Wednesday 1 March 2017 12:49, UK
Midfielder Ryan Stevenson played in goal for Raith Rovers on Tuesday night due to a goalkeeper crisis at the Scottish Championship club.
Raith asked for the game at Ayr United to be postponed but the SPFL did not give them permission, and so Stevenson was forced to step into the breach.
And the 32-year-kept a clean sheet for over a hour, producing several fine stops along the way, only to be beaten by a Farid El Alagui header after 62 minutes.
Former Ayr man Stevenson previously played in goal for the final five minutes of Partick's 4-0 loss to Hearts in October 2015, after goalkeeper Ryan Scully was sent off when Partick had already used their full allocation of substitutes.
Rovers' first choice 'keeper Kevin Cuthbert is currently recovering from a hernia operation, loanee Aaron Lennox was injured during a January friendly, and Conor Brennan hurt his foot during Saturday's defeat to Queen of the South.
And Raith are now just a point ahead of second-bottom Ayr after this crucial defeat.
A Raith statement prior to the match said: "All three of Raith Rovers' registered goalkeepers are unfit to play in this evening's vital league fixture away to Ayr United.
"Regular stopper Kevin Cuthbert underwent a sports hernia operation 10 days ago. Recovery time is four-six weeks.
"Such is the character of 'Cat' that he responded to the club's emergency by offering to play tonight, even though he has not even had his post surgery stitches removed!
"However we have a duty of care to Kevin and could not permit that.
"Aaron Lennox is recovering from two broken bones in his hand and cannot play, while we await the results of an MRI scan on Conor Brennan, following his painful foot injury sustained 3 days ago at Dumfries.
"Over the last 72 hours we have kept the SPFL fully abreast of developments, but our options were restricted by football regulations and, despite the best efforts of manager John Hughes, club officials and agents acting on our behalf, we have been unable to secure the services of another goalkeeper for tonight's game.
"As a last resort, we requested a postponement of tonight's re-arranged fixture at Somerset Park but this has been refused by the SPFL. Whilst we must respect that decision, we are very disappointed with it.
"We now have no alternative other than to proceed with what is a vital fixture not only for ourselves and our friends at Ayr United, but also for those other clubs around about us.
"More than ever, good luck to the team this evening and, in particular, to Ryan Stevenson who has volunteered to be our goalkeeper tonight."
A spokesman for the SPFL told Sky Sports News HQ: "Raith Rovers had a number of options open to them once their only fit goalkeeper was injured at the weekend."
