The rain has cleared, the sun in shsining and any fears of a pitch inspection turn out to be redundant. There’s a healthy crowd inside Starks as expected with around 2500 Dundee fans, the majority of which are in fine voice.
We start with the same 11 as last week, the only change the 16 being Cowan getting a slot on the bench over Benedictus. No sign of Mickael Antoine Curier. Interesting.
Bullock
Paton McKenzie Lauchlan Malone
Hart McHale Cameron GGH
McMenamin Higgins
Dundee start off shooting towards the home fans. Raith have just unfurled the Second Division Champions flag and have around 200 balloons on the pitch (not the players, actual balloons) as the game gets going which makes the first couple of minutes pretty farcical.
Finally, we get into the swing of things after 3 minutes when GGH finds space on the left. After skinning somewhere in the region of 4 (four) Raith players (I lost count after a while), he is hauled down and subsequently sends McGurn the wrong way from the spot. Just the start we wanted.
Things seem very comfy early on. Steven Simmons gets taken off after 13 minutes after taking a knock and is replaced by Darren Smith. He dishes out some abuse to Malone as he leaves the pitch. People love giving Malone abuse. I think he enjoys it deep down.
Hart and Tade collide on the left and we win a ridiculous free kick about 25 yards out. Raith fans are rightfully incensed as GGH sends the free kick straight at McGurn.
We’re not quite creating chance after chance but things feel like a stroll in the sunshine after 20 minutes. At the time of writing, it seems unbelievable that we actually had a couple of minutes of ‘ole’s as we knock it about. Raith gradually come into the game but I’m not too concerned as I don’t see them scoring.
30 minutes played and Raith score.
Graham Weir spins Lauchlan brilliantly and sends Smith free on the left. His cross is dangerous and is met by Iain Williamson who knocks it past Bullock into the corner. Credit where its due, it’s a decent goal.
Unthinkably, the next ten minutes sees things turn round to the extent that it’s a completely different game.
Big Tade upfront is a handful and McKenzie is booked for pulling him down. If his touch hadn’t taken him away from goal, Gary would’ve been off.
A few minutes before half time and Raith go infront. A corner to the back post is headed across by Hill who beats Lauchlan in the air and it eventually breaks to Laurie Ellis who side foots it home. 2-1 down and the boo boys are now drowning out the Derry choir.
After a few more minutes of relentless Raith pressure, we are delighted to reach half time to bring to an end 20 shambolic minutes. It hasn’t been a million miles away from last week’s first half except Raith are far more attacking and clinical than Morton. We’re a mess from back to front and are getting pumped as we go in.
The second half is one of the most entertaining 45 minutes I’ve seen for a while. I’ll squeeze in what I can remember.
Two minutes in and McKenzie under hit pass to Paton is dealt with poorly by the captain, allowing Smith to dispossess him and play in Tade who blazes it wide. Should’ve scored.
Eventually after more Raith pressure, we get going. Hart breaks well from midfield. With a striker either side of him, he plays in McMenamin on the left. He cuts inside and curls it over. It’s a poor finish but it’s a start and things really are end to end from here on in.
At the other end, Raith have their first of two/three penalty appeals turned down. We’re hanging on.
Everyone wants Griffiths on but instead it’s Brian Kerr who comes on for Hart on 62.
Finally we get the chance that our pressure has been leading up to. The ball breaks to Harkins on the edge. His shot goes over the keeper and looks in all the way before coming off the bar. Luckily, McMenamin is right on hand 3 yards in front of goal to knock it wide and seal his place on a Football Bloopers DVD this Christmas. An unbelievable miss.
We continue attacking. Harkins down the right this time cross for McMenamin who tries a bicycle kick and fluffs in completely. Harkins puts his head in his hands. As we all do.
Griffiths then gets his chance, replacing Higgins on 67.
Four minutes later, Weir goes down in our box. It looks a decent shout but the ref plays on as Tade gets to it first on the by line with Bullock way out his goal as he came to meet the ball. Tade tries to chip the keeper but it’s easily claimed by Bullock who hits an inch perfect 50 yard punt to Harkins in acres of space on the left. He cuts inside and plays it who to the near post where two attackes and two defenders meet it in a bit of a stramash before McMenamin eventually find space to thump it home for 2-2. Phew. It’s anyone’s game now.
We near sneak it a few minutes later. McMenamins low ball across breaks to Harkins in space but Raith have too many bodies in the box for him to squeeze it in.
The Raith bench are then up in arms as the 3rd appeal is turned down. It may have been outside the box – hard to tell from my angle.
Forsyth then comes on for McHale on 83. Cue unhelpful sarcastic cheers from some boo boys.
The game winds down to a pulsating finale. We finally get our big chance on 90 minutes. Malone plays beautiful chip to Forsyth in space on the left. His ball in is hard, low and perfect for the sliding McKenzie who sends it over from 3 yards right in front of goal. That was THE chance.
Raith have another free kick at the other end in the final seconds, which leads to a corner which leads to nothing.
Time up
I’ll state now that Raith had a lot more chances than I recorded and Bullock ended up having a really good game. It would’ve been very harsh of they were to lose it.
While we missed some sitters, make no doubt about it – we did not deserve to win this game. We can’t expect to play as badly as we do in the first half of games and expect to get out of jail every week. When games are stretched, we look good. When they’re not, we are outplayed in the middle of the park. Defensively too, we had to wait for the second half for things to tighten up – and even then Raith should’ve scored more.
Oh and Griffiths must start next week.
MOTM – Tough one but I’ll go for Paton.