Rovers’ unbeaten run ended by Caley Jags

Raith Rovers’ first league defeat this season left them three points behind new leaders Dunfermline and three points above Inverness on a weekend where favourites Hearts also lost and the league table tightened.

The Kirkcaldy side’s confidence and early season momentum shone at the outset, with Inverness keeper Mark Ridgers having to look sharp to clear at Manny Duku’s feet.

With 300 home fans in a ttendance , home defender Danny Devine also did well to recover and tidy up as Ethan Ross threatened to race through on to a Duku pass.

After 19 minutes, the hosts grasped a vital lead.

M i l e s S to r e y ’ s determined running was at the heart of it after Scott Allardice won the ball in midfield, the attacker’s diagonal pass finding James Keatings executing a sweet, firsttime right-foot strike into the bottom left corner of the net.

Caley Thistle could have doubled the lead just before the halfhour mark, with Shane Sutherland ’s supply finding Storey with his back to goal eight yards out . The frontman swivelled and shot, but struck the top of the bar.

Early in the second half, Caley Thistle went for the kill, but Raith somehow resisted.

Roddy MacGregor drew a superb block from Jam ie MacDona ld with an angled strike, Storey s aw another attempt deflected wide and a Keatings corner drew loud appeals for a goal, with home players claiming in vain the ball had crossed the line.

Raith worked their way back into the match but the hosts shattered that recovery after 68 minutes.

Storey teed up Allardice to drill home low past keeper MacDonald.