 Media report |
Raith Rovers reach Premiership play-off final after penalty kicks drama to overcome Partick Thistle. Lewis Vaughan was the penalty-kicks hero as Raith Rovers prevailed against Partick Thistle to reach the Premiership play-off final and give themselves a dream shot at promotion to the top-flight. A Ross Matthews header for Raith was sandwiched between Blair Alston’s double for Thistle in the first-half. But neither side could find another goal in a tense second period, meaning it was on to half an hour of extra-time. With no further scoring, the sides had to be separated by spot-kicks. Scott Brown missed for Raith and Jack McMillan and Ricco Diack were errant for Partick, leaving the dependable Vaughan to drill in the decisive kick to spark a jubilant pitch invasion. The Kirkcaldy men now take their bid to reach the top-flight on to the final against either St Johnstone or Ross County next week.
Frenetic start. With so much at stake and Raith’s advantage so slender, it was always going to be frantic right from kick-off. Rovers forced two corners in quick succession inside the first two minutes before there was a moment of concern for the home side. A quick Thistle break saw them threaten at the other end but Shaun Byrne timed his tackle on Scott Robinson to perfection to thwart the danger. It was end-to-end thrill-a-minute stuff and Scott Brown, scorer of Raith’s first goal at Firhill, saw a shot from a low corner blocked. Alston – the Jags’ hero in the first-leg – then tried his luck from fully 40 yards as the ambitious shot whistled past. With 15 minutes gone, Thistle got the breakthrough they craved to draw level in the tie. Euan Murray blocked a Scott Robinson shot and referee Steven McLean harshly awarded a free-kick – and even more harshly dished out a yellow card. Alston took full advantage dipping a low shot into the corner of the net as Robinson vacated a position beside the wall that appeared to be blocking Kevin Dabrowski’s view.
Rollercoaster takes another twist. Raith needed a quick riposte – and they got it in the 30th minute. The pressure built and built as the home side kept possession around the Thistle box, and eventually found the opening they wanted. Liam Dick’s superbly floated cross from the left picked out the late run of Matthews and the auxiliary full-back nodded precisely back across keeper David Mitchell into the net. Corr and Murray had produced two blocks in quick succession to save Rovers’ aggregate lead. But Thistle restored parity in the tie by taking the lead on the night for a second time in first-half injury-time. Dan O’Reilly, who spent the first half of the season at Raith, chipped in a pinpoint pass that Graham flicked on for Robinson. The striker touched the ball into the path of the breaking Alston, whose initial shot was repelled by Dabrowski. But, with Dabrowski still grounded, the midfielder had the simplest of tasks to knock the ricochet in from close range.
Second-half action. The goal had clearly lifted Thistle and they came out the blocks sharper after the break. Stanton drilled over when he might have done better for Rovers before a key intervention from skipper Brown in the 57th minute. An Aidan Fitzpatrick corner caused problems and, when O’Reilly drilled in a shot from just inside the box, Brown popped up on the line to save the day. At the other end 11 minutes later, the midfielder whistled a drive just beyond the top corner as Raith enjoyed a better spell. A Jack Hamilton header and a Stanton shot then caused panic in the Thistle box but were blocked bravely by the Thistle defence. Substitute Jack Hamilton then dragged an effort wide as the Stark’s Park men sought in vain a winner. And Graham should probably have got it for Partick with virtually the last kick of the ball as he fired over the bar under pressure from Murray.
Extra-time required. Thistle substitute Lewis Neilson almost made an instant impact with a run past two Raith tacklers and a shot that bounced just past. Moments later, Murray’s header from a Rovers corner was repelled and then Vaughan got in the way of Stanton’s follow-up shot. Thistle, in their third play-off match in the space of ten days, kicked off the second period of extra-time seizing the upper hand. With just three minutes remaining, Harry Milne’s fizzing drive was heading for the bottom corner before Dabrowski tipped it round the post to the tie into a penalty shoot-out. David Mitchell saved Rovers skipper Scott Brown's penalty to give the visitors the early advantage in the shootout, but Jack McMillan fired wide and then Ricco Diack hit the post to give Lewis Vaughan the chance to win it for the home side. Mitchell got his fingertips to the striker's spot-kick but could not keep it out, the successful penalty sparking jubilant celebrations - including from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown - at Stark's Park. The Kirkcaldy club will face Ross County or St Johnstone - whichever team finishes 11th in the Premiership table on Sunday - over two legs on Thursday, 23 May and Sunday, 26 May.
 Reaction |
Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan (speaking to Jagzone):
I thought from minute one to the end of extra-time we were the better team. Raith were hanging on at times and we had some great chances to win the game. They had a few half-chances as well I suppose, but I felt as if we were totally dominant, especially in the second half. It's a tough place to come to as we know as we've been through it, but the fact that we win the game, and win it well, it's just a shame that it doesn't count for us getting into the final, but I don't think we could have asked for anything more from the players. Looking back, we've came an awful long way and the club is certainly going in one direction. We're on a lot better footing this summer compared to where we were last year, and look where we ended up this year. There's a lot to be positive about. Yes, it hurts, it hurts for everybody, but there's plenty in there to be proud of, and to look forward to as well.
Raith Rovers manager Ian Murray (speaking to the BBC):
I'm exhausted. I'm delighted to be through but I have to give credit to Partick Thistle, they are a very good side. It was two teams going at it in the play-offs - a really good battle. A massive battle over two games. I felt in extra time they were on top. We gave away a lot of corners and a lot of free-kicks. When it comes to penalties, it is a lottery. But it is a fantastic moment. The players deserve credit going into that really high-pressure situation of penalties. A long season comes down to a 10-minute shoot-out - that's the cruelness of football at times. But I'm delighted my players showed their character, their hunger and they've shown what it means to the fans.
Dylan Corr
Callum Smith
