THE sound of referee Greg Aitken’s final whistle probably triggered louder celebrations through in west of the country, as Hibernian’s victory over Raith Rovers gave renewed hope to those teams endeavouring to avoid relegation from the Championship.
Anyone with an interest in St Mirren and Ayr United, however, would have been alarmed by the Hibs line-up prior to kick-off.
With the league title already wrapped up, Neil Lennon, who served the first of his two-match touchline ban, decided to make as many as ten changes to the team that suffered an agonising Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday.
On loan Hoops defender Efe Ambrose was the only survivor from the narrow 3-2 loss and there included a league debut for 17-year-old midfielder Fraser Murray.
A pre-match boon for Rovers, a side that were just one point clear of the Buddiess in the relegation play-off zone, and a further two clear of basement side Ayr?
In the end, it didn’t turn out that way although Raith ran them close. James Keatings started and finished the scoring in this topsy-turvy encounter.
A lot happened in-between. Declan McManus levelled in the 67th minute before Grant Holt found the net in the 81st minute just moments after coming on.
Ryan Hardie restored parity again with five minutes left but Keatings notched the winner with a well-placed free kick.
Lennon watched on from his seat in the directors’ box after being handed an immediate two-match touchline ban for his part in the melee that overshadowed last month’s goal-less draw with Morton.
But from his elevated position, the 45-year-old would have been encouraged by his side’s start.
The danger all came from Chris Humphrey, but the away side seemed incapable of stopping it at source.
Debutant Murray and Brian Graham were both beneficiaries of the former Motherwell player’s support from the flank. The former headed just wide before Graham had an effort palmed over by Pavol Penska.
After Raith midfielder Chris Johnston struck a shot straight at Ross Laidlaw when he should have done better, the home side took the lead in the 42nd minute.
Humphrey raced down the right flank and his delicate dink beyond Penska was volleyed into the gaping goal by Keatings.
Raith improved following the break and they grabbed an equaliser in the 67th minute.
Bobby Barr picked out the unmarked McManus in the area and the striker fired a first time effort past Laidlaw from close range.
Raith weren’t finished there. McManus then saw a delicate curling effort come back off the post.
Holt then made another timely impact from the bench after he lifted Keatings' long ball over Penska with a sublime touch in the 81st minute.
But Raith sub Hardie was then sent clear by Jonny Court and cooly rounded Laidlaw to level four minutes later.
Just went it seemed liked the game was heading for a stalemate, Keatings notched the winner in injury time after firing a low 18-free-kick into the corner past Penska.
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