Luck’s with Lew
Woodwork and hero Kev deny Caley as Raith and Vaughan keep dreaming
KEVIN DABROWSKI was Raith Rovers’ hero as he and the woodwork conspired to keep the title race alive.
The Kirkcaldy keeper pulled off a string of brilliant saves as Inverness hit the bar and post a combined FOUR times before falling to Lewis Vaughan’s strike.
It means even a Dundee United win at home to Ayr today wouldn’t officially crown the Tangerines champions – although it would be all but settled given the goal difference.
Raith had their Polish goalie to thank for keeping hope alive against Duncan Ferguson’s luckless side.
It was Caley Thistle’s 14th failure to win at home from 17 outings this season and they can plunge back into relegation play-off territory today if Queen’s Park win at Dunfermline.
Rovers gaffer Ian Murray said: “The goal-frame helped us out tonight – and our keeper. Kevin’s had a brilliant season and how he’s not in the PFA Team of the Year I’ll never know.
“He’s the best goalie in the league – a youngster in his first season as No.1, competing at the high end of a tough league. The saves he pulls off are remarkable.
“We wanted United to have to take it off us. The players have done that. I can’t ask for much more.”
In a blistering start, Luis Longstaff ’s cross was met by a sclaff in the air from Raith skipper Scott Brown before Billy Mckay’s header was clutched by Dabrowski. Vaughan then saw a strike blocked while the alert Mckay flashed a fine attempt just wide.
Pressure was then cranked with three corners, with stopper Danny Devine coming close with a downward header.
The hosts threatened an opener again when Mckay’s ball in from the left saw Cameron Harper strike against the bar, before his effort on the rebound was brilliantly saved.
Raith finally carved the lead just three minutes after the break when Dylan Easton drove into the box from the right and drew a stop from Mark Ridgers.
A clearance was returned into the box and Euan Murray’s flick-on found Vaughan dinking a supercalm finish past Ridgers.
A driving run and strike saw Alex Samuel smack the bottom of the Raith post but Dabrowskiw denied Caley time and again – including a wonder save from Samuel’s snapshot.
Astonishingly Devine’s header then hit the bar, before James Carragher, son of the Liverpool legend, did the same as Rovers somehow held out.
Inverness boss Ferguson said: “We were absolutely fabulous – if anyone thinks we didn’t play well there’s something wrong with them. We battered the second-best team in the league. It was our best performance of the season, all we missed was the goal.
“Their goalie was man of the match, he saved everything, it was just so frustrating. But it was a great watch.”
Ferguson also said sorry for suggesting Arbroath would ”down tools” after their relegation and make Caley’s drop fight tougher.
He said: “I apologise for what I said. I’m sure Arbroath will be absolutely on it.”