Relegation fears back on

Our former bitches came North safe in the knowledge that they will finish at least second in the table and they can prepare for the challenge ahead without having to look over their shoulders. We on the other hand, still need points to ease ourselves away from the League 1 play-off drop zone. James Carragher returned to the starting XI with Remi Savage and Sean McAllister making the bench, and for the visitors, it looks like they mean business with Lewis Vaughan, Jack Hamilton and Dylan Corr starting with Zak Rudden and Keith Watson benched. Inverness threatened the Raith goal and but for Kevin Dabrowski and his bar they could have been dead and buried at the interval. No score at the break and all to play for in the second half. Vaughan opened the scoring early in the second half and Samuel almost levelled but his shot from distance cannoned away off the post. The crossbar was hit a further twice but the goal would not come. Despite peppering the Raith goal, MotM Dabrowski would not be beaten with a string of saves ranging from brilliant to miraculous.

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A bright sunny evening met the teams as they entered the stadium for this televised encounter and it was the visitors that got the game underway. An early corner for Inverness ended with a great ball into the box from Longstaff and then Billy Mckay nodded goalwards but couldn't get any juice on the header and Dobrowski gathered easily. Rovers looking brisk on the break as well in a spritely start for both teams. After Aaron Doran was fouled on the edge of the box, Cammy Harper brought out a good save from Dabrowski with a curling effort to the keepers left. Alex Samuel maybe should have opened the scoring after fifteen minutes but his close range shot was deflected away by Jack Hamilton defending his own goalline. Good spell of pressure from Inverness but Doran took a knock and limped off to be replaced by Sean McAllister. Inverness almost took the lead twice within a couple of seconds. Harper latched onto a loose ball in the box only for his shot to smack the crossbar. He reacted first to head the rebound towards goal but Dabrowski spread himself well and a flailing leg kept the ball out much to Cammy's frustration. Unbelievable reflexes from Dabrowski who was diving the wrong way. Brown fired one direct at Ridgers from 25 yards as Rovers went forward with intent, but Ridgers dealt with it well. With half an hour gone, Raith could have no complaints had they been three down with Dabrowski keeping the score level.

Half Time: 0-0

Dylan Easton and Shaun Byrne replaced a pair of Brown's for the visitors at the break and early Raith pressure came to nothing. However, after a bit of bagotelle in the Inverness box Lewis Vaughan clipped the ball behind Ridgers to open the scoring. Alex Samuel cracked a low curling shot off the keepers left hand post. Sums up our season to be honest. Great effort but no luck. Zak Rudden missed a good chance for Rovers as our passing from defence went astray. Another defensive mistake allowed Sam Stanton to get a shot away at one end and at the other, McAllister got his shot away but both keepers were up to the efforts. Ridgers saved an angled drive from Easton with twenty minutes left. McAllister was again denied by the keeper from distance with a swerving shot but Dabrowski excelled moments later when Samuel spun in the box and shot but the keeper made a miraculous save to get the ball over the bar. We hit the crossbar a further twice through Carragher and Devine in the same attack. It looks like scoring goals is just not for us. Pepple almost got on the end of a cross seconds after coming on, but he never attacked the ball. McAllister dragged a shot wide from a good position after some neat build up play. Samuel blasted just over in a frantic ending as the keeper tipped another over the bar. Despite some late action in front of the Raith goal, Man of the Match Kevin Dabrowski kept the visitors ahead and put Inverness back in trouble.

'Dabrowski with an incredible stop!'

It remains Inverness CT 0-0 Raith Rovers

Watch live on @BBCScotland #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Bj6IyYUxra

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 19, 2024

Full Time: 0-1

Incredibly, Inverness failed to score after a world class display from keeper Kevin Dabrowski who was also well assisted by his crossbar and post. Lewis Vaughan scored the all important winner just after the break, but try as we did, the ball stayed out of the visitors net. Unbelievable.

More reaction to follow

We were unlucky, weren't we>>>

What a goal for Raith Rovers!

And it's number 16 of the season for Lewis Vaughan

Watch live on the @BBCScotland channel #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/ILCcPip4B4

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 19, 2024

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