WASPS THINK IT’S ALL ROVER
Alloa double up to rock Raith
ALLOA ........ 2 RAITH ROVERS ........ 0
ALLOA ruined Raith’s title party at the weekend then threatened to spoil hopes of a promotion one last night.
Four days after holding them to a 0-0 draw that let Ayr in to lift the title, goals in either half from Ross Stewart and Iain Flannigan left Rovers staring at another season in League One.
Iain Davidson’s dismissal nine minutes from time capped a miserable night for the Fifers who endured a first defeat in eight.
Alloa boss Jim Goodwin said: “We defended really well and looked particularly dangerous going forward. The only thing I would really be critical of is we could be three or four up.”
Graeme Smith hadn’t conceded in almost five hours but Stewart had him to thank for his breakthrough after the keeper dithered over a Davidson passback.
That let the Wasps striker speed in to block the punt clear, the ball falling a few feet away for Stewart to rattle home at the near post.
Bobby Barr had always looked Raith’s biggest threat before the break cutting in from the left. He had Alloa on their heels again four minutes after the restart, beating his man on the counter before slipping in for Lewis Vaughan who had a clear sight at goal had he not strayed offside.
Raith were probing much more and Jason Thomson should have given them something to show for it when Barr’s shot ricocheted into his path eight yards out only for him to stab the ball over.
Flannigan punished them in 58 minutes, sidefooting into the corner after Kevin Cawley had nicked the ball off Kevin McHattie in the corner.
Smith then threw his body into the path of sub Jon Robertson’s low dig 12 minutes from time.
But it didn’t signal a change in fortunes, with Davidson dealt a second yellow after Scott Taggart hit the deck when the two went up for a ball. And the Raith defender made a beeline for referee Don Robertson on the sound of his whistle.
Rovers gaffer Barry Smith said: “You have to pick yourself up. These boys have got to go out on that pitch with the belief that they can win the tie at Raith and that is the motivation – the game isn’t dead.”