Match report - Raith Rovers v Partick Thistle
Raith Rovers 1 v 1 Partick Thistle
Saturday 13 September 2009 3.00 pm Stark’s Park, Kirkcaldy
Reporter Alan Murray
Referee: Frank McDermott
It was a glorious day in Kirkcaldy. I made my way up on the city center bus, getting into Kirkcaldy at around quarter too two. Plenty of time for me to sample a cheese burger then down to the Starks park Pub for two lovely pints of Stella. Perfect preparation for the game I am sure you will agree.
McCall switched the formation again for this game. He went 4-4-2 with Simon Donnelly taking up the right side position of the midfield.
Both sides started well and the pace of Tade and Casalinuovo was causing problems to the thistle defense. Tade was involved in a simulation incident when going down under minimal or no contact in the box. This correctly earned him a booking.
Tade was involved to better effect after the 20th minute he showed excellent pace to take him away from Paul Paton but rather wasted an excellent position with a misplaced cross into the box.
Raith should have been one up after the 36th minute - Iain Williamson was straight throughwith only Tuffey to beat, he rounded the Thistle goalie but Cairney managed to clear the ball off the line. An excellent piece of play by the impressive youngster.
After the 41st minute jags where down to 10 men for the second time this season. Corcoran was taken down in a bad challenge - then Buchanan was showed the red card. I can only assume he lifted his hands but Ian McCall is arguing his case on the official site with his post match reaction.
Half time - a good opening to the game for both sides - Raith possibly just have the better of it.
Bryan Hodge was introduced at half time to replace Simon Donnelly.
After the 65th minute Kris Doolan was waiting to be introduced with him replacing Corcoran. His last kick off the ball was a well worked move but his not able to finish it off.
Doolan was making the difference that McCall would have been looking for and had a shot just wide of the post shortly after coming on.
Raith came close through the very impressive Casalinuovo after the 62nd minute. He drove a shot just past Tuffey in the goal. If only he was our loan signing.
Casalinuovo then put Raith ahead after sub Sloan put in an excellent cross for the on loan striker to powerfully header past Tuffey. He appeared to have lost his marker and McCall did not name the offender but I would guess it was John Roberson.
Casalinuovo shortly after nearly made it two - he found himself in plenty of space in front of goal but was unable to get the direction to see his shot past Tuffey.
16 minutes remaining and McCall calls over Jim Hamilton over sending him on to replace Rowson. McCall was now going two upfront to try to get the equalizer that the Jags pressure merited.
With seven minutes remaining the number’s were even. Mark Campbell was repeatedly bumping into Jim Hamilton which was stopped by Mawell who shoulder charged Campbell away. This brought a second yellow card to Campbell and a yellow to Hamilton. There was absolutely no reason for Hamilton to be booked.
Thistle did get what they deserved through a Kris Doolan overhead kick. A corner by Paul Cairney was cleared only as far as Roberson who nodded the ball onto a Doolan overhead kick. Jags fans going wild in the away end was the result.
Doolan had two further chances and he will be disappointed he never took one of them.
Man of the match - Both Maxwell and Roberson had good games in defense. Rowson played well in midfield but Paul Cairney gets the nod.