The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Satisfied boss sure Rovers are ready for big kick-off
RAITH ROVERS manager Grant Murray declared his team ready for the new season after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Premier League outfit Inverness CaledonianThistle.
Rovers went into the match on the back of a 5-0 hammering from Hearts in midweek but the performance against the Highlanders has boosted confidence ahead of the Kirkcaldy side’s first competitive match against Stirling Albion in the Ramsdens Cup this Saturday.
Murray said: “I’m happy with way we’ve performed in pre-season games.
“We were a bit disappointed to lose five goals in midweek, but we bounced back well today and showed good character against a very good side.
“The work rate was there as well. I feel we are ready for next Saturday — time will tell.”
Rovers were looking fit and sharp as they took the game to Inverness in the opening stages. The opener arrived in the sixth minute as Grant Anderson raced on to a pass from Liam Fox before drilling a low shot past Dean Brill from 14 yards.
Butcher’s men finally came to life in the 27th minute when Nick Ross broke the offside trap and tried to tee up Billy McKay for a tap-in, but defender Paul Watson raced back to make a superb last-ditch tackle.
Rovers took control again and doubled their lead in the 40th minute.
Calum Elliot, one of six new signings in the Raith starting line-up, smashed a firsttime volley in off the post after Dougie Hill’s attempt was deflected into his path.
The visitors pulled one back on the stroke of half-time in fortunate circumstances as defender Watson knocked the ball into his own net after a Nick Ross effort rebounded off the post.
The second half took a while to get going as both sides made a number of changes, while the hot conditions appeared to take their toll.
Inverness full-back Graeme Shinnie took matters into his own hands in the 75th minute, bombing forward and cutting into the box, but McGurn pushed his near post effort wide.
Rovers could have made it 3-1 a minute later as Fox brilliantly picked out Elliot in the box, but the striker’s poor touch allowed the ball to run through to Brill.
McGurn was called into action again in the 80th minute and did well to hold Aaron Doran’s powerful 20-yard strike. However, the Raith keeper could do nothing about the visitors’ equaliser just three minutes later as 18-year-old Liam Polworth, a half-time sub, fired a blistering strike into the top corner from 25 yards after Fox had mis-hit a clearance.
Raith Rovers: McGurn, Thomson, Booth, Watson, Hill (Ellis70), Fox, Anderson, Moon (Callachan 72), Smith (Spence 69), Elliot (Trialist 79), Cardle. Not used: Donaldson, Vaughan, Murray, Laidlaw.
Inverness: Brill, Raven (Cooper 88), Shinnie, Vincent, Warren, Meekings, McKay, Greenhalgh (Polworth 45), Foran, Doran, Ross (Williams 64). Not used: Devine, Tremarco, Christie, Mackay.