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.

Lewis Vaughan sees his header hit the net
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.

Andy McNeil saves to send Rovers into the next round
McNeil, Dick, Millen, Nolan, Spencer, Connolly, Gullan, Vaughan, O’Riordan, Stanton, Brown. Subs: MacDonald, McBride, Lang, Connell, Ross, Easton, Coulson, Masson, Frederiksen.
Greenock Morton
Schwake, Pignatiello, Strapp, O’Connor, Kabia, Hynes, McGrattan, Grimshaw, McGregor, King, Lithgow. Subs: Green, Blues, Muirhead, Crawford, Gillespie.
All the pictures from the victory over Morton in round 4 of the SPFL Trust Trophy at Stark’s Park.
- Raith Rovers giving their support to the White ribbon campaign
- The whole Team supports the White ribbon campaign never remain silent about violence
- It's all smiles as Raith Former players make a Pre match presentation to Gordon Wallace
- Match sponsors Craiglea Timber Frames
- John MacDonald interviews the mascots pre match
- The match mascots with the captains and referee Mike Roncone
- Connor O'Riordan builds an attack from the back
- Lewis Strapp breaks up a Raith attack
- A near thing for Raith
- Brad Spencer beats goalscorer King to the ball
- Connor's the meat in the sandwich
- A safe pair of hands clutches the ball
- Andy McNeil voted Man of the match by fans and sponsors
- Derek Bushnell explains the finer points of the Match
- Lewis Vaughan battling for the ball
- King and Brown going for it.
- Aidan Connolly in the Morton Box
- Captain Scott Brown
- Brilliant save by Andy McNeill
- 50-50 Winner Dave Watson with Bobby Russell
- Cheque presentation to Raith Rovers from The Jim McMillan Club
- Cheque presentation by The 200 CLUB
- A great Free kick opens the scoring for Morton
- It's tight in the box
- No way past Ryan Nolan
- Lewis Vaughan heads Raith's equaliser
- Lewis spins around to see his head flick sail into the net
- Yes Keeper it's in the net
- Well done Lewis Vaughan Raith 1 - 1 Morton
- The long awaited return of Tom lang.
- Jamie tries a shot at the Morton goal
- Ryan keeps Lithgow at bay
- Ryan and Brad double team
- Tom Lang
- Another great stop from Andy
- Ref Mike Roncone calms things down in a heated exchange
- Jamie Gullan started the penalty shoot out with a perfect shot on goal
- Jamies spot kick hits the back of the net
- Kyle Connell's scoring spot kick
- Jamie saves Morton's second spot kick
- Andy's second save from the spot
- Congratulations from the ref at the final whistle
- Well done Andy
- We are in the next round of the Cup
- Happy Raith fans at the final Whistle
- MotM Andy McNeil with match sponsors Jason Crawford and Scott Pattie from Craiglea Timber Frames
- Andy McNeil clears the ball upfield
- Connor O'Riordan gets in to halt Kabia
- Liam Dick gets his head on a Connolly corner
- Andy McNeil is first to the ball to deny McGregor
- The ball falls to Aidan Connolly
- C'mon ref,,,,Av had a hard year ye know!
- Andy McNeil takes command of his box
- Andy's still in charge
- O'Connor gets to grips with Lewis Vaughan
- Ian Murray looks on as Jamie Gullan wins the ball in the air
- UNBELIEVABLE SAVE!....Andy gets a strong hand on the ball.....
- ...and sends it wide
- Jamie Gullan comes out on top
- Ryan Nolan towers over Kabia
- GOAL!....King fires the ball round the wall.....
- .....McNeil is helpless as Morton take the lead
- Brad Spencer and King compare boots
- Brad's getting good at this leg lift lark
- Liam Dick beats McGregor in the battle for the ball
- Pignatiello and Lithgow gang up on Lewis Vaughan
- Andy McNeil is still in charge of his box
- GOAL!.....Lewis Vaughan gets his head to Connolly's cross......
- .......and with a wee twist......
- ......the ball flies into the net
- Lewis is well chuffed with his first goal since his return
- A perfectly timed tackle by Scott Brown stops McGrattan
- Tom Lang takes charge on his comeback
- Aidan Connolly on the attack
- Tom Lang plays the ball out wide
- Another brilliant save from Man of the Match Andy McNeil
- Ross Millen argues Rovers case after Ethan Ross is scythed down
- Jamie Gullan gives Schwake no chance from the spot
- Kyle Connell makes no mistake
- Aidan Connolly sends the keeper the wrong way
- The keeper is down and out before the ball even reaches the goal as Ross Millen does a cheeky Panenka
- Man of the match Andy McNeil sealed it for Rovers with 2 saves in the shoot-out.
Pictures © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY
The manager spoke after the win in the SPFL Trust Trophy:
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