WE’RE NOT UNDER LOCKE AND KEY
Kenny MacDonald
tested the former Rangers No.1 but he was more than equal to their efforts.
The Ton were unbeaten in their last six while United had not lost since the clubs’ League Cup clash in September.
And the tension of the occasion boiled over when Quitongo was sent sprawling by a challenge from Mark Durnan.
Quitongo leapt to his feet and hurled the ball at Durnan to earn a booking and he was further outraged when whistler Crawford Al lan only awarded a throw-in.
Ton sizzled in the drizzle following the break and Jamie Lindsay carved a chance out of nothing with a swift turn in the United box to earn a free shot at goal.
But he hurried the effort from 12 yards in 54 minutes and the ball f lew straight at grateful United keeper Bell.
His glove rival Gaston pulled off the save of the match with an astonishing parry from a six-yard volley by Fraser in 63 minutes to keep the Ton in the reckoning.,
And the heroic keeper made another brilliant stop to deny United when he raced out to halt Tony Andreu in 76 minutes, turning away his effort with one hand.
He completed a treble of top drawer stops, somehow blocking a low rocket from Robson in the 87th minute.
Ton gaffer Jim Duffy said: “United were the better side in the latter stages and created two, or three really good chances and fortunately big ‘Gats’ in goal was on top of his game.”
Gary Locke insists he’s not worried about his goal-shy strikers after Raith’s third stalemate in five matches.
But his Stark’s Park side were lucky to pick up anything after crock- hit Dumbarton dominated for long spells and wasted a hatful of chances.
Other than a weak Declan McManus shot in 24 minutes, which was easily saved by Alan Martin, Rovers were toothless.
Raith will now face Ayr at home on Tuesday when three points would see them leapfrog Morton into third.
Boss Locke said: “I would like us to be more of a threat but we defended well.
“I’m not overly worried because we have scored a few goals this season and Dumbarton ........................ 0 Raith Rovers ...................... 0 Lindsay Herron squandered more gilt-edged chances after the break, Cuthbert blocking Thomson’s shot eight minutes in before Donald McCallum missed with the rebound.
The Raith No.1 then pushed McCallum’s effort wide while Thomson fluffed his lines when he fired too close to Cuthbert.
Sons boss Stevie Aitken said: “I’m gutted we haven’t won because we put so much into the game against a top-four side.
“The only thing missing was the ball in the back of the net.
“On Monday I only had 10 players for this game – that’s no joke. I phoned a few managers for some help but nothing came.
“I had to patch them up so to get a result like that is really pleasing.”