MATCH STATS
RAITH ROVERS 2 Connolly (30), Ross (67) MORTON 1 Ledger (5)
Raith Rovers extended their unbeaten league run to 11 games, the Kirkcaldy side recovering from the loss of an early goal to take all three points against 10man Morton, the victory taking them into second place in the Championship table.
“We had a sluggish start to the game,” said Raith manager John McGlynn. “We allowed them to score from a set-piece, but we managed to get our passing game together and crept back into it.
“We had opportunities to add to the scoreline and we could have won more convincingly but, overall, I’m pleased with the outcome.”
Having previously won only two of their 15 league games this season, Morton were clearly anxious to restore some winning momentum and they enjoyed an excellent start to the game, taking the lead with just five minutes on the clock.
The goal came from a corner on the right, swung into the goalmouth by Jakko Oksaner, the Raith defence failing to clear the danger, leaving Michael Ledger free to fire past Jamie MacDonald from close range.
The home side were clearly stung by this early setback and sought to make amends with a series of attacks on the Morton goal, Ethan Varian seeing his header saved by Jack Hamilton and Aidan Connolly being foiled when his curling 20-yard effort was tipped over in athletic fashion by the Ton keeper.
Raith’s passing game was providing them significant territorial advantage and it was no real surprise when their pressure was rewarded on the half-hour, Ethan Ross cutting into the penalty area from the left before picking out Connolly, who swept the ball past Hamilton to level the scores.
Connolly then saw his deflected shot rebound from Hamilton’s righthand post as half-time approached and, although Morton rallied briefly after the restart, Gavin Reilly breaking clear before being denied by Christophe Berra’s last-ditch tackle, Rovers took the lead midway through the second half when Ross ran onto a superb throughball from Dylan Tait before threading his shot beyond Hamilton.
The 72nd minute dismissal of Alan Lithgow, after the defender had picked up two yellow cards, killed off any hopes Morton may have held of rescuing a point.
“It was a very competitive game, a very even game,” reflected Ton boss Gus MacPherson. “We made a good start and looked threatening and it’s frustrating that we competed so well against a very good side yet came away with nothing.”