Steelmen draw credit for Raith

RAITH ROVERS continued to stifle Motherwell’s momentum ahead of the Champions League qualifier by earning a creditable 1-1 draw with the Steelmen last night.

Among the interested spectators at Stark’s Park was Dundee boss Barry Smith, who will no doubt be hurriedly doing his homework on SPL opposition but the Dens gaffer wouldn’t have been overly concerned by what he witnessed from the top flight side.

Home boss Grant Murray showed he is not afraid to tinker with his team by giving starts to young keeper Ross Laidlaw and exAlloa and Celtic striker Greig Spence, who is still trying to win a deal at Stark’s Park, while Laurie Ellis, who had his testimonial at the weekend, was rested on the bench.

After Steven Hetherington’s low drive failed to trouble Laidlaw early on, Rovers had a good opportunity in the 8th minute when Allan Walker was fouled by Jamie Murphy but Brian Graham saw his rasping free-kick palmed over by Darren Randolph.

Three minutes later Grant Anderson was given a sight of goal from Walker’s lay off but he sent his shot off target.

Hetherington seemingly had all the time in the world to put in a cross from the left and it was met by JoshWatt at the back post, although Laidlaw was able to touch it on to the post and out for a corner. Hetherington had another attempt blocked before Laidlaw tipped Michael Higdon’s header over.

Rovers were given a chance in the 28th minute to take the lead but Walker saw his free-kick easily dealt with by Randolph.

Then on 34 minutes, Murphy’s low cross from the left found Lee Erwin in the six yard box but Laidlaw did brilliantly to stop with his legs from point blank range.

Laidlaw was beaten four minutes later when Higdon’s 25-yard deflected drive wrong-footed the keeper but the ball trundled off the right-hand post and stayed out.

Well grabbed the lead in 67 minutes.

Rovers failed to clear an inswinging corner and it was Murphy bundled Higdon’s prodded effort goalwards over the line.

But with six minutes remaining Rovers were level. Jason Thomson got down the right and his pinpoint cross was met by Pat Clarke who steered his header beyond Randolph to level things up.

And it could have been even better for Rovers in stoppage time but Clarke saw his shot come back off the crossbar.

Raith: Laidlaw, Thomson, Malone (Donaldson 83), Murray (Ellis 74), Hill, S. Anderson (Callachan 63), G. Anderson, Walker, Graham, Trialist (Clarke 63), Hamill. Subs not used: Wilson, Main, McGurn (GK).

Motherwell: Randolph, Saunders, Hammell, Trialist, Page, Watt (Moore 63), Hetherington, Lasley, Murphy, Higdon, Erwin (Murray 63). Subs not used: Leitch, Asghar, Green, Stewart (GK). Crowd — 898. Referee — Stephen Finnie.