Reports

Rovers travelled to Aberdeen for the last of the Premier Sports Cup group matches.

Manager Ian Murray made a couple of changes to the team that started against Dumbarton in midweek with Robbie Thomson replacing the injured Jamie MacDonald in goal and Dylan Easton taking a seat on the bench as young Aaron Arnott joined Jamie Gullan and Dario Zanatta up front.

The Rovers fans knew that getting any kind of positive result at Pittodrie was a big ask, and so it proved after only 6 minutes when the Dons were awarded a penalty after Sam Stanton caught North Macedonian striker Miovski just outside the six-yard box.

Miovski took the kick himself and fired the spot-kick high into the net past Thomson.

Jamie Gullan almost brought the Rovers level when he connected with a Liam Dick ball in from the left but his flick went spinning dangerously across the face of goal and inches past the post, and minutes later, Gullan forced a good save from goalkeeper Kelle Roos with a shot on the turn, while strike partner Dario Zanatta had a low drive deflected just wide.

Ethan Ross and former teammate Jonny Hayes battle for the ball

However, Aberdeen took the wind out of Rovers sails and increased their lead shortly before the break when midfielder McCrorie sent a thundering drive in off the underside of the crossbar from 22 yards.

Any hopes Rovers had of getting back into the game were killed off within a minute of the restart. Besuijen played a through ball in the direction of Miovski who was offside but the striker left the ball to Jonny Hayes who raced into the box and slotted the ball beyond the helpless Robbie Thomson.

So Rovers participation in the Premier Sports Cup is over for another season but they haven’t seen the back of Aberdeen just yet with a return trip to the granite city already arranged for next Saturday when they visit Cove Rangers in the opening league game of the season.

Picture © Eddie Doig.

Photos

All the photos from the match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie

Photographs © Eddie Doig.

Highlights

Interviews

Manager Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the match.