It was a share of the spoils at Gayfield Park on Saturday afternoon as Arbroath and Raith Rovers failed to break through each other’s resolute defences.
With referee Chris Graham’s whistle constantly bringing a half to proceedings, it was no surprise to see either side find the net in a 0-0 draw that both sides will be quite content with.
Arbroath named an unchanged side from last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Somerset Park against Ayr United, while Taylor Steven made a welcome return to the squad after being away on international duty with Scotland Under-21s.
There was a frantic pace to the early stages as both sides went in search of a fast start, with both Findlay Marshall and Jack Hamilton getting early sights on goal, but neither causing any real trouble for the opposing goalkeeper.
Marshall should have opened the scoring before the quarter hour mark but chose to pass instead of shoot when in a dangerous area, allowing Raith to clear the danger.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got in a first half that felt very stop start with fouls disrupting any real rhythm. Rovers did go close shortly before half time, but Brooklyn Kabongolo reacted quickly to block Hamilton’s goal bound effort.
In a second half devoid of chances, it was Raith who eventually looked like finding the opener, when a good run from Dylan Easton ended with a dangerous ball into the area, which Hamilton turned goalwards, but O’Brien was able to block.
The Lichties did go even closer with just over ten minutes remaining when Marshall managed to get a shot away from close range, with his deflected effort just about being kept out by the foot of Josh Rae before being scrambled to safety.
Steven had one final effort as Arbroath pressed right until the end for a winner, but Rae was equal to his effort, ensuring that the visitors would take a point back to Kirkcaldy.
Arbroath: McAdams; Watson, Kabongolo, O’Brien, Wilkie; Cochrane, Flynn; MacIntyre (Steven, 56), Marshall, Dow; Mebude (Reilly, 56)
Raith Rovers: Rae; Doherty, O’Connor, Hanlon, Stevenson; Mullin (Rowe, 79), Brown, Nsio; Smith (McMullan, 63), Hamilton (Gentles, 79), Easton
Attendance: 1,688
