John HughesRaith Rovers striker Jonny Court was left with mixed feelings after his first goal for the club was not enough to save the Kirkcaldy side from the relegation play-offs.
Raith overcame a first-minute red card to goalkeeper Pavol Penksa to earn a 2-1 victory over Ayr United at Stark’s Park, with Court notching the opener on his first start.
However, results elsewhere meant that the efforts of the 10 men were in vain and they will now need to negotiate two play-off ties to retain their Championship status.
“On a personal level, I’m happy but, for the club, I’m devastated,” said Court.
“The play-offs aren’t where we want to be but we just need to pick ourselves up and go again.
“There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves.
“We know we can do it.
“We can if we play like we did on Saturday. It’s as simple as that.”
Rovers needed to win and hope that St Mirren lost at Hibs but the 1-1 draw at Easter Road meant the Paisley side survived on goal difference, along with Dumbarton, as all three sides finished on 39 points.
“We took care of what we needed to do,” added Court.
“But we’re just gutted that Hibs never got a result for us.
“We could hear the fans when Hibs went 1-0 up and then the Ayr fans when St Mirren equalised.
“We knew it wasn’t all in our hands but we were just praying that Hibs could have done us a favour.
“It wasn’t to be.”
Raith now face Brechin City in the semi-final of the play-offs with the first leg at Glebe Park on Wednesday night ahead of the second leg at Stark’s Park on Saturday.
“Brechin will be a tough game, there’s no doubt about it,” Court added.
“We just have to play like we did on Saturday, with everyone giving everything and bursting themselves for the team. If we do that we’ll do all right.
“I’ve been out on loan in League Two, at East Stirling and at Montrose.
“I know a few boys who were here who are now at Brechin, boys like Dougie Hill, Elliot Ford, people like that.
“So we know they’re decent players. They’re not to be taken lightly, and we won’t.”
With reduced prices boosting the crowd to over 3,000 – and after being publicly criticised by manager John Hughes – it was a fired-up Raith side that took to the pitch.
However, goalkeeper Penksa was guilty of a rush of blood in the first minute as he charged out of his box to clatter Ayr striker Craig Moore to earn a red card, and Rudi Skacel made way for sub keeper Connor Brennan.
Despite the man disadvantage Rovers dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead on 37 minutes when Court broke the offside trap to send a composed finish beyond goalie Greg Fleming.
The Ayr keeper was stretchered off early in the second half and taken to hospital after a serious head knock but his team equalised on 69 minutes when Ross Docherty drilled home a low effort from 22 yards.
Five minutes later the Honest Men were awarded a penalty when a cross inadvertently struck the hand of Kyle Benedictus, but Brennan saved Allan Forrest’s spotkick to keep Raith’s survival hopes alive.
The hosts grabbed a last minute winner when Declan McManus pounced on a loose ball to fire home from close range but they were left deflated on the full-time whistle when news filtered across the Forth that St Mirren had got the point they needed.
Raith boss Hughes said: “Everything seemed to be going against us with the sending-off and a real poor decision for the penalty but we showed great character.
“I was asked what reaction I would get to my comments last week and I think you saw it.
“We just need to embrace the play-offs and show the same spirit.”
