Raith Rovers picked up their 2nd league victory on the bounce beating Partick Thistle 3-2, going above Ian McCall’s Jags into fourth.
Kyle Turner, came agonisingly close to guiding Partick Thistle in front inside 12 minutes, with a beautiful strike rattling the cross-bar from the edge of the box, the closest they came to scoring in the opening exchanges of this encounter.
(photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
It was turning into an open contest at Starks Park, Raith putting Partick under intense pressure, Christophe Berra thought he guided John McGlynn’s side in front on 20 minutes, with appeals from the home crowd of the ball crossing the line.
Raith took the lead from the corresponding corner a minute later, however, a short corner caught the Jags sleeping and Dario Zanatta surged into the box and smashed a low drive beyond Jamie Sneddon.
Partick were denied a penalty by referee Andrew Dallas on 58 minutes following a Graham attempt striking the hand of Kyle Benedictus but Dallas was unmoved.
Raith Rovers got a penalty on 64 minutes, a cross by Zanatta hitting the hand of Cammy Smith with large appeals from the home support drawing Dallas to point towards the spot, up stepped Benedictus who doubled the advantage slotting into the bottom right corner.
Benedictus added a 3rd, his brace, 13 minutes from time, an Ethon Varian corner was headed on by Berra finding Aidan Connelly finding the Rovers captain who struck home beyond the stranded Sneddon with a clinical volley.
Partick Thistle pulled one back on 85 minutes, the ball breaking to Brian Graham, unmarked in the box who turned and scored from 10 yards out.
Thistle made it a nervous ending in the dying stages of the match, Zak Rudden finding a bit of space before striking past the hand of Jamie McDonald.
With Raith Rovers jumping into 4th, here are 3 things we learned from the game.
Benedictus the leader
Kyle Benedictus showed how big a leader he is for Raith Rovers, the captain was commanding at the back and accomplished his display by being a peroxide poacher at Starks Park, his defensive aerials were also highly witnessed, winning duels against Brian Graham.
Sunday roast
It was an excellent game of football on a fine Sunday afternoon which sprung into light towards the business end of the match, Raith Rovers looked comfortable at 3-0 up before a late surge from the visitors forced a sticky ending for the hosts, the visitors deserve immense praise for playing their part with the late response but John McGlynn will be happy that no Hamilton capitulation was repeated again.
Dejected Partick
It looked like being an afternoon where Partick had very little to show for their efforts and a defeat is never great, however, the last 10 minutes were pleasing and nearly rescued a point.
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