Raith Rovers 1-1 Airdrie: Cup tie still in balance

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 14:54

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Ten man Raith fight back for replay against a lacklustre Airdrie United

By Will Lyon

Aberdeen will have to wait a little longer before learning their cup fate.

Raith Rovers and Airdrie United sought to put weekend defeats in the league to the back of their mind, and instead focused on getting a date with the Dons in the Scottish Cup.

However, the two teams frustrated their fans after a scrappy 1-1 draw at Starks Park and will now have to settle the tie for good on Wednesday night.

With a potential money spinner against Mark McGhee's men in the next round there was plenty to play for, but a combination of nerves and a poor quality pitch meant it was never going to be a spectacle.

It was Airdrie who came out of the blocks flying. After just five minutes, John Baird beat Rovers Craig Wilson at the edge of the box and he slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Rovers looked rattled and Airdrie continued to apply the pressure, rarely letting the Kirkcaldy side into their half. However, on the 15th minute, against the run of play, Raith’s Iain Williamson crossed the ball to Darren Smith who hit a fantastic effort with his left foot only for Airdrie goalkeeper Stephen Robertson to tip wide of the goal.

Airdrie, alarmed by the Rovers attack, resumed control of the match and after 29 minutes they received a further boost when Stephen Simmons’ awkward tackle on goal scorer Baird was met with a red card from referee Steven Nicholls. The whistle blower looked to have made the right decision as Simmons’ studs did appear to intentionally connect with Baird’s leg.

United piled even more pressure on the Rovers and it looked to be only a matter of time before Airdrie had finished the home side off. The moment presented itself on the 34th minute when Airdrie striker Paul Keegan found himself one on one with Raith keeper David McGurn inside the 6 yard box, but McGurn instinctively spread himself and made a phenomenal save.

The common saying is that ‘goals change games’, but in this case it would be ‘fantastic saves change games’ as Rovers started to play with confidence after McGurn’s stop.

Raith came out in the second half with a sense of urgency and 11 minutes after the break they received their reward as Airdrie defender Marc Smyth scored an own goal. Allan Walker’s corner was flicked on by Laurie Ellis but Smyth looked to be caught in two minds and headed the ball into the back of his own net.  

The Rovers battled hard and matched Airdrie for the majority of the second half despite having just ten men. Both sides had chances, but desperate, last minute defending kept the ball out of the goals.

However, after a gut busting second half effort from Rovers, their players started to tire and Airdrie threw men forward in the final ten minutes and the Lanarkshire side really should have secured their place in the 5th round. In injury time Kevin Watt sliced a shot across the Raith goal, which found an unmarked Kevin McDonald, but the Airdrie midfielder could only hit his effort at the grateful Rovers goalkeeper. Nine times out of ten, McDonald would have found the net, but on the day it just wasn’t to be.

Airdrie will feel extremely disappointed at not finishing off their ten man opponents, while Rovers will just be grateful that they’re still in the cup. Both sides need to brush themselves down quickly as they will battle again just two days later on Wednesday 27th Janaury. The replay is at New Broomfield in Airdrie and if the teams are still level after 90 minutes, the tie has to be settled in extra time, or penalties if need be.

Raith Rovers: McGurn, Wilson, Ellis, Campbell, Murray, Walker, Williamson (Sloan 74), Simmons, K. Smith, Tade (Russell 84), D. Smith (Hill 74). Subs Not Used: Weir, O’Connor
Booked: Williamson. Sent Off: Simmons. Goal: Smyth (og) 56.

Airdrie United: Robertson, Parratt (Watt 87), Storey, Smyth, Donnelly, McLaughlin (Waddell 70), McCann, McDonald, Keegan (Gemmill 71), Baird, Trouten. Subs Not Used: David Nixon, Lee Hollis.
Booked: Parratt, Trouten. Goal: Baird 5.

Attendance: 1,599
Referee: Steven Nicholls