The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rovers boss rues missed chances in Fife derby
LEAGUE ONE: McGlynn insists Raith deserved more from Stark’s Park draw
RAITH ROVERS 1 EAST FIFE 1
John McGlynn couldn’t believe his Raith side ended Saturday’s League One topof-the-table derby with just a point to show for their efforts.
The Stark’s Park gaffer claimed his men had been by far the better of the two Fife rivals for the 90 minutes and were worthy of the three points.
His assessment was possibly tough of Darren Young’s visitors who raced into a first half lead and had chances of their own to win the game.
The point they won, though, protected their undefeated start to the new season.
McGlynn, though, said: “We dominated the game and were the best team.
“We had to show a bit of character to get back in at 1-1 at half-time but that was no more than we deserved.
“In the second half we put a lot of balls into the box but it’s our fault we didn’t take our chances.
“Jamie Gullan has a chance and he’s someone you’d like to be in that situation where he only has the keeper to beat from the penalty spot.
“However, if that’s Lewis Vaughan, it’s a goal. But Jamie has a powerful shot and in the end it’s straight at a goalie who is on the ground.
“Tony Dingwall has an equally as good chance.
“These were two gilt-edge chances and for me this is two points dropped more than it was last week when we were 2-0 up and end up 2-2.
“But we were the better team.” Games between these two over the past couple of seasons have been packed with incident and excitement but this was more of a low-key affair.
East Fife had to do without the services of striker Ryan Wallace and his replacement, Anton Dowds, was kept quiet by the impressive Iain Davidson.
But Dowds’ strike partner Steven Boyd did manage to have an impact on the game.
He showed some excellent close control on the edge of the Raith box and slammed a strike beyond David McGurn from 20 yards.
Raith responded well and were almost level within a couple of minutes through Gullan but his free-kick drifted wide.
They didn’t have to wait much longer for the equaliser, Brad Spencer turning in Gullan’s corner from close range.
The first half had been even, but the hosts had the better of the second.
Kieron Bowie flashed a header wide as McGlynn’s men pressed forward.
But the unbeaten visitors showed just how mean they could be at the back as they protected their point.
Raith should have nudged ahead when Bowie played in Gullan inside the East Fife box, but he shot tamely at Jordan Hart.
They were almost made to pay for the miss when sub Pat Slattery had a clear shot at goal which McGurn managed to tip around his post.
Visiting boss Darren Young said: “The guys have come back in and are disappointed with how we played.
“We could have passed the ball better at times, particularly in the final third. But we’ll take a point and it’s a good point.”