Stevenson returns to Somerset in unusual role

RYAN Stevenson, a former Ayr United player, was last night thrust into the spotlight in an unexpected capacity at Somerset Park.

The 32-year-old scored 30 goals during three stints with the Honest Men, but his latest role was to prevent his old team hitting the net as a makeshift goalkeeper when all three of Raith’s were ruled out through injury.

He just failed in his bid to be an unlikely hero after manager John Hughes had earlier been thwarted in a last-gasp bid to draft in a regular keeper while the club’s request to have the match postponed fell on deaf ears.

Clearly riled by the SPFL’s refusal to reschedule the fixture, Raith released a statement prior to kick-off in which they said: “Whilst we must respect that decision, we are very disappointed.

“We now have no alternative other than to proceed with what is a vital fixture not only for ourselves and our friends at Ayr United, but also for those other clubs around about us.”

Raith’s night was to end in disappointment but the volunteer keeper was in action from the off, diving to turn a Farid El Alagui header behind for a corner.

It was frustrating stuff for the home side who continued to create chances but failed to put Stevenson under sustained pressure. Indeed, the stand-in keeper wasn’t called into serious action again until just before the break when smart saves denied Michael Rose and Alan Forrest.

Raith enjoyed the better of things on the restart with Ryan Hardie and Jean-Yves Mvoto going close, the latter denied by an excellent save from Greg Fleming. It proved crucial as Stevenson was finally beaten at the other end when El Alagui headed home from close range following a corner.

Stevenson’s evening was as good as over while Raith tried to salvage a point during the closing stages but Ayr held out for a win which moves them eight points clear of bottom side St Mirren.