Match Report
Thistle made just two changes from the side that had lost to Inverness on penalties in the Challenge Cup. Patrick Boyle dropped out the 16 entirely with Simon Donnelly, a subs against Inverness, playing from the start. In goal Jonny Tuffey, back from international duty, was restored to the team with Craig Hinchcliffe dropping to the bench.
After an even opening ten minutes or so Thistle hearts were in mouths in the 11th minute. The pace and mobility of Rovers' front two of Tade and Casalinuovo had already produced signs of troubling the Thistle back line and when Tade went down in a heap inside the Thistle box the shouts for a Raith penalty were loud and sustained. Referee McDermott though ignored those appeals and instead booked Tade for diving.
It was a signal thoughfor a period of sustained pressure from the home side and Jonny Tuffey did well to get hold of a low drive from Darren Smith.
Raith were able to threaten again in their next attack when Williamson was able to set up Darren Smith but Paul Paton was swiftly across to make a challenge and the home side had to make do with just a corner kick.
There was further evidence in the 20th minute that Tade's pace could be a real problem. As Rovers tried to catch Thistle on the counter attack following a Thistle corner Tade left Paul Paton for dead but instead of shooting for goal he attempted to square the ball and Thistle were able to clear the danger.
In the 36th minute Raith were close to opening the scoring and would have done so had it not been for a timely intervention from Paul Cairney. Iain Williamson found himself one on one with Jonny Tuffey and when he took the ball round the Thistle keeper he looked set to score only for Cairney to get back in time and hack the ball off the line.
In the 41st minute Thistle found themselves down to men when Liam Buchanan was sent off in mysterious circumstances. While few could spot anything the best that can be guessed at is that Buchanan raised a hand to Mark Campbell who picked up a yellow card in the exchange. Campbell certainly went off for treatment with Ian McCall having a few words to say to the referee when Campbell went back on.
It was hardly a surprise that Ian McCall choose to shuffle his pack at the interbal. Simon Donnelly was the man to come off with Bryan Hodge his replacement as Thistle went with just one man, Mark Corcoran up front.
Despite the numerical disadvantage Thistle showed plenty of spirit at the start of the second half. Paul Cairney did well to win the ball ibn midfield but when the ball broke to him Mark Corcoran couldn't take advantage.
Corcoran flashed a shot wide in the 56th minute before being replaced by Kris Doolan.
Doolan was showing plenty of energy but when he was able to take advantage of a slip in the Raith defence Thistle's lack of numbers meant no support and he could only managed to drag his shot wide of goal.
Raith had been a greater threat in the first half but they were just inches away from the lead in the 62nd minute. After a bright start Casalinuovo had been fairly quiet but he underlined his undoubted quality with a fierce shot from the edge of the box that Jonny Tuffey was glad to see go wide of his right hand post.
The on loan striker would not have long to wait though before opening the scoring for the afternoon. Raith sub Sloan swung over a corner and Casalinuovo was able to head home from inside the Thistle six yard box.
Casalinuovo was close to a second goal a few minutes later. With Rovers looking to press home their advantage the Thistle defence was opened up but Tuffey was able to block Casalinuovo's shot.
With 16 minutes remaining Ian McCall turned to his substitutes for the final time when he brought on Jim Hamilton for David Rowson.
With just seven minutes remaining the numbers were evened. The referee had his attention drawn to an off the ball incident involving Mark Campbell and Jim Hamilton. The Thistle man was booked and with Campbell already on a yellow card following the incident with Liam Buchanan off he went.
Minutes later the scores were level. Paul Cairney's corner wasn't cleared by the Raith defence, John Robertson nodded the ball on and Kris Doolan was able to find the net with an over head kick.
With 3 minutes left Rovers were close to regaining their lead when Jonny Tuffey produced a magnificent point blank save to deny Casalinuovo a goal.
Casalinuovo was close again when he headed over a Davidson cross and Kris Doolan had a late chance to win the game for Thistle but he sent the ball over the bar after a Bryan Hodge cut back.
