Cove Rangers 0 – 1 Raith Rovers

4:15PM | Sun 26th March

Hamilton Academical

Falkirk Stadium

Raith 6-1 Cove Rangers

Sat 18th Mar (Home)

Sun 26th Mar (Away)

Hamilton Academical

Sat 1st Apr (Home)

Queen's Park

Tue 4th Apr (Home)

Hamilton Academical

Sat 8th Apr (Away)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

	Team	Pd	GD	Pt
1	Queen's Park	29	20	54
2	Dundee	29	15	50
3	Ayr United	29	15	46
4	Partick Thistle	29	10	45
5	Morton	29	6	43
6	Raith Rovers	28	2	38
7	Inverness CT	28	-2	36
8	Cove Rangers	29	-28	26
9	Arbroath	28	-16	25
10	Hamilton Academical	28	-22	25
Updated: 21st Mar

Saturday September 24th 2022

A 10^th minute goal by Connor McBride was enough to see the Rovers progress to the next round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Ian Murray made a few changes for the trip to Aberdeen but one particular addition to the line up to bring a smile to the faces of the travelling fans was the welcome return to the bench of Ross Matthews.

Goal scorer Connor McBride

Rovers wasted no time in making their intentions known when Kieran Ngwenya charged upfield and played the ball to Quinn Coulson whose low cross into the box was met by Connor McBride who shot home, past McKenzie from 8 yards, although there was a hint of a deflection off Neill.

Cove responded when Cieran Dunne sent a tempting delivery across goal but it came to nothing with none of his team-mates in a position to apply the finishing touch.

Raith had the upperhand by now and almost increased their lead after 26 minutes when Ethan Ross hit the post after a well-worked free kick.

Ethan came close again, just before the break, but his low drive was comfortably held by McKenzie.

GOAL!…Connor McBride fires the ball home

After the restart Luis Longstaff, had the ball in the net for Cove but his strike was ruled out for offside.

Rovers had claims for a penalty when Coulson went down in the area after a collision with Dunne but the referee waved play on.

Cove had their chances with Neill having a header cleared off the line before Connor Scully curled a shot over as they pressed for an equaliser.

Rovers continued to threaten with goalkeeper McKenzie called upon to keep out a low drive from Kieran Ngwenya with Kyle Connell firing over from the resulting corner when he really should have scored.

Cove missed a great chance to draw level when a shot by Vigurs flew over the crossbar but Rovers held on for a well deserved victory and a place in the fourth round.

0
Welcome to today’s Scottish Challenge Cup game Cove Rangers v Raith Rovers. It’s breezy, sunny but a chill in the air. Four changes this week, Thomson, Nolan, Connolly and Easton start on the bench.
0
Cove Rangers get the game underway
1
Johnston for Cove gets the ball to the byline, tries to cut it back in but ball has just rolled out of play, goal lick Raith
2
Freekick Raith approx 25 yards out
2
Connell takes it. It’s over the wall but wide of goal
3
Coulson picks up a loose ball, he fires it upfield to Connell but it’s too much
4
Good play between Ngwenya and Ross with quick passing but Ngwenya is intercepted
6
Freekick Cove Rangers deep in Raith half, doesn’t come to much
10
GOOOAAALLL RAITH
10
Good play from Raith which started with Nwgwenya and ends with MCBRIDE slotting Raith’s first goal of the afternoon
12
Cove Rangers close to replying as Dunne’s pass across goal thankfully isn’t slotted away
15
Millen gets the ball crossed into the Cove box, Connell is there but doesn’t win the header
16
Raith free  kick approx 25 yards out taken by Ross. It’s through the wall but straight to McKenzie
17
Johnston with a good cross into the Raith box. Thankfully McDonagh can’t get a foot to it
18
Millen to McBride in the box who cuts the ball back, Ross tries to get there but he’s too far out
19
Freekick Cove as Yule turns on Spencer. The latter grabs His opponent to the ground
21
Ross with a great ball into the box to Connell but he’s being well marked and can’t win the ball
23
Johnston for Cove again with good ball in the Raith box. Again thankfully it isn’t converted
25
Ross comes close as his effort is pinged  off the post
27
Ngwenya does well to keep Longstaff from creating an opportunity
29
Freekick Cove deep in Raith half
30
It doesn’t come to much and results in a goal kick for Raith
31
I would say it’s a fairly even match with Raith just edging it Cove Rangers 0 Raith 1 (McBride 10’)
33
Freekick Raith in their half after a foul on Connell
35
Ross gets the ball to McBride but the latter is challenged and loses loss
37
Coulson with a low shot but McKenzie gets down to save
41
Spencer revives a booking deep in the Raith half. Freekick Cove
41
Neill for Cove has a free header, thankfully ball goes wide
44
Millen with a great ball to Connell. He controls goes forward has a ping ball saved my McKenzie
45
Ref blows for half time. Good first half from Raith. Cove Rangers 0 Raith Rovers 1(McBride 10’)
45
Raith get the second half underway. Raith shooting towards their own fans this half
47
Dunne tries to get the ball into the box but it’s blocked by Millen
50
Raith have the first corner of the afternoon
50
Corner doesn’t  come to anything
51
Freekick Cove after Connell fouls Vigurs
52
Cove think they have scored but linesman flags offside
56
Freekick Raith after a foul on Ross
57
Great cover by Liam Dick as Cove power forward
58
Cove from their first corner of the afternoon get the ball to the front post but Connell heads clear. Ball is eventually put back in and Thomson punches clear
59
Corner Cove  as Millen and McBride stop an attack
61
Connell passes to Ngwenya who has a low shot but McKenzie knocks it out of play
65
Cove sun off McDonagh and bring on J Masson
66
Spencer to McBride who passes to Ross at the far corner but he’s muscles off the ball
68
A long throw from Connell ball into the box. Ball eventually falls to McBride who has a pop but it’s blocked
70
Connell with a pass to Ross who looks like he is through on goal but linesman flags offside
72
McIntosh thinks he is through on goal but Ngwenya nicks in there and spoils his day
73
Brown takes a turn and shot its… ball wide
73
Raith sub off goal scorer McBride and bring on Easton
74
Freekick Raith after a foul on O’Riordan by McIntosh
76
Cove sub off McIntosh and bring on Megginson
76
Raith sub off Ngwenya and bring on Nolan
77
Cove sub off Yule and bring on Leitch
78
Play halted as Ross receives treatment
81
Raith makes triple sub… off go Spencer, Ross and Connell and on come Connolly, Mitchell and it’s a welcome return for Matthews
85
Freekick Raith after a foul on Brown
86
Freekick Raith just outside their box after foul on Coulson
87
Freekick Cove in  the centre circle after Nolan holds back his man
88
Megginson tries a tight shot but Millen blocks
89
Corner Cove. Ball placed to the back post but ball is thumped over the bar
92
Easton takes the ball for a run passes to Brown but ball intercepted
94
Raith scrambling to get the ball out for their box
96
ref blows for full time. Raith hold on to their lead to progress to the next round. Game finishes Cove Rangers 0 Raith Rovers 1 (McBride10’)

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Scully, Neill, McDonagh, Yule, McIntosh, Vigurs, Longstaff, Dunne, Reynolds, Johnston

Subs: Gourlay, Logan, Megginson, Masson, Thomas, Leitch

Raith Rovers: Thomson, Dick, Millen, Spencer, McBride, O’Riordan, Ngwenya, Connell, Brown, Ross, Coulson

Subs: MacDonald, Nolan, Connolly, Matthews, Easton, Mitchell, Masson