Rovers boss still defiant after setback at Gayfield

Smith refuses to give up on pipping Ayr to title

ARBROATH1 RAITH ROVERS 1

Raith boss Barry Smith isn’t ready to concede the League One title to Ayr United despite the Kirkcaldy side now being five points behind their rivals with just three games to play.

Dropping two points at Gayfield on Saturday was a major blow for Rovers who looked to be on their way to victory with a first half Liam Buchanan penalty until Leighton McIntosh’s equaliser with 17 minutes remaining earned Arbroath a well deserved draw.

Smith remains defiant, saying: “We are going to keep fighting and make sure that if Ayr are going to win the league they’ll have to work hard for it.

“There’s three games to go and nine points to be won so we need to concentrate on getting these nine points then see what happens. It’s as simple as that, so that’s where our focus will be.”

The Gayfield clash was a gripping encounter with the balance of play swinging from one end to the other.

The Lich ties looked the more menacing side in the early stages and twice came close to scoring within a 60-second spell midway through the first half.

Ryan Wallace was first to threaten when he got on the end of a Michael McKenna pass to fire wide, then Gavin Swankie volleyed inches past.

The home side passed up another great opportunity in the 37th minute when Wallace sent a glancing header beyond the far post.

Those misses proved costly as Raith took the lead, Buchanan beating David Hutton rom the spot after being brought down by Tom O’Brien.

In the second period Iain Davidson came close to extending Rovers’ lead with a shot which was deflected over the bar by his team-mate Jason Thomson

The Lichties were always threatening and grabbed an equaliser, McIntosh blasting home a Josh Skelly corner.

There was more drama when Arbroath were awarded a free-kick inside the box after sub keeper Graeme Smith gathered a passback, but Ryan McCord was unable to beat the wall.

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell was satisfied with the outcome which saw his side edge ahead of Alloa into third position. A play-off spot is almost secure despite fifth-placed Stranraer still not being out of the reckoning.

He said: “It’s dragging on a bit but we’d probably have to lose all our remaining games to miss out.”

Barry Smith: focusing on winning the remaining three games.