YAN FOR THE ROAD
Dhanda serves up parting gift to put Staggies in driving seat
RAITH ROVERS ..... 1 ROSS COUNTY ..... 2
YAN DHANDA promised to leave Ross County in the Premiership before heading to Hearts in the next few weeks.
And last night the Staggies star did more than anyone to ensure the relegation escape artists took a giant step towards back-to-back play-off survival.
A year after netting the penalty that sparked their miraculous final comeback against Partick, Dhanda held his nerve from 12 yards to despatch the opener at sodden Stark’s Park.
And his inch-perfect delivery from a corner then teed up Jack Baldwin to double the lead on 72 minutes.
Raith hauled themselves back into the tie with Sam Stanton’s late goal.
But Rovers were left cursing VAR after pulling out the stops to get the technology installed for their shot at a return to the top flight.
In it’s first ever action in Kirkcaldy the video assistants penalised Euan Murray for handball – and handed Dhanda his opener from 12 yards.
Over the course few could complain at the result as the Premiership side showed their class. But Stanton’s late goal at least gives Raith hope that their Premiership dream could yet be saved.
Indeed to pinch a catchphrase former hero Marvellous Marvin Andrews – who got a rapturous reception during a half-time appearance – Ian Murray’s men can still believe.
It’s been 27 years since Raith last graced the top flight.
But their fans packed Stark’s Park and were bursting with belief Murray’s men were set to end that long wait.
Staggies fans could have been forgiven for expecting the worst having won just one away game in the entire Premiership campaign – that coming way back in September.
Had they held out in injury time against St Johnstone last midweek that would have been two – and they wouldn’t have been here last night.
But that’s history and Don Cowie knew it was going to take an almighty effort to save their top-flight status against a Raith side that pushed Dundee United in the Championship.
He stuck by the starting XI that drew with Aberdeen on Sunday while Raith made just one change from their semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Partick as Kyle Turner dropped out against his parent club and was replaced by Jack Hamilton.
The contest took off at a ferocious pace, aided by the slick plastic surface, with County in particular looking keen to get their noses in front.
Dylan Corr’s panicked clearance from a cutback almost cannoned into his own goal off the back of Simon Murray. The Staggies certainly weren’t looking like a side feeling sorry for themselves after slipping into the play-off spot so late in the day.
Cowie’s men were zipping the ball about for fun and showing their Premiership class while Raith defended for their lives just to stay level. And it took a well-timed lastditch challenge from Ross Matthews to deny Murray a tap-in after a neat run and pass from Dhanda.
County defender Ryan leak went into the book for hauling down Rovers flying machine Aidan Connolly as he raced down the right flank and Murray was off target with his header from the resultant corner.
Raith’s top scorer lewis Vaughan got his first sight of goal in the 40th minute and Stark’s Park held its breath as he lined up a 20-yard free-kick only to blast straight into the wall.
Down the other end Will Nightingale had a drive from distance deflected for a corner.
And from Dhanda’s delivery Baldwin
showed he can play a bit too as he danced past two challenges before drawing the first save of the game from Kevin Dabrowski.
Raith came out of the traps for the second half with renewed vigour and Connolly saw a left-footed effort just evade the far post with Ross Laidlaw beaten.
But that brief ray of hope was soon extinguished when Eli King’s drive was deflected wide – and VAR decided to get involved for the first time ever at Stark’s Park.
Safe to say the home fans weren’t impressed with the new gizmo at their ground.
Their anger deepened when John Beaton was sent to the monitor by video assistant Alan Muir. And, when that happens, 99 per cent of the time there’s a decision to be made.
This time it was penalty after checks showed it had come off the underside of Murray’s arm.
And Dhanda showed nerves of steel to slam the spot-kick high off the inside of Dabrowski’s post.
Raith needed a response and almost got it seven minutes later when Laidlaw was caught out his goal and Connolly’s low drive was hacked off the line by Leak.
The game was opening up and Dabrowski pulled off a super save low to his left to deny King.
It was just delaying matters though and from Dhanda’s corner Baldwin rose high to power home a header from six yards and double County’s lead.
It looked very much like game over. But Raith weren’t for lying down.
And Stanton gave them hope heading to Dingwall on Sunday when he applied the finishing touch to Matthews’ cross after a sensational pass in behind from Shaun Byrne.
Corr then was inches away from a dramatic injury-time leveller when he got on the end of Josh Mullin’s free-kick but headed wide.