2012: Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 3

Memorable Match #81
Irn Bru First Division
Starks Park
Saturday, 17th Nov 2012

On the park the 2012-2013 season had started well with seven wins, two draws and one defeat in the opening ten league games. The defeat at home to Partick was then followed in the second quarter by a hefty reversal at Firhill and it was already clear that Thistle were the team that the Pars would have to overtake if they were going to win the First Division title.

The Jags duly became champions with an eleven point cushion between them and second placed Morton. The Pars story is the exact opposite. Off the field the attention was on unpaid HMRC bills and cash flow difficulties that had caused the club to start selling season tickets in mid November for the following season.

Form slumped and fifteen points were deducted for going into administration, as a consequence they ended up in the play offs where they lost out and were relegated. All hard to believe after the team and fans had left Starks Park in November joint top of the league.

For this Fife Derby Pars boss, Jim Jefferies was able to start Joe Cardle, the only change from the side that lost to Partick Thistle the previous Saturday.

The Pars started well with Allan Walker forced to take down Ryan Thomson from the rear and from the free kick Stephen Husband float the ball into the Rovers box but that was defended.  There was confidence in the Dunfermline play though with Cardle giving Jason Thomson a torrid time.

Pars keeper Paul Gallacher held a long range effort from Smith before in 12 minutes the Pars broke fast. Andy Geggan`s pass to Andy Barrowman was laced into the path of Josh Falkingham who travelled at speed to release Cardle on the left of the penalty box but his chip over the keeper cleared the bar.

Raith would take the lead however in 24 minutes from a Walker free kick deep down the right, level with the six yard line. When the ball was lofted over former Par Pat CLARKE jumped high above the defence to head the ball past Gallacher. 1-0

Dunfermline hit back from a Stephen HUSBAND`s free kick. Defender Dougie Hill was shown yellow for chopping down Ryan Wallace and the resultant 25 yard free kick was driven low through the Raith wall to beat keeper Ross Laidlaw at his right hand post. 1-1

The first half had more drama to unfold however when on 45 minutes Raith were reduced to ten men with their captain Allan Walker shown a straight red. 

Home fans would claim that his challenge on Wallace possibly only warranted a yellow but the decision ignited feelings and as the teams went in at the break, Raith Assistant Manager Paul Smith was involved in a tussle and then Falkingham and Ryan Thomson got involved as the players went down the tunnel.

Half time: Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 1

With the teams inside, the stadium announcer informed the crowd that as a consequence of the clash at the end of the first half, referee Crawford Allan had sent off Raith`s centre half Dougie Hill and yellow carded Dunfermline midfielder Ryan Thomson.

Before the Pars kicked off the second half, Raith introduced Stuart Anderson for striker Greg Spence as they shaped up 4-3-1 but right from the kick off Raith looked as though they would struggle to contain the Pars and within 90 seconds they were behind.

It was a Joe CARDLE strike that flew into the Pars net from the left corner of the box and the nine men were going to be up against it. Ryan Thomson was forced to leave the field, ushered off by physio Kenny Murray, holding his face after receiving an elbow on his nose.  So in 51 minutes Craig Dargo became the Pars first sub to be deployed in the game.

The rain came pelting down cooling the heat of the game. Andy Geggan was shown yellow in 61 and next minute Andy Kirk replaced Ryan Wallace. Dunfermline continued to enjoy plenty of possession but were kept well away from Laidlaw`s goal.

Cardle turned on some of his trickery to carve out a chance from the left byeline.  About to cross the ball took a bobble, so he checked, beat another player and then shot past the keeper but Eddie Malone was on the line to keep the ball out.

In 78 Barrowman was withdrawn, Alex Whittle came on and Dargo was pushed up. There was a Geggan header on target held by Laidlaw but despite their numerical disadvantage the home side continued to be a potential threat, assisted by some uncharacteristically poor clearances from Gallacher.

There was a real Rovers push from a Smith free kick and sub Brian Graham came close to getting in a header but Gallacher punched the ball away as it flashed across his goalmouth.  Then with Rovers up the park, a slip by Laurie Ellis allowed Dargo to break from his own half with no one other than the keeper to beat.  As he approached the keeper he decided to lay the ball off to HUSBAND to his right and the midfielder slotted in his second of the afternoon to finish it at 3-1.

A second 3-1 Pars victory over their great rivals meant they were back on 26 points level with Partick Thistle at the top after their surprise defeat at the hands of Hamilton Accies.

RAITH ROVERS: Ross Laidlaw. Jason Thomson, Laurie Ellis, Dougie Hill, Eddie Malone. Grant Anderson (Brian Graham.74), Simon Mensing, Allan Walker, David Smith, Greg Spence (Stuart Anderson HT), Pat Clarke
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Roberts (GK), Reece Donaldson, Joe Hamill
SCORERS: Clarke (24)
YELLOW CARD: Thomson (7), Anderson (34), Hill (36)
RED CARD: Walker (45), Hill (HT)

DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher, Andy Geggan, Andy Dowie, Callum Morris, Jordan McMillan (c),. Josh Falkingham, Stephen Husband, Ryan Thomson (Craig Dargo 51), Joe Cardle. Andy Barrowman (Alex Whittle 78), Ryan Wallace (Andy Kirk 62).
SUBS NOT USED: John Potter, Michal Hrivnak (GK)
SCORERS: Husband (37, 88), Cardle (47)
YELLOW CARD: Thomson (HT), Geggan (61), McMillan (82), Falkingham (86)

REFEREE: Crawford Allan
WEATHER: Fine until heavy second half rain 7C
ATTENDANCE 4294

NEXT MATCH: (home) First Division v Dumbarton
Saturday 24th November 2012, kick off 3.00pm

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