Raith Rovers 1 PARS 1, Viaplay Cup, Group F. Pars win 4-2 on penalty kicks to win a bonus point.

ATHLETIC claimed a Viaplay Cup bonus point on penalty kicks after an entertaining Fife derby draw with Raith Rovers this afternoon.

Lewis McCann's opener on the half hour was cancelled out before the break by Dylan Easton, but, despite both teams having chances, it finished all-square in the Group F opener.

That meant the teams took turns from the spot to secure a bonus point and, although Paul Allan missed for the Pars, successful conversions from McCann, Sam Fisher, Joe Chalmers and Matty Todd, along with misses by Jamie Gullan and Lewis Vaughan, ensured it went Dunfermline's way.

It had been an absorbing match between the teams, who will meet again in the Championship, and James McPake's side can take plenty of positives from the way in which they played.

"We're delighted because, last season, it was a penalty shoot-out that put us out this cup, so we knew how important that was," he said.

"I don't think either team deserved to win that game if I'm honest. They had spells, we had spells on transition where we looked dangerous, but I think if it was a league game, then walking away with a draw, I probably would've been happy, because there were certain things that we didn't do to the level that we've shown.

"We're going to face that week in, week out in our league, but it was a cup tie. We should've been more free, more confident on the ball and, for me, it was the simple things that let us down - the five yard pass, second balls, winning our headers.

"The good thing about that is that it's stuff that we can work on. Maybe it being early played a part in that. I thought they did that side of the game better, but there was certain things in the game we were better in as well.

"I'm delighted it went to penalties, and third time lucky, because we lost two last season, so delighted to get it."

Rovers counterpart, Ian Murray, commented: "It was a very hard game for both team, it was played at a very frantic pace - as you would expect.

"I thought we started the game exceedingly well in the first stages and then they grew into it and had their wee spell also. 

"I thought we deserved to be level at half-time. I thought the second half, we dominated it. But we dominated it without testing their backline enough. We didn't stretch them enough.

"At the other end, Kevin has not had much to do other than a few dangerous crosses into the box."

With Chris Hamilton banned, following his red card during Tuesday's friendly at Alloa Athletic, McPake named a back three of Sam Fisher, ex-Rover, Kyle Benedictus, and Rhys Breen, with Ewan Otoo pushed into midfield.

Michael O'Halloran, signed last weekend, started on the bench for the visitors, who were facing one of their own ex-players, Callum Smith, who lined up for the home side.

Whilst not full, Stark's Park was nevertheless brimming with noise as the teams emerged for the start, and went head-to-head for the first time since the 2021/22 season.

Although they were unbeaten in four meetings with Raith, Dunfermline were relegated from the Championship - making an instant return last season - but had to go back to January 2017 for their last win, in league or cup, in Kirkcaldy.

In a stereotypical derby start, the game began at a frenetic pace, with Rovers on top in its very early infancy.

Lewis Vaughan had an early sighter deflected behind, before Smith lobbed a ball into the box for Dylan Corr who, with the visiting defence looking for an offside flag that didn't come, headed wide.

Dunfermline, though, swiftly began to settle and they had a decent start of their own.

Aaron Comrie did the groundwork, moving clear of an opponent on the right before sending a low ball across the box.

The Raith defence didn't deal with it and the ball was picked up by Josh Edwards who, after doing well to skip beyond his man on the left of the penalty area, hit a shot against the outside of the near post.

McCann struck wide for Athletic as the pace of the game began to settle, but it was Rovers who came closest next when Jamie Gullan, after Kyle Benedictus looked to be harshly penalised for a challenge on Vaughan, hit the bar with a well-executed 25-yard free-kick.

McCann then had a free-kick of his own, a good, dipping effort that just cleared the bar, before he gave Dunfermline the lead on the half hour mark.

The forward did ever-so well on the left to pick up the ball, dart inside Keith Watson and Scott McGill, before firing low across Dabrowski to send the Pars fans behind the goal into celebration.

That gave McPake's men a lift and, minutes later, they should have doubled their advantage - with McCann again involved.

He was sent scampering away on the left and, after picking his head up, he showed great composure to pick out Matty Todd, whose low drive was straight at Dabrowski when you'd have anticipated him bursting the net.

Unfortunately for him and his team-mates, they would rue that opportunity when Rovers equalised seven minutes before the break.

Patient play by the hosts eventually saw Vaughan clip a cross in from the right but, as the Pars tried desperately to clear, the ball fell to the feet of Easton.

The former Kelty Hearts star showed great feet to glide into the box - with Dunfermline knowing they couldn't afford to bring him down for fear of giving away a penalty - before chipping superbly over Deniz Mehmet as he came out to block.

Early in the second half, Sam Fisher headed wide from a corner, whilst Craig Wighton was inches away from connecting with a superb Josh Edwards cross to the far post.

Wighton then sent McCann away on the left after good play between the two, but the forward was put under sufficient pressure that he could only shoot at Dabrowski, whilst Vaughan diverted over from Gullan's centre at the other end.

On the hour, McPake introduced Paul Allan and O'Halloran for Wighton and Breen, with Allan having a shot blocked soon after his introduction.

Mehmet, though, made his first serious stop of the game, producing a fine save to push Liam Dick's header over, and then to deny Vaughan, who managed to get a shot away on the turn at the edge of box.

Gullan shot wide late on, and McCann struck a free-kick at Dabrowski, but neither side could find a winner as it ended in a draw, with a penalty shoot-out taken to determine who would win a bonus point.

Despite Allan having a kick saved, successful attempts from McCann, Sam Fisher, Joe Chalmers and Todd, aided by misses from Gullan and Vaughan, secured the bonus point for the Pars, who entertain Annan Athletic at East End on Tuesday night, and then Kilmarnock, who defeated Annan Athletic 3-0 this afternoon, next Saturday.

Raith Rovers: Dabrowski, Dick, Watson, Gullan, Vaughan, Smith (Mitchell 86), Mullin (Hamilton 69), Corr, Stanton (Arnott 88), Easton, McGill.

Subs not used: Masson, McNeil, Thomson.

Goal: Easton (38).

Booked: Easton (74).

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Fisher, Benedictus, Breen (O'Halloran 61), Edwards, Otoo, Chalmers, Todd, McCann, Wighton (Allan 61).

Subs not used: Fenton, Sutherland, Tod, Hoggan, Little.

Goal: McCann (30).

Booked: Fisher (75).

Referee: Don Robertson.

Attendance: 4,022.