Archives | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 2

What a finish to 2025! A memorable win over our close rivals on their own patch as Andrew Tod and Barney Stewart etched their name into this derby history.

It was SFL derby day and so the last fixture of 2025 took Dunfermline east to play Raith Rovers. The Pars were keen to correct their poor Stark`s Park record with their first win there in almost nine years.

Back in the dugout, Neil Lennon brought in Nurudeen Abdulai and Barney Stewart in preference of Rory Macleod and Josh Cooper while Deniz Mehmet started in the absence of Billy Terrell.

Rovers manager Dougie Imrie made one change to his starting eleven bringing in Paul Nsio for Paul Hanlon but with only three named substitutes.

It was a cool and cloudy afternoon in Kirkcaldy and there was a loud welcome as the teams came out on to the freshly soaked surface. Dunfermline kicked off attacking the goal at the home end and after two minutes Zak Rudden tried the first shot but unfortunately well wide right. The Pars striker came much closer with his sixth minute effort from 30 yards that rattled the crossbar.

A 12th minute setpiece was switched from Chris Hamilton for Robbie Fraser wide left to send into the Raith box, Rudden was well placed to shoot but his attempt went wide left. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen was forward to create a threat until Darragh O`Connor blocked him out and play halted while the Scotland U21 defender received treatment.

It was O`Connor who conceded an 18th minute corner that Matty Todd delivered with danger into the Rovers six yard box. The defence cleared but it was Dunfermline creating all the chances. Hamilton fired from 20 yards out but on to the back of a home shirt. Rovers did respond with a 22nd minute Matthews` cross headed on target by Jack Hamilton but well saved by Mehmet.

Mullen burst forward playing the ball off Rudden but an interception set the home side off on the counter. Paul McMullan got the better of Abdulai and when he fed the ball to Hamilton who fired from the edge of the box, thankfully over the crossbar and into the Pars crowd.

A Dylan Easton free kick led to a 32nd minute corner that he took and brought a good fisted clearance from Mehmet. Then from the right a Todd pass to Rudden was switched into the path of Chilokoa-Mullen and this time he breezed past defenders to pick out Andrew TOD who turned the ball in beyond Josh Rae at the near post. After five Pars visits to Stark`s Park without scoring it was 0-1.

A 37th minute Todd setpiece from the left created another threat but the defence won that one. Fraser however, forced a corner three minutes later that led to a second Dunfermline goal. STEWART rose to glance Todd`s delivery from the left into the far side of the Rovers goal. 0-2

The Pars support could barely believe it but they celebrated the two goal lead to the hilt. It had been a hard fought first half but Neil Lennon`s side deserved their half time advantage and it was nice to hear the home side booed off.

Half time: Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 2

Easton got the second half underway, passing back for Rae to loft the ball into the Pars half. Within 40 seconds Mehmet pulled off another fine save as McMullan made the defence look exposed. Jai Rowe head over from the corner but Raith forced another as Fraser was made to head behind. Mehmet fisted this one away. Pressure was maintained by sub Ewan Wilson`s long throw which was headed out to be thrashed back at goal and kept out by Abdulai`s stomach.

Dunfermline pushed up winning corner and throw ins deep up the left but they required Kieran Ngwenya`s turn of pace to deny a Rovers` counter. A 59th minute penalty was awarded when Easton went over Chilokoa-Mullen in the Pars box. Despite his record of saving from spot kicks, Deniz Mehmet could not prevent EASTON sticking the ball in the left corner. 1-2

The Rovers fans rejoiced as they felt that it was definitely game on but it was Dunfermline who almost silenced them as Tod hit the post from a Rudden won free kick 25 yards out. At the midway point of the half tempers flared after Richard Chin and Chris Hamilton clashed in the centre circle. Several players got involved in a melee resulting in yellow cards for the two initiators and Easton.

Wilson crashed a shot over the Dunfermline crossbar and it did look like the visitors were needing to change the momentum in the game. Kane Ritchie-Hosler replaced Zak Rudden with eleven minutes remaining. Easton delivered a cross that Hamilton dived to head on target but again Mehmet came to the rescue. Easton dropped another shot beyond the left goalpost before Tashan Oakley-Boothe replaced Andrew Tod.

A head knock to Stewart halted play and the match was in time added on when play resumed. It was a nervy end for the travelling support in the Craiglea Timber Frames Stand. Rae went up for a 93rd minute corner, Ngwenya blocked Rowe`s shot and Dunfermline saw out the derby to pick up the three points that saw them leapfrog their rivals into fifth place. More importantly the long run without a win at Stark`s Park had come to an end. It really was `˜the most wonderful time of the year`.

RAITH ROVERS : Josh Rae: Jai Rowe, Jordan Doherty Darragh O`Connor, Lewis Stevenson (Ewan Wilson 45+2): Paul Nsio, Ross Matthews (Richard Chin 29), Scott Brown, Dylan Easton: Paul McMullan Jack Hamilton
SUBS NOT USED: Kai Montagu, Josh Gentles, Aidan Glavin (GK)
SCORER: Easton (60 pen.)
YELLOW CARDS: Brown (17), Chin (67), Easton (68), Rae (70)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Nurudeen Abdulai, Kieran Ngwenya: Matty Todd, Chris Hamilton (c), Charlie Gilmour, Robbie Fraser: Andrew Tod (Tashan Oakley-Boothe 88): Zak Rudden (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 79), Barney Stewart.
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Ewan Otoo, Jefferson Cáceres, Keith Bray, Josh Cooper, Rory Macleod, Mason Munn (GK)
SCORERS: Tod (33), Stewart (40)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (67), Rudden (74), Mehmet (90+5)

REFEREE: Dan McFarlane
ATTENDANCE: 6773
WEATHER: Overcast 5°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (home) v Ross County, Saturday 3rd January 2026, kick off 3.00pm

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