Raith Rovers 0 - 4 Inverness CT

Published on Saturday 13 February 2010 21:04

Rooney 67; Hayes 70; Bulvitis 77; Stratford 90

ANYONE watching Aberdeen's thrill-a-minute draw with Celtic and then stumbling upon the fare at Stark's Park will have assumed they were watching a different sport altogether.

However, having been unlucky to only take a replay against the Dons seven days earlier, it was clear from this 90 minutes that Raith will have to again raise their game more than a couple of notches for Tuesday's rematch at Pittodrie.

The visitors at least headed home with all three points when Adam Rooney charged down David McGurn's clearance and held off the Rovers keeper before turning the loose ball into the empty net.

Three minutes later, the Highlanders' raid was complete when Johnny Hayes doubled the lead and Nauris Bulvitis then added a third with 15 minutes left.

It was a match more suited to the honest endeavour of the likes of Ross Tokely than the skilful running of his Inverness colleague, Eric Odhiambo, but the former Leicester City player was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide in the 20th minute.

Raith's Robert Sloan dragged a shot past 12 minutes after the break but it was all Inverness thereafter and substitute Danny Stratford added a fourth late on with a deflected drive.