The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Raith below par but stay six points clear at top
ROVERS: Vaughan misses out on club record as Kirkcaldy men see off Diamonds
RAITH ROVERS 2 AIRDRIEONIANS 0
Raith Rovers defender Jason Thomson netted for the third successive game in the 2-0 win over managerless Airdrieonians at Stark’s Park.
Thomson struck the vital opener with 16 minutes left before sub Dario Zanatta added a late second to maintain Rovers’ six-point lead at the top of League One.
The right back admitted that the performance was below recent standards, but he was delighted with the three points, another goal and another clean sheet.
“I don’t think we played particularly well,” he said.
“I think we’re going to see a lot of that, in the first half especially, when teams are sitting in and hitting us on the break. In the second half we came out and showed a bit of purpose and went a bit more direct.
“In the first half we were a bit laboured and slow and that can easily happen when teams sit in. You’re trying to play round them and there’s no space.
“We’ve stretched the game second half and luckily got the two goals. Those are arguably the better games to win rather than the 5-0s every week.
“It can be a bit more satisfying, but a win’s a win. It’s nice to be getting on the scoresheet and keeping clean sheets so if we can keep that going throughout the season we’re going to be right up there.”
While Thomson was extending his own scoring streak, team-mate Lewis Vaughan’s goal spree came to an end as he failed to find the net for the first time in 12 games, ending his hopes of setting a new club record.
“I’ve already said to him I’ll try and get that record for him now!” Thomson said.
“He was unlucky in the first half, hitting the bar, and you could see at the end he was desperate to get a goal. The boys are joking that he might start passing now he’s not getting the record.
“He’s been brilliant for us and is the type of player we’re going to need on days like that, getting into spaces and making things happen.”
Raith had goalkeeper Graeme Smith to thank for a number of saves as Airdrie frontman Willis Furtado posed a constant threat to the home defence.
Smith saved well with his legs after just three minutes as Furtado capitalised on a defensive mix-up, while he also forced the keeper to tip a 20-yard effort past the post.
At the other, Euan Murray tested Rohan Ferguson with a volley from the edge of the area that the Airdrie stopper did well to hold, while Vaughan went agonisingly close to his 16th of the season with a powerful 18-yard drive against the crossbar.
The first half ended goalless and Airdrie almost snatched the lead five mintues after the restart when Scott Robertson was short with a passback and Furtado’s effort was touched onto the outside of the post by Smith.
Raith were struggling to find a way through a packed Airdrie defence but the breakthrough arrived via a set-piece on 76 minutes when Vaughan’s corner was dropped by Ferguson and Thomson hooked the ball home.
Zanatta made sure of the points in the 89th minute, cutting inside from the right and firing a left foot effort that Ferguson allowed to slip through his hands.
Raith boss Barry Smith said: “It’s important that when we’re not at our best for the full game, we have to grind out a result, and we did that.
“Airdrie made it very difficult and we had to be patient to break them down, and eventually we got the two goals which I think we deserved in the end.”