Morton 1 - 0 Raith Rovers: Imrie bags a winner

THIS was a disappointing share of the spoils between two insipid teams who on this evidence will do well to remain middle-of-the-table also-rans, although no doubt Raith, as the visiting team who came from behind, will be happier with their afternoon.

Morton looked well short of the team that put in a sustained challenge for the title last term.

After a strangely subdued opening it was the home side who were first to bring either keeper into action when Tony Wallace forced Kirkcaldy custodian, David McGurn, to get get low to his left to push the winger’s low drive wide. Raith then countered, with only the width of the bar denying Kevin Moon when he deftly lobbed Morton keeper Nicolas Caraux, and they were denied a penalty when referee Barry Cook failed to spot a clear handball.

The official’s decision became all the harder for the visitors to swallow minutes later when he punished a similar offence at the other end when in truth it was no better a shout than the one turned down. Once the debating died down Dougie Imrie convincingly fired home from the spot.

Imrie, who has always thrived at this level, was the game’s bright spark and he could have sealed the points midway through the the second period when only a magnificent flying save repelled the summer signing’s 30-yard piledriver.

Morton shaded possession, however the absence of the departed Michael Tidser was all too evident as they huffed and puffed. They only looked a threat when Imrie was involved or from set-pieces, one of which saw sub Tomas Peciar head narrowly wide.

The best you can say about
Rovers is they worked hard, but this was enough to ensure they went home with a point courtesy of a looping Grant Anderson header, and they could have nicked it late on when only the fingers of Caraux kept out Calum Elliot.