Both sides make their point in relegation scrap

WITH both sides desperately seeking victories in an increasingly- congested relegation scrap, there was perhaps no surprise that these two teams were left frustrated by having to go home with a solitary point.

Ryan Hardie’s early breakthrough for Raith Rovers looked to have put the home side on their way to a result that would have relieved the pressure building on teams at the bottom of the Championship as the climax to the season nears.

However, a magnificent freekick from Stephen Dobbie ensured that Queens maintained their three-point advantage over their Kirkcaldy hosts.

And the Doonhamers must be happy to occupy fifth spot, they have kept the relegation issue at arms length, and that is despite the fact they are only five points above Ayr United in second bottom.

Rovers are now just two points above that relegation play-off spot but Hughes is desperate to remove the burden of fear from his squad’s shoulders as they enter the final six games.

“It’s going to be like that between now and the end of the season I believe the way it’s going,” Hughes said of a contest high on energy but little else.

“But that’s where somebody has to really step up with a wee bit of magic.

“Someone to play a quality pass or unlock the door, or what they [Queens] did with the free-kick or what Hardie did – that wee bit of quality.

“Pressure? It’s a game of football, just go out and enjoy yourself and give it your best shot to be honest.

“You have to find the switch and you have to have a belief in yourself and your talent, and a trust in each other.

“You have to be inspired by the occasion and not be a shrinking violet.”

In relegation battles, teams need a reliable goal-scorer, and Rovers have found one in recent weeks in Hardie.

The on-loan Rangers youngster had three to his name in Raith’s previous three matches and made it a fourth just nine minutes in.

The 20-year-old warmed up for his involvement with the Scotland under-21s this week with an impressive finish. Skipper Jason Thomson fed him just inside the area and the marksman showed great poise to sidestep a visiting defender before rolling the ball through the legs of Lee Robinson in the Queens goal.

Just three minutes later, Rovers displayed the kind of grit and determination manager John Hughes complained was missing in their recent 4-0 hammering from Dumbarton as Craig Barr was brave and defiant to block a rasping Joe Thomson shot on the edge of his own six-yard box.

However, there was nothing the Raith defenders could do when Queen of the South equalised in the 24th minute with a real hammer blow.

Once they conceded a free-kick 25 yards out, there was only one thing in the mind of Dobbie.

The former Rangers and Hibs marksman curled a dipping, swerv- ing shot that crashed down off the apex of the post and bar as keeper Pavol Penksa flung himself across goal and into the back of his own net. The ball, meanwhile, bounced down and out and was cleared, but referee Colin Steven signalled for a goal.

The decision infuriated the Stark’s Park men at the time but they later conceded the decision was right and it was just reward for Dobbie for producing a rare moment of skill amid the humdrum fare on show.

“If we’re being honest, it was a poor quality football match, but Dobbs has hit a fantastic freekick,” said Queens manager Gary Naysmith, who was relieved that his side have kept Raith three points below them.

“We didn’t deserve to win and we certainly didn’t deserve to lose.

“This one had a draw written all over it.”