Dunfermline v Raith Rovers

24 November 2023

Dunfermline Athletic

0

3

HT 0 - 1

Raith Rovers

Jack Hamilton (15), Sam Stanton (65), Lewis Vaughan (70)

Dunfermline Athletic

Raith Rovers

Jack Hamilton (15), Sam Stanton (65), Lewis Vaughan (70)

3

The Scottish Gas Scottish Cup third round draw threw up this the fourth Fife derby of the season so far.

The Pars will hope to take advantage of the home draw in this cup derby. While the Kirkcaldy side have won both the Championship fixtures this season by 1-0, Ian Murray, the Raith manager, has admitted that his team has found Dunfermline difficult opponents to overcome. The first meeting this season was at Stark’s Park in the Viaplay Cup, a game Dunfermline won on penalties.

A Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers is a relative rarity, the last Scottish Cup meeting was in January 2019. It was in the Scottish Cup that these sides first met in Dunfermline one hundred years ago and it has been 38 years since the Rovers came to KDM Group East End Park for a Scottish Cup tie. The record in this competition reveals three wins apiece.

The full Scottish Cup record v Raith Rovers

Milestones v Raith Rovers (home)

Last Home Victory | 06/04/22 | 2-0 | Championship
Last Home Defeat | 20/08/23 | 0-1 | Championship
Best Home Victory | 08/09/62 | 6-0 | Division One (old)
Best Home Victory | 01/01/68 | 6-0 | Division One (old)
Worst Home Defeat | 19/11/27 | 0-4 | Division One (old)
Last Goalless Home Draw | 04/05/21 | 0-0 | Premiership Play Off
First Ever Home Meeting | 10/02/23 | 0-3 | Scottish Cup

Last time in Scottish Cup
Saturday 19th January 2019
Raith Rovers 3 Dunfermline 0

The first Scottish Cup tie between these rivals for over 33 years attracted a crowd of over 6000, filling parts of Starks Park that many had forgotten about. The home manager, John McGlynn said in his programme notes that he hoped that all connected with Dunfermline would enjoy a traditional San Starko welcome!

Ten minutes into the second half and still at 0-0 the cup tie changed as a result of a red card shown to Pars captain Lee Ashcroft, deemed to be for a last man foul 20 yards out on Chris Duggan.

Raith went ahead from a 70th minute penalty. Mark Durnan tussled with Duggan in the box, referee Madden pointed to the penalty spot. Lewis VAUGHAN stepped up and found the left side of the net. 1-0

Raith Rovers struck again in 79th minute after a strong run up the right by Duggan to latch on to a through ball from Euan Murray. His cross was met with a stylist diving header from VAUGHAN 2-0.

To make matters worse a defensive mistake two minutes later let VAUGHAN in to complete his first ever hat trick at professional level as he crashed the ball home from the edge of the box for 3-0. For the 2794 travelling Pars fans the cup knock out was a bitter defeat.

RAITH ROVERS: Robbie Thomson: Euan Murray, Iain Davidson, Kyle Benedictus, Calum Crane: Dan Armstrong (Liam Buchanan 88), Grant Gillespie, Nat Wedderburn, Nathan Flanagan, Lewis Vaughan: Chris Duggan.
SUBS NOT USED: Tony Dingwall, Jamie Watson, David McKay, Ross Matthews, Jack Smith, Dean Lyness (GK).

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: James Craigen, Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling: Myles Hippolyte (Mark Durnan 57), Joe Thomson, James Vincent, Kallum Higginbotham (Matthew Todd 90): Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Robbie Muirhead 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Aidan Connolly, Callum Smith, Paul Allan, Cammy Gill (GK)

Last Twelve Meetings

Honours are even over the last dozen games. Dunfermline have won two of the last twelve meetings, lost four and six have been drawn.

19/10/23 | A | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 0 | Championship
26/08/23 | H | Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 1 | L | Championship
15/07/23 | A | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 1 | D | Viaplay Cup
06/04/22 | H | Dunfermline 2 Raith Rovers 0 | W | Championship
02/01/22 | A | Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 0 | D | Championship
26/10/21 | H | Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 1 | D | Championship
29/09/21 | A | Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 1 | D | Championship
08/05/21 | A | Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 0 | L | Premiership Play Off
04/05/21 | H | Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 0 | D | Premiership Play Off
27/03/21 | A | Raith Rovers 5 Dunfermline 1 | | L | Championship
03/02/21 | H | Dunfermline 4 Raith Rovers 1 | W | Championship
05/12/20 | A | Raith Rovers 2 Dunfermline 2 | D | Championship

Recent Form

Raith Rovers are on an eight game unbeaten run since they lost 1-0 away to Airdrieonians in September. Their only other defeat this season was in the Viaplay Cup away to Hibernian. They have only failed to score once in their 20 outings this season. They have conceded in every away match this season except their match in Dunfermline.

Dunfermline have won 6 of their 17 matches this season. Three of those wins are in the last eight matches. Despite not defeating the Rovers in the two league games between the sides this season, the Pars have competed well when it comes to matches between the sides.

League Stats

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 5th
League Points: 15
Goal Difference: -1
Home League Record: P6 W2 D1 L3 GF7 GA7
Last Six Match Form: LLLWLD

RAITH ROVERS
League Position: 2nd
League Points: 27
Goal Difference: +7
Away League Record: P6 W4 D1 L1 GF10 GA7
Last Six Match Form: WWWDWW

Last six matches

DUNFERMLINE
Inverness Caley Thistle (H) D 1-1
Dundee United (H) L 1-2
Morton (A) W 2-1
Raith Rovers (A) L 0-1
Ayr United (H) L 0-1
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-3

RAITH ROVERS
Hamilton Academical (A) W 4-1
Queens Park (A) W 3-2
Airdrieonians (H) D 1-1
Morton (A) W 2-1
Dunfermline (H) W 1-0
Montrose (H) W 3-1

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness CT): Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (Michael O’Halloran 70), Paul Allan, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Owen Moffat (Craig Wighton 70): Matty Todd (Alex Jakubiak 60), Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Comrie, Miller Fenton, Harrison Sharp (GK), Max Little (GK)

RAITH ROVERS (v Hamilton Academical): Kevin Dabrowski: Ross Millen, Scott Brown, Adam Masson (Callum Hannah 45), Liam Dick: Shaun Byrne: Aidan Connelly, Sam Stanton (Dylan Corr 87), Dylan Easton: Jamie Gullan (Josh Mullin 86), Jack Hamilton (Callum Smith 78).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Vaughan, Robbie Thomson.

Other Scottish Cup ties

Cumnock Juniors v Broomhill
Partick Thistle v Queens Park
Morton v Bo’ness
Annan Athletic v Dumbarton
Stranraer v Airdrieonians
Dunbar United v Alloa Athletic
Broxburn Athletic v Buckie Thistle
Hamilton Academical v Kelty Hearts
Brora Rangers v Pollok
Clyde v Jeanfield Swifts
Montrose v Edinburgh City
Falkirk v Formartine United
Stirling Albion v Cove Rangers
Inverness Caley Thistle v Cowdenbeath
Peterhead v Ayr United
Tranent v Forfar Athletic
Queen of the South v Dundee United
The Spartans v Arbroath
Albion Rovers v Bonnyrigg Rose

Last 12 Meetings

28/10/23	Raith Rovers	1	Dunfermline	0
26/08/23	Dunfermline	0	Raith Rovers	1
15/07/23	Raith Rovers	1	Dunfermline	1
06/04/22	Dunfermline	2	Raith Rovers	0
02/01/22	Raith Rovers	0	Dunfermline	0
26/10/21	Dunfermline	1	Raith Rovers	1
29/09/21	Raith Rovers	1	Dunfermline	1
08/05/21	Raith Rovers	2	Dunfermline	0
04/05/21	Dunfermline	0	Raith Rovers	0
30/03/21	Raith Rovers	5	Dunfermline	1
03/02/21	Dunfermline	4	Raith Rovers	1
05/12/20	Raith Rovers	2	Dunfermline	2

Last 6 Matches

Dunfermline Athletic	Raith Rovers
D Inverness Caley Thistle (Home) 1-1	W Hamilton Academical (Away) 4-1
L Dundee United (Home) 1-2	W Queens Park (Away) 3-2
W Greenock Morton (Away) 2-1	D Airdrieonians (Home) 1-1
L Raith Rovers (Away) 0-1	W Greenock Morton (Away) 2-1
L Ayr United (Home) 0-1	W Dunfermline Athletic (Home) 1-0
L Partick Thistle (Away) 0-3	W Montrose (Home) 3-1

It is over one hundred years since Raith Rovers won a Scottish Cup tie at KDM Group East End Park but then there has only been one cup tie played there since. James McPake’s men set out to repeat the success of December 1985 when the Pars went through 2-0 winners with goals from Ian Heddle and John Watson.

The Dunfermline starting eleven saw two changes from that which kicked off against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the previous game; Aaron Comrie and Alex Jakubiak starting in place of Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Matty Todd. There were four changes in the visitors line up from the one that defeated Hamilton Academical’s in the SPFL Trust Trophy the previous Saturday. Lewis Vaughan, Josh Mullin, Dan O’Reilly and Callum Smith replacing Adam Masson, Liam Dick, Shaun Byrne and Jamie Gullan. Raith’s starting eleven contained only one player born this millennium – 23 year old Jack Hamilton. The Pars were a younger side with only Deniz Mehmet, Aaron Comrie, Joe Chalmers and Alex Jakubiak children of the nineties.

Owen Moffat kicked off for the home side attacking the goal in front of the away support and on two minutes Comrie forced the first corner of the tie. Chalmers into the six yard box was dangerous and it evaded everyone with Lewis McCann coming closest to converting.

In sixth minute Chris Hamilton cut out a threatening cross sent in from the left by Dylan Easton. Next Aidan Connelly delivered a cross from the right that supplied Hamilton with a chance but his shot was deflected behind off Vaughan. Then in 12 minutes a Ross Millen cross provided Hamilton with a headed opportunity that cleared the crossbar.

Dunfermline responded with a great driving run from Moffat that earned a corner that was unfortunately all too easily defended. Then a penetrating run from Easton created the opener. He worked his way from his own half deep into the left side of the Dunfermline box and his cut back found HAMILTON who slotted home from close in. 0-1

With the confidence from going ahead Raith kept up the pressure and in 27 minutes former Pars created another good chance. Millen crossed and Smith fortunately shot wide left when in with a good chance of notching Raith a second.

The Raith keeper, Kevin Dabrowski, was only tested with cross balls from Moffat and Comrie. Moffat’s 37th minute shot from an acute angle was then also held by the Polish stopper. A good forward pass from Comrie found McCann three minutes later and after controlling and picking his pass the Pars striker was unlucky to see his final ball aimed at Allan and Jakubiak in front of goal intercepted.

The half closed with Dabrowski parrying away a good Moffat from 25 yards out but had been a first half dominated by Raith Rovers and you could only hope that it would be a game of two halves!

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Raith Rovers 1

The home side did start the second half with renewed vigour but just seven minutes in search of an impact, James McPake made a double substitution with Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Matty Todd replacing Alex Jakubiak and Joe Chalmers.

It was Raith who came close to scoring in 56 minutes however when Mullin found himself in space in the D to fire on target but his shot deflected off Hamilton and over the bar. At the other end Smith saw yellow for upending Ritchie-Hosler but the free kick from the right was blown up for pushing in the box.

Roared on by the home crowd Dunfermline did all the pressing the Rovers appeared rattled but they would hit back with a goal from a setpiece in 65 minutes. Fisher was penalised for a challenge and when delivered from 40 yards out on the right, Sam STANTON nipped in to find the Dunfermline net. 0-2

The two goal deficit became three when Lewis VAUGHAN produced a fantastic strike from a free kick taken on the right side of the home penalty box. 0-3

McCann had an opportunity two minutes later but drove the ball across goal and out on the left. Then he headed an Edwards cross at the keeper and nothing was going the Pars way. It looked like things might have swung when O’Reilly was deemed to have fouled Fisher in the right side of the penalty box and Willie Collum awarded the Pars an 80th minute penalty. Unfortunately when McCann shot Dabrowski was able to get his left hand to the ball and directed it behind off his crossbar.

A Pars corner in 88th minute was greeted with a quite ripple and that was defended. There was no way back, it would be Raith Rovers in the hat for Sunday evening’s Fourth Round draw. Their 3-6-1 formation proved effective in yielding chances which they took to great effect. As for Dunfermline it truly was a Black Friday.

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Chris Hamilton (c), Ewan Otoo (Craig Wighton 77): Aaron Comrie, Paul Allan, Joe Chalmers (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 52), Josh Edwards: Owen Moffat: Alex Jakubiak (Matty Todd 52), Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Michael O’Halloran, Max Little (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Otoo (64)

RAITH ROVERS: Kevin Dabrowski: Ross Millen, Scott Brown (c), Daniel O’Reilly, Callum Smith (Scott McGill 86): Aidan Connelly, Josh Mullin, Sam Stanton, Dylan Easton: Lewis Vaughan: Jack Hamilton (Jamie Gullan 78).
SUBS NOT USED: Dylan Corr, Callum Hannah, Robbie Thomson (GK)
SCORERS: Hamilton (15), Stanton (65), Vaughan (70)
YELLOW CARD: Hamilton (54), Smith (57), Vaughan (71), O’Reilly (80), Connelly (80)

REFEREE: Willie Collum
WEATHER: Fine 2°C
ATTENDANCE 5243

NEXT MATCH: cinch Championship (home) v Arbroath, Tuesday 28th November 2023, kick off 7.45pm at KDM Group East End Park

The winner(s) for the 50/50 DAFC v Raith Rovers draw which ended on November 24, 2023 8:30 pm was as follows: Ticket Number WEB9469