The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Angry Smith blasts poor Raith defending
Rovers boss sent to stand as Lichties extend unbeaten run to nine matches
RAITH ROVERS 2 ARBROATH 2
Irate Raith Rovers boss Barry Smith was sent to the stand as his side lost a lastminute equaliser for the second week running.
Smith was ordered from the touchline by referee Mat Northcroft after questioning the decision to award Arbroath a 63rd minute penalty kick, which Ryan Wallace converted to cancel out Jason Thomson’s first half opener.
Willis Furtado fired Raith back in front with 14 minutes left, but substitute Leighton McIntosh grabbed a 90th minute leveller to extend Arbroath’s unbeaten league run to nine games, while the leaders dropped two more crucial points in the race for the title.
Smith said: “I’m angry because we’re in a winning position twice and we should see the game out. We didn’t defend a set piece properly, but the first goal, having watched it back, it happens every week in the game.
“The referee has chosen to give a penalty, so we hope all the rest of them are given.
“I don’t know (why I was sent to the stand), I’ve asked, but they said it will be in the report. That’s two points dropped because we’re in a winning position and we’ve got to defend our area better. The boys have been left in no uncertain terms that we won’t accept that.”
Arbroath are making a strong push for the play-offs and super sub McIntosh reckons that no matter who wins the title, his side would fancy their chances against Raith or Ayr.
“All the players have the belief,” he said. “We could have won the game here so there’s no reason why we can’t go to the play-offs and make it all the way.
“It’s going to be tough, but we’ve also went to Ayr and got a result, so if it comes to play-offs, Ayr or Raith, I don’t think we’d prefer one or the other.
“Both are strong full-time teams, but we’re just happy to be third and we’ll take whatever comes.”
Raith lost influential midfielder Scott Robertson after just 13 minutes to a back spasm but they went on to dominate most of the first half.
David Hutton presented the Kirkcaldy side with a chance on 21 minutes when he picked up a pass-back from Thomas O’Brien under pressure from Furtado, but Vaughan’s attempt from the indirect free-kick was blocked on the line.
Dario Zanatta went close with a solo effort that forced Hutton into a save, before the keeper did even better to turn subsitute Liam Buchanan’s close range strike on to the bar.
Raith got the opener on 42 minutes when Thomson towered over the ArbroathdefencetonodhomeVaughan’s corner from close range.
Arbroath were on the front foot after the break and equalised from the spot when Northcroft spotted a push in the box, and Wallace stroked home the penalty.
Raith regained the lead when Furtado, who had earlier passed up a gilt-edged chance, made amends by stabbing Vaughan’s corner into the roof of the net on 76 minutes.
Despite the midweek trip to Stranraer, the visitors finished strongly, and McIntosh came off the bench to rescue a point in the final minute, his low effort from a corner kick taking a deflection before trundling beyond Aaron Lennox.
Arbroath assistant boss Ian Campbell said: “It’s a great place to get a point, but I was a bit disappointed we didn’t win the game as the two goals we lost isn’t like us.
“We were in the ascendancy in the second half, and we restricted them to playing the ball long all the time, which is credit to us.
“Our boys have been great this year, and we’re just getting better. If we keep focused on doing the simple things correctly, then we’ll be fine.”
There’s no reason why we can’t go to the playoffs and make it all the way. LEIGHTON MCINTOSH