5 minute read
Raith Rovers Match Report
Our hopes of emulating last season’s run to the semi-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy ended at the first hurdle as Rovers edged a tight encounter, Connor McBride grabbing the only goal to send the holders through to the Fourth Round.
There had been sweeping changes from the 2-2 draw at Firhill last week, with only goal hero Mark Reynolds and Connor Scully retaining their places in the starting line-up.
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The game started brightly enough with Johnston showing early promise, and from one of his surges forward the fullback fired in a dangerous delivery, but the ball had crossed the bye-line before he made contact.
Johnston and Luis Longstaff seemed to find an instant connection on the right, Iain Vigurs collected the ball from Luis, and played a one-two with Leighton McIntosh, before setting up Max, but his cross was cleared from the danger zone.
Raith hit back, and it was the Kirkcaldy outfit who made the breakthrough. Kieran Ngwenya set off on a powerful run before passing wide to Coulson, who sent in an inviting low cross. McBride gathered the ball and shot goalwards from eight yards, his effort deflecting off Morgyn Neill and past McKenzie. We were playing some excellent football at that stage of the game, and after good work by Leighton McIntosh, Longstaff drove infield before feeding the ball back out to Johnston. He sent in another fine cross, again just marginally too deep for McDonagh to make contact.
In the twenty-fourth minute, Mark Reynolds fired a superb fifty-yard diagonal for Max to run on to, but the cross, while dangerous, once more failed to find its target.
Seconds later, Rovers should have doubled their advantage. Ethan Ross took a quick free kick out on the right, and after an exchange of passes, the former Aberdeen youngster got in behind on the right, but shot wide of the near post.
There was then a period of sustained Cove possession with Johnston, Yule, Vigurs and McIntosh heavily involved, before Longstaff, under pressure, sent his cross behind the visitors’ goal.
Longstaff looked to spring the next Cove attack, turning inside his own half before racing clear, only to be bundled to the ground by Spencer, who picked up the game’s first booking. From the resultant free kick, Morgyn Neill headed just wide from twelve yards.
Again, Raith broke away, and again they might have extended their lead. Connell gathered a high ball and turned away from Neill. As the space opened up, he fired in a powerful effort from the edge of the box, but Stuart McKenzie pulled off an excellent save, holding the ball despite the ferocity of the shot.
There was a quiet start to the second half, but in the fifty-second minute it appeared we had found a leveller.
Connell fouled Iain Vigurs wide on the left. The resultant free kick was cleared only as far as Blair Yule, he linked up with Vigurs, then fed in Longstaff, and Luis finished superbly at the back post. The celebrations were quickly halted by the assistant’s flag, the winger having strayed marginally offside. Four minutes later, a moment of huge controversy which might have had a significant bearing on the game. After more good build-up play, with Longstaff and Johnston again involved, the ball was eventually played over the top for Leighton McIntosh to run on to. The Cove man looked favourite to latch on to it, and seemed to have clearly been bundled to the ground by O’Riordan, but to everyone’s astonishment, referee Duncan waved play on.
Longstaff then produced a bit of magic on the other flank. He jinked along the bye-line past a couple of defenders and shot towards the near post, Thomson punching the ball to safety. Neill then had a looping header cleared off the line by Connell, and Scully shot just wide from eighteen yards.
Luis Longstaff was having his best game in a Cove shirt and went for a mazy run deep inside the Raith box, Yule heeled the ball back to him, and from Luis’ cutback, Vigurs fired just over from the edge of the box.
Blair Yule’s comeback lasted seventy-six minutes, and he left the field to a standing ovation before being replaced by Robbie Leitch. At the same time, club captain Mitch Megginson took over from McIntosh.
Mitch was harshly booked for a challenge on Brown, then minutes later he threatened the Raith defence, racing on to a Vigurs through ball, only to see his cross blocked for a corner. Vigurs swung that in, but Rovers scrambled it clear.
Deep into stoppage time, there was one last opportunity. Luis Longstaff continued to be a major attacking threat, drove past the visiting defence, and delivered into the danger area. Rovers threw bodies at the ball, and in the ensuing melee it wouldn’t sit up for Megginson. As he moved towards it, Mitch was upended, but once more, the referee was unmoved and waved play on.
Cove Rangers
(4-3-3)
McKenzie; Johnston, Neill, Reynolds (c), Dunne; Yule (Leitch 76), Scully, Vigurs; Longstaff, McDonagh (Masson 65), McIntosh (Megginson 76)
Substitutes
Gourlay, Logan, Thomas
Booked
Megginson (84)
Raith Rovers
(4-2-3-1)
Thomson; Millen, O’Riordan, Dick, Ngwenya (Nolan 76); Brown (c), Spencer (Matthews 82); McBride (Easton 73), Coulson, Ross (Connolly 82); Connell (Mitchell 82) Substitutes: MacDonald, Masson
Goalscorers
McBride (11)
Booked
Spencer (41), Coulson (90)
Referee
Gavin Duncan
Attendance
405
THIRD STRIP LAUNCH
The club is delighted to announce the release of our new third strip as part of our year of centenary celebrations.
The gold with black trim is in keeping with the theme used to mark our one hundred years.
In addition to the blue home, and black away tops, supporters can find a full range of sizes at the Cove Rangers section of the Greaves Sports website.
The strips will also be available to purchase at the club shop inside Balmoral Stadium ahead of this afternoon’s meeting with Arbroath.
