The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Bosses have different views as top two draw
KIRKCALDY: Honours even after controversial clash at Stark’s Park
RAITH ROVERS 1 ARBROATH 1
The opposing managers had differing views as Raith Rovers and Arbroath battled out an entertaining 1-1 draw in a top-of-the-table clash at Stark’s Park.
Red Lichties boss Dick Campbell felt “disgusted” to take just a point from Kirkcaldy after feeling his side dominated the game with “continual waves of attack”.
Raith boss John McGlynn, however, praised his own team for playing “good football” and felt they deserved to take something from the match.
Arbroath looked set to go seven points clear at the top of League One when Bobby Linn struck the opener with just 11 minutes remaining.
However, Rovers hit back three minutes from time through the division’s top scorer, Kevin Nisbet, to salvage a draw in McGlynn’s first home match of his second spell in charge.
“It was a tough game but I thought it was a great advert for League One,” McGlynn said. “It had everything a topof-the-table clash should have.”
Campbell was sent to the stand in the final minute for contesting a throw-in decision with referee Craig Napier, who also incensed the veteran boss for failing to award a penalty in the first half, instead booking Jason Thomson for diving.
“I’ve never seen a more dead-pan penalty kick,” Campbell said.
“Simulation? You would need to be a ballerina to do what Jason has done.
“To get sent to the stand for such an innocent thing – and then he comes after me because I’m walking slowly and watching the game.
“What are you supposed to do? Sprint up to the stand?
“I’m very angry at that. I’ll probably get another two or three games, but it won’t affect me because I prefer to sit in the stand.”
Campbell also suggested the ball had run out of play in the move that led to Rovers’ equaliser.
“Their players tell me the ball is half a yard out on the byline,” he said.
“It’s disappointing because that’s all Raith Rovers done.
“They never really put us under any pressure and my goalie has not had a save to make the whole game.”
Former Raith captain Thomson also defended himself against the yellow card for diving, saying: “I felt the contact so I’ve went down.
“The referee has said there was contact, but that I played for it, whatever that means.”
Raith dominated first half possession but Arbroath had the better chances with Ryan Wallace forcing Robbie Thomson into a point-blank save, while Linn curled an effort just wide.
Rovers lost Lewis Vaughan to injury and replacement Liam Buchanan set up a clear scoring chance for Nathan Flanagan, but the winger took too long to shoot and defender Ricky Little made a superb recovery tackle.
On 79 minutes the visitors took the lead when Linn side-stepped defender Euan Murray before sending a low effort into the far corner of the net.
But Rovers fought back in the 87th minute thanks to superb work from on-loan Celtic midfielder Regan Hendry, who stole the ball from Gavin Swankie before cutting back for Nisbet to fire into the goal.