Queen’s Park 0 Raith Rovers 2 – Defeat at home for Ten Spiders

RICKI LAMIE saw red as a Lewis Vaughan double saw Queen’s Park defeated at The City Stadium for just the second time since September.

The ten men put in a strong defensive showing but were unable to find the net in their penultimate home game this season.

Lamie’s dismissal was a major turning point in the game going against the Spiders, who had already fallen behind to a fiercely contested penalty just a few minutes earlier.

After 37 minutes Vaughan went down in the box and despite Euan Murray’s protestations of the contact, referee Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot and the striker duly beat Calum Ferrie.

Spiders head coack Sean Crighton had been forced into a selection re-think without Seb Drozd, Henry Fieldson and Roddy MacGregor joining the likes of Tyrece McDonnell, Nikolay Todorov and Carlo Pignatiello on the injury list.

Captain Euan Murray played through the pain but eventually had to be replaced by under-18s captain Cole Burke while under-17s defender Kyle Rodger also featured for his top team debut.

The Spiders started the game off slowly with Raith having the first real chance of the match as Vaughan hit the bar in the opening minutes. Matty Shiels had the Spiders’ first chance after but he was unable to break the deadlock, firing over the bar.

Minutes later Ferrie was called into action after a Dylan Easton freekick looked destined for the net before The Spiders’ number one made a brilliant save. Despite Raith Rovers controlling the ball, Queen’s Park held their shape well in the opening 25 minutes and limited Raith’s chances.

With just under 10 minutes left in the first half The Spiders created a brilliant chance as Ruth chested it down to Connolly who slid the ball to Smith but he was unable to get his shot off.

Then the game spun on its axis and tilted in the Fife side’s favour. Rovers went right up the other end and were awarded their penalty and the visitors led just before halftime.

The goal advantage became a man advantage too as Lamie was shown a red card despite winning the ball in a 50-50 with a sliding Jack Hamilton. The Rovers player stayed down as the ball moved clear and referee Kevin Clancy pulled play back and shocked the home dugout, and defender, by brandishing the red card.

Depleted, a brilliant bit of defending from Murray and Ferrie a minute later kept Easton from doubling the visitors’ lead after he dribbled the ball towards the goal.

Ferrie was forced into a save almost instantly after the break and what followed was a disciplined defensive performance by the ten-men who had Ross McLean at right-back.

However, while the structure was set to limit the damage, Vaughan did find another way through and seized on a lapse 10 minutes in as he rifled the visitors’ second. 

Rovers were comfortable with their two-goal cushion and kept the Spiders at bay for spells but with 25 minutes to go Queen’s Park created a good chance as Callum Smith ran down the touchline and fizzed the ball across the goal but no one was able to connect with the cross to tuck it away.

High pressure from the Queen’s Park forwards five minutes later forced a misplaced pass from Joshua Rae go to Smith who played in Connolly who couldn’t find the back of the net before west-side assistant David Dunne flagged for offside.

As the clock ticked down Ferrie continued to perform as he made a save after a shot from Vaughan looked destined for the top corner.

Queen’s Park: Ferrie, Murray (Burke 71), Longridge, Ruth (McLeish 71), Connolly, McLean (Rodger 84), Shiels, Mackenzie (Waugh 52), Martin (Bradley 84), Smith, Lamie.