The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Armstrong’s touch of class seals the points
Two-goal Raith Rovers hero Daniel Armstrong insisted his late clincher was no fluke as Rovers got back to winning ways at Stenhousemuir.
With two minutes remaining at Ochilview, and Raith holding on to a 2-1 lead, Armstrong floated a ball into the top corner from the wide area to seal the three points.
His team-mates teased him afterwards, saying that he had intended to cross the ball to the back post, but the winger was having none of it.
“The boys aren’t believing that I meant it, but you’ll see in the video,” he said.
“I’ve always tried to chip keepers through the years, people know that.
“It doesn’t always come off as much as you want, but I’ve looked up and tried to put it in the corner and it’s went in.”
Rovers boss John McGlynn also backed the winger’s version of events.
“I’ve seen him do that in training,” he said.
“He’s got a really good it’s like a wand.
“Sometimes you get a crosscome-shot, but I think he actually left foot, meant it, because he’s good enough to do that.
“He’s a spark things happen.”
Victory at bottom-of-the-table Stenny was essential for the Kirkcaldy side after back-to-back away defeats at Forfar and East Fife had left them trailing leaders Arbroath by 10 points in the League One title race.
Rovers started at a strong pace and were rewarded with the opener on 11 minutes as Kevin Nisbet’s cross was deflected into the path of Armstrong who nodded over the line from close range.
Raith had chances to extend their lead with Kyle Benedictus passing up the best of them, blasting over from six yards after a well-worked corner routine.
Stenny came back into the game towards half-time, with Harry Paton firing over the bar after finding space at the edge of the box.
But Raith regrouped at the interval and left-back Callum Crane, deputising in midfield due to injuries and suspension, put the away side two up on 57 minutes, latching on to Liam Buchanan’s cutback to steer a low effort into the net from 16 yards.
Stenny refused to lie down and after forcing Robbie Thomson into a point-blank save moments earlier, Mark McGuigan reduced the deficit on 67 minutes as he coolly lobbed the advancing keeper after taking advantage of slackness in the Rovers defence.
The Fifers came under the cosh in the closing stages, but Armstrong’s moment of brilliance relieved the pressure and ensured maximum points.
Colin McMenamin, the Stenhousemuir caretaker manager, said: “The boys were excellent second half and really unlucky not to pick anything up.
“We put them under real pressure and they reverted to five at the back, but we weren’t ruthless enough.” and he makes