First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED REMAIN TOP DESPITE DEFEAT IN KIRKCALDY

16th February 2024

RAITH ROVERS 2 (RUDDEN '10, BROWN '88)
DUNDEE UNITED 1 (MOULT '39)
7.45PM FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2024
STARK'S PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 7,923

Despite a number of chances, Scott Brown's late strike was enough to secure all three points for the hosts. 

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin made two changes for tonight's top-of-the-table clash at Stark's Park.

Following a goal and an assist last time out, Tony Watt returned to the side as skipper alongside Kai Fotheringham. Alex Greive was named on the bench whilst Ross Docherty missed out. 

Sam McClelland was also amongst the substitutes for the first time as The Gaffer opted to stick with Ross Graham and Kevin Holt in the heart of defence. 

After being recalled from his loan spell, Miller Thomson also featured on the bench - one of six DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad.

HUSTLE AND BUSTLE

It was all action in the opening minutes, with both sides playing in and around the penalty boxes. 

Zac Rudden forced Jack Walton into an early save, his effort from a narrow-angle being beaten away by the United 'keeper.

Just a minute later, Kevin Dabrowski was called into action at the other end following a sweeping United move. A delicious slide-rule pass from Scott McMann found Glenn Middleton in behind, and his cutback found Watt on the penalty spot. Firing low at goal, he forced Dabrowski into a smart stop to keep the score level.  

ROVERS AHEAD

On the ten-minute mark, the hosts hit the front through Rudden as he flicked Liam Dick's low cross over Walton. There was an air of fortune around the opener, as the Rovers striker appeared to be in an offside position as the ball was delivered. 

The Terrors had more joy down the left, this time the square ball found Louis Moult, whose effort was just too high of the mark. 

Josh Mullin twice had chances to double the hosts' advantage. He fired just wide of goal from a narrow-angle as the ball ricocheted into his path before being played in by Rudden and forcing Walton into another low stop.  

BACK ON TERMS

The frantic action continued as Moult was on target five minutes from the half. 

David Wotherspoon's out-swinging corner found the head of Graham who battled a challenge to nod it down, and Moult was on hand to turn it home from close range to restore parity. 

We almost had our second a few moments later as the ball trickled through to Middleton but Dabrowski was out quickly to close the angle.

Sibbald was cautioned in the final flashpoint as a frantic first half was brought to a close by Don Robertson. 

NOT SETTLING

The Terrors were out with a point to prove, again starting on the front foot and finding joy down our left. 

Calm play from Graham at the back allowed him to pick out Watt in the middle of the park, and his neat touch spun him around the corner to find Middleton. As he raced towards the box, his cross looked certain to cause problems for the hosts before being deflected behind for a corner - nothing doing in the end. 

Unlocking the Rovers' midfield, Wotherspoon then teed up Watt on the edge of the box. Our number 32 took one touch to set himself before firing just high of the mark on his weaker left foot. 

Graham went close himself when he met Wotherspoon's freekick, unfortunately, his glancing header landed just wide of the far post. 

 
A CRUEL END

The home side found themselves back in front late on courtesy of a stunning strike from second-half substitute Scott Brown. As the ball was cleared out of the box, Brown controlled it on the chest before firing a half-volley into the top corner from 25 yards.  

 

In a last-gasp attempt to salvage a point, Holt forced Dabrowski into another save with a close-range header, but it wasn't to be as the hosts took all the points. 

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
TEAMLINES

RAITH ROVERS

Starting XI: Dabrowski, Brown, Dick (c), Watson, Murray, Vaughan, Smith, Mullin, Stanton, Byrne, Rudden

Subs: McNeil, Connolly, Matthews, Corr, Turner, Hamilton, Brown, Easton, McGill

DUNDEE UNITED

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Graham, Grimshaw, Moult, Wotherspoon, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, Watt (c), McMann

Subs: Newman, McClelland, Greive, Tillson, Meekison, Mochrie, MacLeod, Cudjoe, Thomson

NEXT UP

We're back on home soil as Queen's Park make the trip to Tannadice next Saturday. 

Tickets are available HERE!

 

Images: Richard Wiseman.

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