East Fife Reserves v Raith, 8th December 2009
Reserve League Cup, Bayview Stadium
East Fife 0 Raith Rovers 3
Match Report and Photos: Jim Corstorphine
FIFERS NO MATCH FOR RUNAWAY ROVERS
East Fife’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Reserve League Cup were dented last night as near-neighbours Raith Rovers recorded a convincing win at Bayview Stadium
The match was fairly well balanced in the opening stages, but gradually the visitors took control of proceedings and created several chances as the first half progressed. East Fife were not without chances of their own, however, and both Darren Thomson and Steve Crawford tried to break down the well-drilled Raith defence with strong runs into the danger-zone.
Steve Crawford tries an overhead kick
The closest the Methil men came to taking the lead during the first half came in 22 minutes, when a superb shot from Paul Sludden pulled a great save from Raith custodian Gary O’Connor.
Four minutes later, however, Rovers scored the opening goal with a fierce shot direct from a free-kick, despite home ‘keeper Michael Brown getting a hand to the ball. Brown was called into action again just before the break when he tipped another Raith free-kick over the cross-bar.
The home side almost equalised just after the re-start when Stuart Cargill shot narrowly over the bar, but before long Raith resumed their command on the match and applied further pressure to the East Fife goal.
Paul Sludden just fails to connect during a rare East Fife attack
The visitors eventually added a second mid-way through the second half following a goal-mouth scramble, and added a third with ten minutes remaining with a superb solo-effort.
The home side had a great chance to pull a goal back with five minutes remaining when Paul Sludden was sent through, but O’Connor just beat the East Fife man to the ball; then with virtually the last kick of the game Steve Crawford came close with a strong shot on the turn from twenty yards.
The Raith defence clear under pressure from Shaun Fagan
The result moves Raith up into joint pole position with East Fife; both teams having the identical record of having played seven matches from which four games have been won, two lost and one drawn. Both clubs also have an identical goal difference of plus two. Breathing down their necks, however, is Dunfermline Athletic, who have just one point less after having played five matches.
Team: 1 Michael Brown, 2 Jason Dair, 3 Johnny MacRae, 4 Shaun Fagan, 5 Jonathan Smart, 6 Guy Kerr, 7 Bobby Linn, 8 Stuart Cargill, 9 Steve Crawford, 10 Darren Thomson, 11 Paul Sludden.
Substitutes: 12 Ross Brown (replaced Jason Dair 50), 14 Michael Scott (replaced Darren Thomson 57), 15 Dean McMillan (replaced Stuart Cargill 75)
