The Lichties matched their opponents for much of the 90 minutes, apart from in front of goal where a lack of a goalscoring threat meant there was no comeback to Raith's quick-fire double in the first half.

Despite the poor weather conditions the home side started brightly winning a couple of free kicks on the edge of the area. The first after 40 seconds, following a heavy challenge on Scott Gates by Mark Campbell, was well struck by Barry Sellars but David McGurn was alert to the danger and palmed the ball away for a corner.

Two minutes later and on the edge of the area Steven Weir was fouled by Alan Walker. Weir himself took the free kick and, while McGurn was left motionless, his shot from just outside the box slid past the right-hand post.

After starting slowly the visitors came into the game and made their first chance after nine minutes when Gary Wales burst through the defence but Jamie Bishop checked his run before easing the forward off the ball.

Three minutes later and defender Craig Wilson sped into the Arbroath half and forced a good save from the outstretched Darren Hill.

After 17 minutes Wilson delivered a decent corner which Mark Ferry headed inches over the bar with Raith piling on the pressure.

And that pressure told after 20 minutes. A long ball forward was missed by Robbie Raeside who seemed to slip on the underfoot conditions. The well-placed Alan WALKER took full advantage to close in on goal and hit a fierce shot across the goalkeeper to open the scoring.

Things got worse for Arbroath just two minutes later when FERRY launched a speculative half-volley from 30 yards that spun on the wet surface and squeezed in at the near post past the 'keeper.

Barry Sellars had two chances before the interval to get on the scoresheet. The Arbroath captain smashed one effort just over the bar after 28 minutes after a poor touch by Campbell just outside the box.
A free kick followed in the 40th minute, a low drive that needed the merest of touches from the advancing players to find the back of the net.

Half-time: Arbroath 0, Raith Rovers 2.

Rovers made the first chance of the second half when a poor headed back pass by on-loan Dundee defender Craig Forsyth was intercepted by Graham Weir but he could only find the side netting.

On the hour mark Robert Sloan hit a curling shot from inside the box that beat Hill but drifted past the upright.

Six minutes later Weir, whose brother Steven lined up in the Arbroath ranks, had a decent strike well saved by Hill from close range.

A good chance came in the 71st minute when Gates was fouled allowing Weir a crack at goal from the free kick. His effort from just outside the box was well struck but McGurn had it covered and punched the ball over. From the resulting corner John Fraser headed across goal but Reilly slipped and inadvertently handled.

Moments later Arbroath's best chance of the game fell to Scott Gates. A slip by Andrew Cook put Gates one-on-one with the 'keeper but McGurn stayed tall to easily block and then gather Gates' shot.

As Arbroath looked to get on the scoresheet Gates had a further chance after 74 minutes when Weir played in Reilly to drive the ball across the face of goal. Gates arrived but failed to connect cleanly and McGurn managed to tip the ball wide.

Rovers created the last good chance of the game in the 81st minute when Iain Davidson's header was cleared off the line by Gates.


Arbroath: Hill 6, Rennie 6, Raeside 6, Bishop 6, Forsyth 6, McMullen 5 (Smith, 60 6), Forsyth 6, Sellars 6, Gates 7, Simpson 7 (Reilly 68, 6),
Weir 5.
Not used: Masson, Campbell, Morrison.
Booked - Robbie Raeside (63), Steven Weir (67).
Raith: McGurn, Wilson, Cook, Campbell, Ellis, Sloan (Silvestro 75), Davidson, Walker, Wales (Smith 60), Weir (Bryce 83) Ferry.
Not used: McCabe, O'Conner
Booked - Craig Wilson (39)
Refereee - David Somers
Attendance - 855