Raith pay penalty for failing to see game out

ALBION ROVERS 2 RAITH ROVERS 2

Raith Rovers defender Jason Thomson felt his team were robbed of three points after a controversial injury-time penalty at Cliftonhill.

Raith fought back from a goal down to lead, but Alan Trouten struck from 12 yards with virtually the last kick to earn a point for Albion.

Referee Gavin Duncan awarded the spot kick after a coming together between Thomson and Trouten in the box.

“The player himself said it wasn’t a penalty, and that says it all,” said the Raith right-back.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position to let that happen, so we need to just defend the last minute and not give the ref that opportunity.

“But it’s just a coming together that happened the whole game and weren’t given as fouls. He’s even booked one of our players for diving when it’s clearly not a dive.”

Raith also felt they fell behind in dubious circumstances, with the defence claiming Trouten handled the ball before firing a 10th-minute opener past Aaron Lennox.

Rovers fought back to equalise five minutes before half-time thanks to Euan Murray’s header from a Lewis Vaughan free-kick.

Raith dominated the second half but were struggling to create chances, so were relieved to see defender Jason Marr glance Murray’s cross into his own net nine minutes from time.

However, the 92nd minute penalty gave Albion the chance to avoid a sixth straight defeat, and Trouten sent Lennox the wrong way to rescue a draw.

The result allowed secondplaced Ayr to close the gap on Raith to six points, and the Honest Men have a game in hand and superior goal difference.

Raith boss Barry Smith said: “Having watched it back, it’s not a penalty. I asked the referee about it, but it’s pointless.

“We lost a poor first goal, although it looks like a hand-ball, but the boys have done excellent to get themselves back in front and unfortunately a decision at the end cost us.

“We dominated the second half – they were hardly in our half – and I didn’t feel there were any real problems, but we’ve got to kill the game off and see it out.”