The
visitors opened the scoring seven minutes from the half-time break. Grant
Anderson crossed the ball from the left flank into the Academy box and the
Scorries failed to clear their lines and in the midst of a melee of bodies the
ball fell to Graham and he poked home from close range off the post.
0 – 1
Stuart
Anderson was booked for blocking off a Ross Allan run, and Graham had a well
taken shot on the angle saved by Gray.
The last of
the first half action saw Gary Manson side-foot a shot to keeper David McGurn.
Half Time 0
– 1
The heavens
opened during the half-time break making the conditions tricky for both sides
during the remainder of the game.
Graham
started the second half with a great run and he beat the off-side trap and ran
in on goal. He blasted a right foot shot from 12 yards out and Gray made a
brilliant save getting a hand to the ball to send it wide of target.
Academy
squared the scores six minutes into the second half. Sam Mackay snapped up a
sloppy pass from Douglas Hill and slid it through to Lukasz Geruzel who marched
into the box and drilled the ball home to the delight of the Academy home support.
1 – 1
The
visitors regained the lead in the 57th minute. A corner was fired
into the Academy box and Edward Malone headed it towards the back post for Douglas
Hill to nod it into the net.
1 – 2
Raith
should have extended their lead in their next attack when Patrick Clark had
time to pick his sport but he blasted his attempt well wide of target.
Academy
heads could have dropped, but the home side showed their metal and Davie Allan
pounced an a short pass-back by Rovers player-manager Grant Murray and the
Academy striker made no mistake as he buried the equalizer to send the
Harmsworth Park into raptures, game on!
2 – 2
It was
Academy at this stage that were having a real go to try to win the game.
Cunningham drove a crossed ball which Geruzel headed just over target. Davie
Allan then hit the turbo and charged into the Raith box with ball at feet but
defender Jason Thomson made a fantastic last ditch tackle to stop Allan getting
a shot on goal as he cleared the ball for a corner. From the corner kick Alan
Farquhar got his head to the ball and his attempt was cleared off the line as
Raith looked rattled.
Raith
however stepped up a gear as the prospect of a shock defeat looked on the cards
and from a cleared corner kick Grant Anderson smacked a sweet volley into
the back of the net to break Academy hearts.
2 – 3
Academy
stuck to their task though and forced a corner that Geruzel headed over the
cross-bar.
Nine
minutes from full-time Alan Farquhar took a knock and had to be replaced by
Stewart Ross. In a blink before the Scorries could re-organise their defence
Raith scored their decisive 4th goal. Anderson crossed to the Academy back post and
Patrick Clarke headed home from close range to seal the win.
2 – 4
Academy
fought to the end but couldn't muster a grand-stand finish and the travelling
Raith support celebrated the win as referee Somers blew for full-time.
Full Time 2
– 4
really good game and at 2-2 looked as if they were going to record a famous upset,
but in the end Raith ran out deserving winners.
Associate Sponsor's man of the match Michael Gray
Pictured receiving his award
from Angus Mackay on behalf of Associate match sponsor A & J Mackay
Plumbing & Heating Ltd
Photograph – Eddie Doig
Sponsor's man of the match Brian Graham
Pictured receiving his award
from Megan Douglas on behalf of match sponsor Ramsdens
Photograph – Eddie Doig
