Sat 10th December / 15:00 / 2022-23 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Morton
Preview
Raith Rovers go into this weekend’s SPFL Trust Trophy last 16 tie as the defending champions, but they face a tough ask this weekend to keep their good run in the competition going, as they welcome Greenock Morton to Stark’s Park.
Raith’s last defeat in this competition came way back in September 2018 when they lost to Ross County, although they go into this match on the back of three straight league defeats, after a 2-0 loss to Ayr last Saturday.
Morton on the other hand are in a run of 10 games unbeaten, a brilliant sequence which has seen them bounce back from a 5-1 trouncing from Partick Thistle at the beginning of October, to now sit in the playoff positions, just three points behind league leaders Ayr United.
This will be the third time the sides have met this term, with Rovers running out 2-1 winners at Stark’s Park in August, thanks to goals from Liam Dick and Aidan Connolly, but it was a different story the last time the two sides met in October, when an injury time penalty from ex-Raith midfielder, Grant Gillespie sealed a 1-0 win for Dougie Imrie’s men.
That was just Rovers second defeat to the Greenock side in 10 meetings, and their first loss at Cappielow since Gary Locke’s side lost 2-0 there in January 2017.
Saturday’s match referee will be Mike Roncone.
Head-to-Head Record
Raith Rovers wins: 56
Morton wins: 66
Draws: 36
Reports
McNeil saves the day
This enthralling Scottish Challenge Cup quarter-final tie started quite slowly with both Raith and Morton, not wanting to make a mistake. Raith had the early possession but not much penetration to trouble the Morton defence, the best chance in the first half for Raith was a decent header from Millen at the back post from a corner, whilst the best chance for Morton came from McGrattan with a curler from the edge of the 18 yard box but it was well saved by the debutant McNeil. 0-0 HT.
The second half it where the game begun to liven up with an early goal for Morton, coming from a beauty of a freekick from King in the 48th minute. Goal Morton 1-0.
Raith were soon equal with Lewis Vaughan scoring his first goal returning from injury after a beauty of a cross from Connolly in the 61st minute. Goal Raith 1-1. The game became very cautious after the goal because neither side wanted to make an error that could cost their team. In the 94th minute Raith decided to bring Nolan off for Kyle Connell, a man that has proven that he can take a great penalty. FT 1-1.
Going into the penalty shootout Raith had to win to have a chance of retaining the trophy they won the season before.
Jamie Gullan smashed the first penalty into the back of the net, Morton’s first penalty taker placed the ball into the bottom corner to make it level.
Sub Kyle Connell smashed his penalty home to put Raith ahead again, then the 2nd Morton player had his penalty well saved by McNeil to keep Raith ahead.
Connolly dispatched his penalty, Morton then put away their 3rd penalty, then Ross Millen scored with a Panenka to force the 4th Morton player to score or they would lose.
McNeil saved it to win the game. Raith win 4-2 on penalties.
Photos
All the pictures from the victory over Morton in round 4 of the SPFL Trust Trophy at Stark's Park.
Pictures © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY
Highlights
Interviews
The manager spoke after the win in the SPFL Trust Trophy: