Archives | Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0

William Hill Championship
Matchday #4
Friday 28th August 2026
KDM Group East End Park

Cooper`s late intervention settled the County contest as Dunfermline saw off their Kirkcaldy rivals in the first Fife derby of the season.

Dunfermline went into the game hoping that they could register their first league victory at the expense of Raith Rovers. Having scored just one goal in the first three league games manager Neil Lennon made changes upfront resting Andrew Tod and Oli Shaw to bring in Zak Rudden and 21 year-old Nigerian Olamilekan Adams. Luke Robinson dropped out of the match squad to make way for the return from injury of midfielder Kian Corbally.

On the back of back to back wins over Ayr United and Queen`s Park, Raith Rovers fielded an unchanged starting eleven with new signing from St Johnstone, Jack Baird on the bench alongside George Oakley who had not featured since sustaining injury in the first half of the Rovers first match of the season.

Dunfermline kicked off and got in the first shot within three minutes. Adams skilfully brought down a long ball from Sam Cleall-Harding, touched the ball to Rudden and he laid it off for Allan Oyirwoth to release an effort that unfortunately sailed high over Josh Rae`s crossbar.

In seventh minute Nurudeen Abdulai was unchallenged as he drift forward right into the Raith box, he might have shot but opted to set that up for Rudden but his on-target effort was blocked. Next a fantastic pass from Adams to Bray who classily turned on the ball only to be denied by Jai Rowe and Rudden`s follow up went straight into the keeper`s arms.

The Pars had made a forceful beginning to the match but an eye injury to former Pars man, Callum Fordyce halted play. Baird got an early call to be the first Rovers sub in just 14th minute. The interruption did not dampen the home side`s motives. Callumn Morrison and then Oyirwoth sent crosses in and a surging run by Cleall-Harding presented Bray with a half chance but that was blocked.

It was 25th minute when Robertson produced the first Rovers shot. Oxborough held the on-target effort that had been created by Calum Adamson and Anton Dowds push down the left. Morrison brought a save out of Rae with an effort from 25 yards after Oyirwoth and Adams had some slick play to tee the ball up for the Pars no.7.

Tremendous saves by both goalkeepers then ensured that the match would remain goalless. In 38th minute it was a magnificent save from Oxborough after Adamson,16 yards out, made a strong connection on Dowds header down.

Two minutes later Adamson cut down Lobban to earn the Pars a free kick 30 yards out but Rae pulled off a spectacular save to deny Lobban`s right footed rocket from the setpiece. Rudden had a shot blocked by Baird but Dunfermline for all their good play still could not find the way past Rae.

Dunfermline had been dominant, unlucky not to get the breaks but equally fortunate not to have conceded.

Half Time: Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0

The home side should have scored from the first chance of the second half. Rudden`s initial shot from outside the Raith box rebounded back to him and when he whipped the ball into the visitors six yard box Morrison met the ball but somehow managed to dispatch his 54th minute opportunity wide of target.

Oxborough made another great save from Tiffoney after the player on loan from Kilmarnock outstripped the home defence to get in his attempt. Raith then made a double substitution with Scott Brown and Dylan Easton introduced on the hour.

Cleall-Harding was next to have a go, making a run from inside his own half past two Raith men to smash the ball over the crossbar from the edge of the Rovers box.

Abdulai conceded a 27 yard free kick as Tiffoney backed into him but from that Easton drove the ball into the Dunfermline defensive wall. Andrew Tod, on for Adams, created the opportunity for himself to execute a strike from 23 yards out that again Rae did well to turn away.

Tod forced a 75th minute corner. Lobban delivered high from the left and the Kirkcaldy side broke on the counterattack. Easton crossed from deep down the left and McMullan just couldn`t get high enough to get enough power on his header and the ball went wide right.

With good footwork Tod produced another great chance, his shot was good but again Rae pulled off a superb save and Hanlon hooked the ball clear of danger.

Time was running out when Neil Lennon made his last two substitutions with just five minutes remaining. Kian Corbally and Josh Cooper replaced Oyirwoth and Morrison and within three minutes COOPER powered in a low shot from the edge of the box that beat Rae. 1-0

The match was televised live by BBC Scotland and in the end their pundit James McFadden named Aston Oxborough Man of the Match.

Dunfermline`s fourth consecutive win over the Auld Enemy earned their first three points of this league season. All thanks to Josh Cooper, a player yet to start a match this season but with three goals in his nine appearances off the bench.

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