Raith Rovers ended the season with a 2-2 draw against an in-form Partick Thistle.
Earlier in the day the Kirkcaldy club announced that a local consortium is taking over the club, with former Kelty Hearts chief Dean Mckenzie taking over as general manager at Stark’s Park.
Their input won’t have had any effect on Rovers’ final match of the season against promotion-chasing Thistle.
Darren Brownlie put Thistle ahead midway through the first half before Lewis Vaughan equalised from the spot was, his seventh of goal the season.
Rovers were much better after half-time and took the lead through Scott McGill, who turned in another good display in a Rovers shirt.
Scott Tiffoney, who had threatened all evening, equalised for Thistle with just over 20 minutes to go.
A ‘new era’
There was a bit more of a buzz around Stark’s Park than there perhaps otherwise would have been going into a match with nothing to play for and no wins in six.
The sizable away support certainly contributed, travelling to watch their side clinch a place in the Premiership playoff.
New Rovers chief Dean Mckenzie – who recently left Kelty Hearts – hailed “a new era” at the club after his consortium took control of the club earlier in the day.
There is a lot of work to do but encouragement can be taken by the broad skillset they will bring.
Thistle start well
Their opponents had to win to make sure they would end the season in the top four and Kyle Turner tested Jamie MacDonald from the edge of the box within a minute of kick-off.
Scott McGill soon had his cross deflected just over by Kevin Holt, but it was as close as Raith got until they equalised.
MacDonald’s best save of the opening 45 minutes came from Ross Docherty’s strike for a long way out but there was nothing he could do about the opener.
The second in a trio of first-half chances for the excellent Tiffoney was pushed away by the Rovers keeper before Brownlie buried the follow-up.
Rovers threatened on occasion but were given a route back into the game from the penalty spot when Docherty was punished for a handball.
Vaughan dispatched it confidently from the spot and outstretched his arms in front of the Thistle fans goading him.
Rovers improve after half-time tweaks
Murray kept the same shape but switched around several players at half-time. Kieran Ngwenya moved to right-back and William Akio moved out to the right wing.
Scott McGill took up the No 10 role behind Vaughan and Adam Masson moved into centre-back.
The changes almost worked instantly as McGill fired just wide and Rovers should have been ahead when Vaughan failed to connect with Akio’s cross after some nice link-up between the pair.
McGill had Rovers ahead with a deflected strike from the edge of the box after he was set up by Ngwenya.
Thistle boss Kris Doolan turned to his bench and got an instant reaction when Aidan Fitzpatrick came on to cutback for Tiffoney’s equaliser.
Akio then went close for Rovers, as did Fitzpatrick at the other end but neither side could find a winner.
The draw was enough to confirm Thistle’s place among the Premiership playoff positions.
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