Raith Rovers manager Grant Murray was proud of his side’s solid start to pre-season as they held SPL new boys Ross County to a 1-1 draw.
Tuesday night’s fixture at Stark’s Park gave the Kirkcaldy club’s faithful their first look at life after John McGlynn, with Murray, assistant manager Paul Smith and first-team coach Laurie Ellis now at the helm. County were also keen to continue their preparations for the top flight after gaining promotion last term.
Both sides looked lively early on, with Dougie Hill doing well to block a close-range Sam Morrow drive inside the first minute before Grant Anderson dragged a low shot wide of Michael Fraser’s right-hand post a minute later.
Rocco Quinn then saw his attempt from 30 yards fail to trouble David McGurn, while Ross Callachan got into a good position in the area for the home side but saw his curling effort well smothered by Fraser.
As both teams settled into their stride, County grabbed a well-worked opener in the ninth minute.
Iain Vigurs’ incisive ball through the middle should have been cut out by the home defence but an unfortunate slip by Dougie Hill in the wet conditions gave Morrow the time and space he needed to convert from just inside the area.
Rovers battled back though and were level within 10 minutes thanks to a move that would have pleased those supporters keen to see the club’s new signings make an impression.
In this case it was Anderson, who doggedly won the ball on the halfway line and set off at speed down the wing before crossing a great ball into the danger area.
Striker Brian Graham was on hand and unmarked on the penalty spot, completing an impressive move by heading past Fraser to restore parity.
Despite having played a couple of pre-season games more than their hosts, County looked a yard or two off the pace and could have gone behind in 26 minutes had Anderson put his header from point-blank range either side of the keeper.
New Raith defender Eddie Malone had his chance to shine on the half hour but curled a 25-yard free-kick well over, before Stuart Kettlewell passed up a fine opportunity four minutes before the break when he blasted Richard Brittain’s cut-back over the bar.
Vigurs fired a shot over five minutes after the restart as County regrouped, although Brittain passed up a gilt-edged chance in the 54th minute doing the hard work to outfox Malone in the area before blasting a wild attempt off target, albeit from a tight angle.
County looked the likelier side at this stage and had missed efforts from Morrow and Vigurs, the latter of which had to be well saved by McGurn to his right, before the hour.
Both sides then took the opportunity to field substitutes, but it was Pat Clarke who had the next attempt on 66 minutes when his low trundling shot almost sneaked in at Fraser’s right-hand post.
Allan Walker then had a great opportunity in the final minutes but he screwed his effort wide when he really should have hit the target, while the home side’s shouts for a penalty in stoppage time were waved away by referee John Beaton.
Photo David Wardle