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Raith Rovers 1-1 Aberdeen: Late strike forces replay
Monday, 08 February 2010 15:02
Dons drag the Rovers to cup replay at Pittodrie
By Will Lyon
Raith hearts were broken as Aberdeen’s Gary McDonald hit a last gasp strike to stop a huge cup upset.
The Kirkcaldy side took the lead thanks to a great volley by Iain Williamson, but Aberdeen stopped their progression with a late equaliser.
The two sides will meet a week on Tuesday at Pittodrie where a winner has to be decided on the night.
It was Aberdeen who started the match livelier and in the 7th minute only a finger tip save from Rovers keeper’ David McGurn kept a low Darren Mackie shot out of the net.
However, eight minutes later Dundee United loanee, Kevin Smith, turned well just outside the Dons 16 yard box but his left foot effort dribbled past Jamie Langfield’s post.
Both sides had half chances, but two last minute tackles on Derek Young and Steven MacLean from other Dundee United loan star, Johnny Russell, kept the score at 0-0.
Rovers then took advantage of Russell’s resolute tackling as the home side scored through Williamson on the 32nd minute, against the run of play. Craig Wilson swung a ball to the edge of the Aberdeen box which wasn’t properly dealt with by Jerel Ifil, as he allowed Williamson to drill a left foot shot past the despairing Langfield.
Dons fans held their heads in their hands as they found their team losing to lower league opposition once again, one of the supposed reasons for previous manager, Jimmy Calderwood, to lose his job in mid 2009.
However, Aberdeen almost hit back on the 37th minute when their corner pinballed around the Rovers box until Darren Mackie’s deflected shot looped up to the Rovers goal, but McGurn made a great arched save to tip the ball over the bar.
Five minutes before the break, Richard Foster hit a drive which deflected off Grant Murray and McGurn could only punch away the ball to McDonald who with the net gaping wide, sliced the chance straight into the grateful Raith goalkeeper’s hands.
The away side had been the better team in the first half, but Rovers defended well and headed in for the break with an unlikely lead.
Aberdeen almost made an instant impact when play restarted in the second half. Michael Paton cut in from the right, beating Laurie Ellis and hit a shot which took a deflection in the box, but Mackie at the back post couldn’t quite connect and the ball zipped wide.
Aberdeen, struggling to break down the Rovers, nearly found themselves down another goal on the 69th minute. Smith turned and beat McDonald at the edge of the Aberdeen box, but his well struck shot hit off the back of teammate Gregory Tade, the ball fell to Stephen Simmons but his curling shot was parried by Langfield.
As the final whistle approached Aberdeen pushed more defenders into the Rovers half but both Jim Paterson and Ifil’s attempts on goal were saved by McGurn.
Mark McGhee’s men were staring defeat in the face, but as Rovers fans held their fingers crossed in the last minute of added on time, disaster struck for the First Division side. A Sone Aluko cross was deflected forward by Charlie Mulgrew and McDonald was all alone inside the six yard box to place the ball into the top corner of the net. The Rovers defence protested for offside, but the referee wasn’t interested and the goal stood.
The injury time goal will have been hard to take for Raith, but over the course of the game Aberdeen did deserve the draw. The visitors will still be favourites to progress to the next round, but as Dunfermline dumped the SPL side out of the cup in a replay at Pittodrie last season, there’s every chance Rovers could emulate their local rival’s success in the next match.
