Rovers defender rues ‘deserved’ defeat

Veteran Iain Davidson admitted his side got exactly what they deserved from Stair Park on Saturday as Raith suffered their first defeat of 2018.

Rovers were looking to extend their advantage over Ayr United at the top of the League One table but came unstuck thanks to Angus Beith’s early strike.

The visitors could not find a way back into the game and Davidson said: “I think we were obviously confident going into the game.

“We are on a decent run of form but at the end of the day we deserved to lose the game.

“Fair play to Stranraer, we got what we deserved.

“Obviously, we are bitterly disappointed that we really did not take the game in hand and make it count.

“I think it is going to be tight all the way to be fair but I think the manner of the defeat is more annoying than anything.”

The only goal of the game came after just nine minutes.

Graeme Smith and David Mckay collided as the goalkeeper attempted to deal with Ryan Thomson’s cross.

The ball fell kindly to Beith and the on-loan Hearts midfielder coolly slotted home his sixth goal in 10 games for Stranraer.

The visitors tried to get back into the game but failed to really test goalkeeper Cameron Belford on a regular basis.

Lewis Vaughan’s clever flick sent Liam Buchanan clean through on goal 10 minutes before the break but his shot was too close to the goalkeeper, who blocked the shot.

Instead, in the second half, with the home side’s defence dealing with a number of long balls, it was Stranraer who could have added to the lead.

Thomson had a header cleared off the line before Graeme Smith did well to make a point-blank save from the midfielder after failing to deal with another cross.

Vaughan, who scored in the abandoned meeting between the two sides in October, had one last chance a minute from time but his free-kick was comfortably dealt with by Belford.