Archives | Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 0

William Hill Championship
Friday 6th November 2026
Stark`s Park

Raith Rovers went into this, the second Fife derby of the season, on the back of a resounding 4-0 win away to Arbroath but they had lost two of their last three home matches. Dunfermline also went into this match following a four goal winning margin over Inverness Caley Thistle and undefeated in their last eleven competitive matches. Both sides shared second place having taken 24 points from the 13 matches already played but the travelling support were hoping for a fifth consecutive victory over their fiercest rivals.

There was a huge incentive for the winner to go top of the table at least overnight and Neil Lennon made one change in his attempt to secure the three points, Oli Shaw after his two goals against ICT being preferred to Rory Macleod. That meant no Josh Cooper, the match winner in the first meeting. Rovers boss Dougie Imrie also made one change bringing in former Pars man, Kyle Turner for Kai Montagu.

After a moment of silence to remember those lost in serving their country, referee Calum Scott got the match underway Raith kicking off attacking the goal in front of the Pars support. The hosts me side had the better of the opening ten minutes with the Pars first push towards the Rovers goal not coming until 12th minute.

Aaron Donnelly cleared a dangerous delivery into the visitors` box from Calum Adamson, the loanee from Rangers. It was 19th minute when an Andrew Tod cross from the left was narrowly missed by the leap of Shaw and Lewis Stevenson eased Ola Adams off the ball to prevent the Nigerian striker converting at the far post. Scott Brown`s foul on Keith Bray won the Pars a free kick but Dylan Lobban lofted the setplay over the Rovers wall and crossbar.

In 26 minutes Adams sent the ball deep into the right side of the penalty box but Bray`s final ball was cut out by Turner. Next minute a Stevenson cross was sent over the Pars crossbar by Brown before play switched back into the Rovers box where Adams cut back for a Bray shot which was blocked. After half hour Anton Dowds was called upon as the first substitute of the evening to replace George Oakley who appeared to have a hamstring problem. The Raith sub got in an early shot but it did not trouble Aston Oxborough who watched in safely outside his right hand post.

Pars skipper Robbie Fraser was shown a really harsh yellow card for a good tackle on Adamson and from the awarded free kick Jack Baird headed the cross on target but into the hands of Oxborough. Bray threatened with a right footed shot from 25 yards out but the ball travelled across goal and out on the right. Dunfermline`s first corner five minutes from the interval was taken short by Tod to Oyirwoth but the Ugandan`s delivery was easily cleared.

A swift forward move from McMullan through Tiffoney to Stevenson into the left side of the Pars box led to a Stevenson cross that McMullan met seven yards out but he drove his effort wide left.

It had been a first half where both sides had a couple of reasonable chances but neither keeper had been unduly worked. Raith had been content to allow Dunfermline to retain possession while it meant passing the ball along the back line. Dunfermline seriously needed to find a way through the home defence but this derby had still to take off.

Half Time: Raith Rovers 0 Dunfermline 0

Dunfermline were first to press in the second half and within its first minute Tod created an opening to advance and lay the ball off for Shaw to shoot. Unfortunately for him and the equally unfortunate Stevenson, the shot was stopped by the face by the 38 year old.

Ross Millen tried a shot from distance but was well off target and as the match progressed it remained in tight deadlock. Bray`s cross was cut out for a 60th minute corner but Josh Rae came out to hold the ball when it was launched directly in from the right.

Oxborough came rushing out of his box as Adamson threatened on the break and he was possibly fortunate that the 19 year old went to the ground and failed to shoot.

A triple substitution in 73rd minute saw Charlie Gilmour, John Tod and Olly Thomas replace Alfons Amade, Keith Bray and Robbie Fraser. An Oyirwoth shot went straight to Rae before Lewis Vaughan, having recovered from a recent ligament injury, was introduced for the home side.

Thomas forced a save from Rae with a 25-yard drive, then nearly won it in 88th minute. The 21 year old striker signed from Bristol City in September nudged the ball past the keeper at the edge of the box before being taken out by him. Adams was denied by a defender as the ball broke across the face of goal and the extremely valid penalty appeals for the challenge on Thomas were waved away.

The Pars peppered the Rovers box in added time, but neither side could emerge with the win they were seeking. Raith went top on goal difference, Dunfermline remained third but a draw away to one of your closest rivals at the top of the table is a result that most in black and white would take.