Fife Derby Life: Raith Rovers vs Dunfermline Athletic

Words: Reece Mullen

Images: Reece Mullen

Raith Rovers vs Dunfermline Athletic Saturday 15th July 2023.
Stark’s Park, Kirkcaldy.
Scottish League Cup Group F 2023/24.

The 2022/23 season felt like the longest and most gruelling ten or so months in recent memory taking in the Summer League Cup start, league campaigns and Scottish Cups as well as a World Cup break thrown in the middle.

It has only been six weeks since the curtain came down on the Scottish football season but it was longer for our two teams. Dunfermline Athletic secured the League One title early after seeing through nine other clubs to gain promotion back to the Championship. Raith Rovers, already in the Championship, were the only club that didn’t have anything to play for on that incredible final day.

Today was the first game of the Viaplay Cup group stages. The Fife clubs’ extended gap of competitive football came to an end and after a season long absence, the Fife Derby was back.

Scottish summers really are all over the place. It had been sunny all day until the drive into Kirkcaldy when the rain came. It left enough moisture to make Starks Park glisten.

Reece Mullen. Raith Rovers vs Dunfermline Athletic.

Police were already in action as they created a manned wall between Raith fans and those in the away section, already stopping those who have enjoyed Kirkcaldy’s best drinking establishments.

The Rovers army trudged up Pratt Street to the fortress at the top. Everyone was ready for the new season.

Even former Prime Minister Gordon Brown brushed by me, he’s probably spent more time here than in Downing Street.

Stark’s Park has two imposing modern stands at each end of the pitch. The main stand sits atop the road as it’s squeezed in between there and the pitch, giving it the unusual shape it has. The only thing that has been modernised here is the new pie menu at the stall which unusually sits in the top corner of the stand like a crows nest.

The stand’s old shed roof still holds up to the monsoon weather before the game started but my front row seat would as well have been at a water park. The bipolar nature of Scottish weather showed again as the sun burst out to light the stage as the tannoy system belted out that famous Chicago Bulls song, Sirius. No Jordan, Pippen or Rodman though, Easton, Mullin and Watson are the stars here.

Both teams went at it from the get go and showed proper aggression. Pars captain Kyle Benedictus, formerly of Raith, rocketed a ball out of frustration whacking a woman (accidentally) in her face. If he wasn’t boo’ed already, he was getting jeers now.

Raith were all over the Pars early on but Dunfermline got a grip of the game. Both teams had efforts hit the woodwork before Lewis McCann sliced open the Raith defence to slot the ball in the bottom right corner to make it 1-0. It took something beautiful, a mixture of strength and skill as Dylan Easton brought the ball down on his chest, shifted through three defenders before dinking the keeper for the equaliser.

The second-half lacked the ferociousness the game started with, both teams looked like two exhausted fighters.

The only real velocity came from the tribal hatred of Stark’s Park’s new singing section and the Dunfermline Ultras in the stand next to them. Still, the home side did their best to keep up their efforts for a winner. When clear cut chances came they were stopped by Dunfermline goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet.

Full Time and it finished 1-1. As per the rules in this competition it goes straight to penalties for a bonus point.

Raith started the worst way possible and missed their opening penalty. This was enough for some fans to leave there and then. Dunfermline’s penultimate shot was saved, setting up a comeback for Rovers. But when handed victory on a platter, the opportunity was missed. Matty Todd scored the decisive spot-kick for Dunfermline before gesturing to the Raith fans with his fingers in his ears to the delight of those in front of him.

Apart from minor scuffles with the aforementioned young teams, there wasn’t much trouble but the few Dunfermline supporters walking in the opposite direction of the home support weren’t shy in pointing out the defeat for the “wee team”. Dunfermline get the bragging rights for now before the first of four league clashes begin. That’s when the real deal happens.

Day one is complete. This season Dunfermline are willing to prove themselves as a formidable force in the Championship once again. For Raith Rovers it’s the beginning of a new era. A new board has took ownership and are looking to improve the fortunes of the team and strengthen Raith Rovers bond with the Kirkcaldy community.

But the fans head along Pratt Street towards the town centre, a journey that will be made many times up until May. The wait is over. Football is back in Fife.

You can find Reece on Twitter and Instagram: @reeceymullen

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