In the Lang Toun, this was a painfully lang afternoon for Raith Rovers. At least some of the Kirkcaldy club’s supporters could shorten the torture by vacating Stark’s Park just as Falkirk scored a fourth goal on 48 minutes. The players didn’t have that choice, although many of the cursing, muttering locals probably felt they shouldn’t have been allowed on the premises in the first place after this. With a composed, clinical, commanding display, Falkirk recovered from losing an early goal to record a comprehensive triumph as they moved five points clear of yesterday’s hosts in the Championship play-off places. They may be 12 behind leaders Hibernian and eight behind second place Dundee United but for Falkirk manager, Peter Houston, it’s onwards and upwards. “The very least we expected is the play-offs and if we don’t do that it’s a failure,” he said. “So why not look ahead? We won’t give up hope. We are more than capable of winning five or six on the trot."
Within the opening few moments, Ryan Stevenson had taken a hefty clatter in an aerial challenge with Falkirk keeper Danny Rogers but another dunt for the burly, tattooed former Hearts player led to an opening goal for the hosts on 10 minutes. Stevenson got his bulk in the way of Peter Grant’s attempted clearance and Chris Johnston pounced on the ricochet before dinking the ball into the net. The lead last barely six minutes. After John Baird was felled on the edge of the box, Miles Hippolyte plonked a majestic free-kick into the top corner which left Raith keeper Kevin Cuthbert on his knees in reverence. Or was it hopelessness? With Stevenson’s lingering sore one forcing him to leave the field and head for a hospital check-up, the Rovers were walloped by another Falkirk blow on 24 minutes when Bob McHugh neatly killed a Paul Watson pass into the box and unleashed a low strike which zipped into the bottom corner. If questions were being asked about Cuthbert for conceding that one, then the Raith custodian was almost put on trial, convicted and locked in the stocks on 38 minutes. Rovers had been denied an equaliser by a fine Rogers save but moments after that at the other end, Craig Sibbald’s raking drive flew between Cuthbert’s flailing leg and into the net.
It had been quite a turnaround of events and any lingering hopes the Raith Rovers faithful had of their troops hauling themselves back into affairs were swiftly extinguished just three minutes into the second period. Tony Gallacher darted to the byline and from his cut-back, Sibbald’s effort on goal was deflected past the hapless Cuthbert by Kyle Benedictus. That almost sparked the kind of mass evacuation you’d see at Dunkirk as the restless natives headed for the exit gates. The hosts did try and salvage some pride from a torrid afternoon but their advances were comfortably staved off by a Falkirk side in total command.
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