Raith Rovers wrap it up late against Alloa

Innes Cameron gave the visitors the lead in the first half but second half goals from Iain Davidson, Regan Hendry and Jamie Gullan secured the Rovers’ win.

The victory saw Raith leapfrog Fife rivals Dunfermline back into second spot in the Championship table ahead of their meeting at Stark’s Park this Friday.

John McGlynn made three changes to the team which lost away to Arbroath last time out, Dylan Tait, Gozie Ugwu and Jamie Gullan dropping to the bench with Ross Matthews, Brad Spencer and Manny Duku coming in.

Raith probably shaded the opening spell of the match and almost took the lead in the eighth minute.

An Armstrong corner was cleared but when the same player played it back in it fell to Kai Kennedy in the six yard box but Alloa keeper Neil Parry got down well to block.

Early encouragement for Rovers then, so it came a bit of a shock when they found themselves behind five minutes later with a goal that came almost in slow motion.

Kevin Cawley crossed and with the Raith defence posted missing an unmarked Innes Cameron left Jamie MacDonald with no chance – his well placed header giving the Wasps the lead.

Rovers shouted for a handball on 31 minutes but ref Steven Kirkland waved the claims aside before the linesman saved Manny Duku’s blushes when he raised his flag after the striker had missed an open goal tap in.

Half time arrived and the home side were probably unlucky to go in behind but they made amends in the second half and deserve much credit for keeping their composure when it looked like a goal may never arrive.

On 56 minutes Rovers looked to have equalised when Brad Spencer headed in from a corner but the referee blew for an infringement on Alloa keeper Parry.

Despite that setback Rovers kept plugging away and finally got their reward on 67 minutes.

A Kennedy free kick was headed towards goal, Parry – ahem – parried and defender Iain Davidson was on hand to knock it into and empty net to equalise.

Rovers now had their tails up and went looking for the goal to put them ahead and it duly arrived with eight minutes to go through another unlikely source.

Kennedy latched onto the ball in the centre of the park and slipped the ball through to Regan Hendry who strode forward and finished with a sweetly struck shot low into the Alloa net.

The home side now looked good for the win and they wrapped up the points as the match moved into the final minute.

With Alloa committing men forward in search of an equaliser Rovers broke and this time Hendry was the provider, playing the ball wide to sub Gullan who cut in unchallenged from the left and made no mistake.

But there was time for some more late drama. Ross Matthews fouled Stefan Scougall, giving a stonewall penalty to the visitors deep into injury time.

Up stepped Alan Trouten but MacDonald guessed correctly and dived to his right to pull off a superb save and keep Rovers’ two-goal advantage as the game came to an end.