamilton to follow up. His netbound shot kept out by Paul Hanlon`s hand and another penalty was given. Chris KANE stepped up and sent the ball to the right side, Dabrowski went the right way but the ball went under him. 1-1

Rovers response was a well hit effort from captain Scott Brown but he was wide right. A long throw in from Dick was next headed outside the right goalpost by Jordan Doherty before Dunfermline switched play to the Rovers end. A shot rifled on target McCann earned the first of two corners one on either side. Ngwenya fired the first over from the right and the one on the left Wotherspoon took short to Stevens before cutting it back for Ewan Otoo 25 yards out. The 65th minute shot deflected off the chest of KANE to put the Pars 2-1 up.

The scoreline increased just 11 minutes later. Kane would race on to a ball on the left side of the visitors` penalty box where Dabrowski came out and took the feet away from the former St Johnstone striker. Grant Irvine awarded the penalty and KANE struck the ball down the middle as the keeper dived to his left again. 3-1

There was no way back after that for the Stark`s Park side and Dunfermline`s second home win of the season over Raith Rovers took them up to eighth place in the William Hill Championship.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Tommy Fogarty, Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Ngwenya: Chris Hamilton: Archie Stevens (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 65), David Wotherspoon (Matty Todd 87), Ewan Otoo: Lewis McCann, Chris Kane (Ephraim Yeboah 83)
SUBS NOT USED: Joe Chalmers, Craig Wighton, Sam Young, Connor Young, Michael O`Halloran, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORER: Kane (50 pen. 65, 76 pen.)
YELLOW CARD: Benedictus (90+3)

RAITH ROVERS: Kevin Dabrowski: Jordan Doherty, Paul Hanlon, Liam Dick: Josh Mullin, Ross Matthews, Scott Brown (c), Dylan Easton, Lewis Stevenson: Finlay Pollock (Aidan Connolly 81), Jamie Gullan (Aiden Marsh 72).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Gibson, Euan Murray, Kai Montagu, George Gitau, Callum Fordyce, Andrew McNeil (GK).
SCORER: Easton (43 pen.)
YELLOW CARDS: Robson (27), Hanlon (50), Brown (90+3), Cameron.

REFEREE: Grant Irvine
ATTENDANCE: 6812
WEATHER: Overcast 6C

WINNING 50/50 Number: Ticket 9657 (online) for £952

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