Raith Rovers 4 Queen’s Park 1 – Defeat in Fife

QUEEN’S PARK were on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline in Kirkcaldy to end their unbeaten run of six games.

Jack Hamilton scored a hat-trick and Josh Mullin added another as Dougie Imrie’s side recorded a win just three days before the sides meet again in the KDM Evolution Trophy.

That match is at The city Stadium, but the Spiders left Fife with nothing from their first league match in almost a month.

The lay-off was similar for cup-tied Callum Smith, but the striker – signed on January 4 –  was pitched in for a debut against his former side.

Euan Murray won the toss and elected to switch play around to mirror the opening day of the season – shooting into the away support in the first-half. 

Michael Ruth of course netted the opener back in August and the Spiders were on the attack early. Henry Fieldson fired over from the edge of the box following promising play from Aidan Connolly and Carlo Pignatiello.

The Spiders had a number of former players of their hosts, including Connolly, Louis Longridge, captain Murray and new recruit Smith. He finally made his debut on the left side of the attack, but skipper Murray, who missed the previous meeting here with a head knock suffered the same and required a stoppage that incensed the home fans.

Seconds before Raith had hit the post with a floating shot from distance that just beat Calum Ferrie, and Jack Hamilton fired just past the keeper on the 20th minute after a miscue from Murray – fortunately for the visitors it was also just past the post too.

After 28 minutes the Rovers went close again with a Josh Mullin free-kick headed back across goal by Jai Rowe. A backheel attempt by Dylan Easton was blocked by Matty Shiels and hacked clear by Carlo Pignatiello.

Ten minutes of midfield pinball persisted then Rovers broke the deadlock. The Spiders couldn’t clear their lines and after their third or four entry into the box in that attack, Jack Hamilton rammed the loose ball high into the net after it spun off Roddy Macgregor’s boot.

By the time the clock struck 45 minutes for the interval Queen’s Park were two behind. A clinical break sent Scott Brown haring onto a Dylan Easton pass, and he sent the ball into the box for Josh Mullin to fire back across Calum Ferrie and into the corner of the net.

Three miniutes into the second half Queen’s showed positive intent, Josh Fowler playing wide to Henry Fieldson whose teasing low ball was just ahead of Seb Drozd and Callum Smith.

The Spiders went even closer at a Longridge corner just before the hour-mark but Roddy Macgregor couldn’t make contact with the ball spinning in mid-air.

Sean Crighton immediately replaced Louis Longridge with Ricki Lamie and switched to three at the back but within ten minutes Rovers went three up.

A left-wing cross from Ewan Wilson hit the face of Hamilton and the Spiders defence failed to clear. Henry Fieldson’s slide led to a ricochet off Ferrie and the rebound was nodded in by Hamilton.

He completed his hat-trick five minutes later, turning in a Paul McMullan cross, on the spin and the Spiders defence caught flat-footed.

The Spiders did manage a response as Seb Drozd took Roddy Macgregor’s pass and advanced 40 yards to plant the ball beyond Josh Rae, but the damage had been done.

Sean Crighton made a quadruple change with Magnus Mackenzie, Liam McLeish, Jamie Bradley and Ricky Waugh all pitched in for added minutes.

QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Fieldson (Mackenzie 79), Murray, Longridge (Lamie 58), Macgregor (Bradley 79), Connolly (Waugh 79), Pignatiello, Fowler (McLeish 79), Shiels, Smith, Drozd.
Not used: Sliwinski, McDonnell, McLean, Friel.