Raith go two points clear after win over East Fife

Posted Sunday, December 29, 2019 by PA

Scottish League One leaders Raith got back to winning ways in style on Saturday with a 5-3 victory at East Fife following last week’s shock home loss to Dumbarton.

Goals from James Gullan and Kieran MacDonald had Rovers two goals up within 21 minutes and, although Scott Agnew halved the deficit before the half-hour mark, strikes either side of half-time from MacDonald again and Dylan Tait put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.

The hosts were far from done, and made a game of it with further goals from Anton Dowds and Ryan Wallace, but Gullan’s second goal of the match – five minutes into stoppage time – sealed the win and Raith moved two points clear of second-placed Airdrieonians.

Airdrie needed a Dale Carrick penalty six minutes before the interval to gain a point against third-spotted Falkirk, who had taken the lead five minutes earlier through David McMillan.

Elsewhere, Andrew Steeves’ last-gasp winner handed Montrose a dramatic 3-2 win at second-bottom Forfar.

Ross Campbell had put the away side ahead on 13 minutes only for Ross Forbes to restore parity almost immediately, and then Murray MacKintosh’s 33rd-minute effort put Forfar ahead. But Graham Webster got the visitors back on level terms on 64 minutes and then Steeves broke home hearts at the death.

Connor Scullion’s goal five minutes from time looked to have secured Dumbarton victory over Stranraer, but the bottom club hit back three minutes later through James Hilton to nick a 1-1 draw.

And Peterhead were 2-0 winners over Clyde, thanks to goals from Derek Lyle and Scott Brown. The only sour note for the home team came right at the end when midfielder Simon Ferry was shown a straight red card for a bad challenge on Ray Grant.