Stirling Albion 1 - 2 Raith Rovers: Title chase kept up after fright

Published on Friday 15 April 2011 19:07

RAITH ROVERS remain a point behind Dunfermline but they were made to sweat against a Stirling side who may already be relegated but put in a display which belied their position at the bottom of the table.

Jocky Scott's side have won only three league games this season, a damning run going all the way back to 23 October when they defeated Partick Thistle 4-2 at Forthbank.

Raith got the winner courtesy of striker John Baird in the 79th minute, a header which keeps alive their championship quest.

There was a minute's silence before the match for former Stark's Park legend Ronnie Coyle who passed away last week.

Raith had an opportunity to get their noses in front when former Hearts star Stephen Simmons blasted the ball over the crossbar after Stirling goalkeeper Calum Reidford got his foot to a Allan Walker drive towards goal.

They made no mistake, however, on the quarter hour, Walker's free kick from outside the box giving Reidford no chance, although Stirling almost pulled it back a few minutes later only to see Gordon Smith's shot saved by Andy McNeil.

It almost got worse for Stirling as Kevin McBride let fly but it went just wide of the target.

In the 64th minute Raith were stunned when Stirling pegged them back, Josh Flood running through the middle after a pass from Gordon Smith before sending it past McNeil.

But it all went wrong in 79 minutes when Baird's header, after a Walker free-kick, sealed Stirling's fate although it was cruel on the men in red.