Airdrie United 1 - 2 Raith Rovers: Raith escape draw

RAITH Rovers substitute Grant Anderson pushed hosts Airdrie United closer to the relegation trapdoor when he struck the winner as the Kirkcaldy men came from behind to win 2-1.

Scorers: Airdrie United: Bain (7); Raith Rovers: Spence (44) Anderson (78)

The Diamonds took the lead after seven minutes when Jamie Bain nipped in ahead of Eddie Malone to divert the ball past goalkeeper David McGurn from six yards out.

It was almost two on 18 minutes when Ricki Lamie found Steven Hetherington at the edge of the box with the youngster curling his shot wide.Raith’s first chance came just before the half-hour mark when a Josh Watt corner reached Pat Clarke, who sent a close range header wide.

Raith came even closer on 37 minutes when Greig Spence’s shot was tipped onto a post by home goalkeeper Robbie Thomson.

Airdrie came close again when McGurn made a fine double save to deny Hetherington and McLaren with Raith making the most of that reprieve by levelling one minute from the break.

Spence shrugged off a challenge from Marc Warren before poking the ball through Gregor Buchanan’s legs and finishing from close range.

A draw looked on the cards until Anderson took advantage of a Warren slip 12 minutes from time to run clear on the right wing and then shoot low past Thomson.