The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Confidence returns as Raith strikers’ efforts rewarded
Raith rovers: Spence and Buchanan keep impressive home record going with win over Alloa
RAITH ROVERS 2 ALLOA ATHLETIC 1
Raith Rovers striker Greig Spence said confidence is returning after the 2-1 victory over Alloa on Saturday.
Spence scored for the second week running to help Rovers maintain their impressive 100% home record in League One this season.
His recent brace followed a six-game barren run, while strike partner Liam Buchanan also broke a nine-game duck in the win over the Wasps.
For both, the goals have come us a welcome relief.
“Any striker at any level, if they go a few games without scoring their confidence does take a dip,” Spence said.
“Mentally I’ve tried to keep on top of myself, and in the last few weeks it’s been good to score and hopefully I can try to kick on from here.
“It’s great for Liam too. If you miss a chance when you’ve not scored for a while you can let your head go down, but he’s experienced enough so if there was another chance he was always going to take it.
“I like playing with Liam. We understand each other really well, and it helped that Alloa came out just that wee bit more than other teams, which allowed us into wee areas,” he said. “These are the games we have to win.” Raith made one change with Dario Zanatta, who made a big impact from the bench in the win over Queen’s Park the previous week, promoted to the starting 11 at the expense of the injured John Herron.
Rovers struggled to exert dominance in a first half which had few goalscoring opportunities.
Spence saw a near-post header blocked in the opening 10 minutes, while Zanatta dragged a shot narrowly wide after turning his man 20 yards from goal.
At the other end, the pace of Paul Joseph Crossan was posing problems to the Raith defence, but the game reached half-time with neither goalkeeper called into serious action.
Rovers stepped up a gear after the restart and almost took the lead on 49 minutes when first-half substitute Bobby Barr teed up Buchanan, but the veteran striker blasted over an open goal.
The opener duly arrived on 54 minutes when Zanatta picked out Spence, and he sent a bullet header past Neil Parry from close range.
Rovers doubled their lead on 66 minutes when Lewis Vaughan played a delightful one-two with Buchanan to go clear, and although Parry made the save, Buchanan followed in to stroke home the rebound.
Alloa went on an all-out attack in the closing stages and were rewarded when Kevin Cawley bundled home a corner at the back post with three minutes left.
That set up a nervy finish, but the home side held on to keep pace with leaders Ayr, who claimed a narrow 3-2 victory at home to Albion Rovers.
Raith boss Barry Smith said: “It’s a great result, and credit to them for digging deep when they had to.
“I’m delighted for the front two because they don’t get a lot of credit for the work they put in off the ball.
“Sometimes I maybe ask them to do too much, but they are willing workers, and they are good goal-scorers.”
I’m delighted for the front two because they don’t get a lot of credit for the work they putinoff the ball. BARRY SMITH