MATCH STATS

Zanatta (33)

STAR MAN: DARIO ZANATTA came up with the all-important strike and looked dangerous driving at the Ton defence.

RAITH ROVERS 1 A first-half strike from Dario Zanatta was enough to secure the points for Rovers and leave Morton uncomfortably close to the bottom of the table.

Visiting boss John McGlynn said: “Three points away from home – got to be delighted!

“Back-to-back away wins, down at Somerset Park in our last away game. To win here is never easy.

“I thought Dario took his goal exceptionally well. Ethan Varian did well in the build-up to the goal and Dario has cut in and hit it very well with his right foot.

“That’s him up to about five goals now already, which is an excellent return for a winger.

“We had to defend very well in the second half. I thought in the opening exchanges we were the better team for 20 minutes.

“Just towards half-time we were put under a little bit of pressure by Morton.”

A cagey opening period, with the sides trying to size each other up, set the tone for a game of few chances.

Despite Raith having more of the ball in the first half-hour, it was the home side who had the better of the chances but were reduced to shots from outside the area, and they failed to really test Jamie MacDonald.

Instead, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock with what proved to be the winner.

A long throw made its way Zanatta who was given the space to cut inside and strike his effort towards goal. The effort appeared to take a slight nick as it went past Jack Hamilton between the Morton sticks.

Early in the second-half, Robbie Muirhead found himself in space in the box but ultimately his shot was an easy one for MacDonald to collect.

Raith continued to push for a second goal to make sure of the points but to no avail.

Meanwhile, a late flurry from the Cappielow side also failed to bring any reward as MacDonald continued to be untroubled in the visitors’ goal.

Morton boss Gus MacPherson said: “It was the same as last week. We put so much into it and you don’t take anything.

“That’s the frustrating part of it. But I think, against a team like Raith Rovers, if they get that first goal you’re in trouble because they are well organised, and they’ve got experience at the back and dealt with anything.

“It was disappointing but nobody could question the effort or commitment.”