Peterhead 1-0 Raith Rovers

Mar 9 2008 David Gray At Balmoor

NEALE COOPER has warned the rest of the Second Division his Blue Toon boys are fearless after seeing them dump hapless Raith.

Stuart McKay grabbed the only goal to move Peterhead within two points of toiling Rovers.

McKay's goal of the campaign arrived two minutes before half-time and was enough to ensure Raith crashed to their fourth away defeat on the spin.

Newly-named manager of the month Cooper said: "It was a massive result. All we can try to do is keep winning but we fear nobody now whereas earlier in the season we were a soft touch.

"Every week the players seem to say it was the hardest conditions they've played in and it was the same again today.

"We defended well as a unit and I thought Bobby Mann was excellent. Neil McVitie in the middle of the park was immense as well."

Raith were without key defenders Mark Campbell, Todd Lumsden and Marvin Andrews. On-loan Hearts forward David Templeton also missed out while keeper Michael Brown was handed his first start of the season.

The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and after 12 minutes Martin Bavidge showed great strength to ride two challenges. But with McKay screaming for the pass he shot and his wild effort was always rising over.

At the other end David Goodwillie fired into the side netting from a tight angle as Raith looked to use the strong wind to their advantage.

But two minutes before the break the home side hit the front.

On-loan Aberdeen teenager David Ross was involved in the build-up as he picked out Bavidge who beat Andy Tod before putting over a superb cross for McKay to lash home from eight yards.

Peterhead began the second half as they finished the first and almost made it 2-0 after 48 minutes.

McVitie's pass saw Bavidge put Tod under pressure and set up a race for the ball between Raith keeper Brown and the Peterhead star.

Brown won the ball but his clearance cannoned off a defender and out for a corner. Stuart Smith whipped in a superb ball but Callum Macdonald was penalised for barging.

Raith then had Brown to thank when Ross slipped the ball to Bavidge and the keeper dived to his left to turn away the striker's effort for another corner.

Bavidge was the main threat for Peterhead and when Donnie Munro switched a long ball into the box he again forced Brown into a low stop.

Rovers eventually found an edge and with three minutes left they had the chance to level.

Robert Sloan fired in the delivery only to see Craig Winter nod well wide.

Gutted Rovers boss John McGlynn said: "We didn't get enough shots on target whereas Peterhead got one bit of joy down the left and put the ball in at the back post. That was it really."

HERO

SUPER Neil McVITIE showed a maturity beyond his years. The teenager ran the show for Peterhead in the centre of the park.

VILLAIN

MARCO PELOSI for got to show up for the match. A prime example was the left-back's disappearing act for the Peterhead goal.