Peterhead 1-2 Raith Rovers

Aug 31 2008 David Gray At Balmoor

SUB KEEPER Gary O'Connor was Raith's unlikely hero as his spot-kick save helped Rovers see off their title rivals and stay joint top.

John McGlynn's men had just gone 2-1 up through in-form Kevin Smith when Chris Silvestro brought down Craig Gunn in the box after 78 minutes.

Bobby Mann seemed certain to crack home the leveller but O'Connor - a half-time replacement for crocked David McGurn - denied him with a fine save.

Relieved boss McGlynn said: "David had to come off with a hip injury and we're lucky Gary has come on and saved the penalty. We were under pressure a lot in the second half but defended really well."

Peterhead gaffer Neale Cooper thought his side deserved a point and said: "I can't fault anyone for effort but the penalty miss changed the game. It wasn't a good spot-kick but it's very rare for Bobby to miss from 12 yards."

Cooper went with the side that beat Alloa Athletic last week but Sean Fleming found a place on the bench after his loan move from Dundee United.

Raith made two changes to the team beaten by Falkirk in the League Cup with Gareth Wardlaw and Mark Ferry replacing Robert Sloan and Allan Walker.

And McGlynn's men almost grabbed an early lead when Graham Weir shot wide in a lightning break.

But they didn't have too long to wait for an opener as Wardlaw pounced in eight minutes. On-loan Dundee United striker Smith slipped the ball through to Wardlaw and he held off Mann before angling a strike past Michal Kula.

Rovers almost extended their lead midway through the half when a superb Craig Wilson cross was headed towards goal by Weir but Kula tipped over.

Peterhead were struggling to create chances and a Daniel Moore free-kick was smothered easily by keeper McGurn.

That sparked a good spell for the Blue Toon and Gunn saw a fierce shot blocked.

Graham Sharp then fired wide before Gunn flashed a shot across goal with Martin Bavidge and Stuart Anderson (below left) screaming for a cut-back.

Raith replaced McGurn with O'Connor at the interval and his first involvement was to smother aMann free-kick.

But there was nothing the sub goalie could do in 57 minutes when Peterhead grabbed the leveller.

Anderson was last week's goal hero at Alloa and he made it two in two games with a superb header from Gunn's cross.

But Rovers showed character to fight back and scored again in 72 minutes.

Ferry crashed a shot off the bar and Smith headed his fourth of the season from close range with Kula stranded.

Peterhead were handed a golden chance to level six minutes later when Gunn was brought down inside the area.

Mann is normally deadly from 12 yards but his strike was brilliantly saved by O'Connor low to his right.

Raith almost grabbed a third late on when sub Lee Bryce lashed a shot wide.

But Peterhead never gave up and Mann fired a 20-yard free-kick wide before Stuart McKay headed over from close range deep into injury time.