Raith Rovers 0 – 1 Hamilton Academical

2:30PM | Sat 24th June

Linlithgow Rose

Prestonfield, Linlithgow

Raith 2-2 Partick Thistle

Fri 5th May (Home)

Sat 24th Jun (Away)

Linlithgow Rose

Tue 27th Jun (Away)

Montrose

Sat 1st Jul (Away)

Kelty Hearts

Sat 8th Jul (Away)

East Fife

	Team	Pd	GD	Pt
1	Dundee	36	26	63
2	Ayr United	36	18	58
3	Queen's Park	36	11	58
4	Partick Thistle	36	20	57
5	Morton	36	10	57
6	Inverness CT	36	5	55
7	Raith Rovers	36	-3	43
8	Arbroath	36	-18	34
9	Hamilton Academical	36	-32	31
10	Cove Rangers	36	-37	31
Updated: 5th May

Sunday March 26th 2023

Raith beaten in Trust Trophy Final vs Hamilton

Hamilton started the match by far the better side, being much sharper and dominating the possession, with Raith struggling to string multiple passes together.

Although Hamilton started better, dominating the early stages of the game it took them until the 30th minute to get a good chance that unfortunately from a Raith point of view found the back of the net after a corner found its way to former Raith favourite, Reghan Tumilty.

The Accies number 22 smashed the ball emphatically past Jamie MacDonald to put Hamilton ahead. GOAL HAMILTON 1-0!

Raith very quickly became more dominant, and soon created a good chance for Lewis Vaughan that was well blocked in the box shortly before half-time. Raith soon created another chance just before half-time, when Liam Dick’s cross just passed Lewis Vaughan. HT 1-0 HAMILTON.

Yet another Lewis Vaughan chance is blocked

Raith started the 2nd half in the same fashion as they ended the 1st half, with an early chance after a superb first touch from Sam Stanton lead to a fantastic chance well saved by Hamilton’s goal keeper and Man of the Match, Fulton.

Raith soon had the task of playing against a 10 man Hamilton after O’Reilly was shown a red card after a collision with Sam Stanton in the 55th minute.

Raith took full control of the game after the sending off, creating multiple half chances that were either well blocked or excellently saved by Fulton. However the best save came when Lewis Vaughan’s glancing header was amazingly saved and pushed over the cross bar.

Fulton continued to extravagantly keep the ball out of the net when the ball found its way to Lewis Vaughan, in the box, where he volleyed the ball from 4 yards on target, but Fulton was there once again.

Raith were soon claiming a penalty that was not given, when Lewis Vaughan felt he was fouled in the box, but the referee was having none of it and actually gave Hamilton a freekick instead.

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Welcome to today’s SPFL Trust Trophy Final - Raith Rovers v Hamilton Academical
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It’s calm, bright but with a chill in the air. Fans from both sides are filing into the stadium.
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Referee today is. Colin Steven assisted by Drew Kirkland and Craig Ferguson. Fourth official is Chris Graham
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This is the third year in a row Raith have been to this Cup final. Can we make it three in a row?
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Teams are making their way in the pitch
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The Raith Fans are Roaring
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Hamilton get the game underway
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Raith shooting towards the Hamilton fans this half (usual away end)
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Free kick Hamilton deep in Raith half after a foul on Smith
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Ball placed into the Raith box and headed clear
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Is a with a header towards goal but it’s wide. Play had started with Vaughan and Raith passing about until finalising with Isma
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Millen tries to find Easton but Hamilton intercept the pass
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Millen’s pass to Isma is too heavy and results in a goal kick
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Tumilty with a long pass into the Raith box but it doesn’t trouble the Raith defence
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Hamilton being forced into an early substitution off goes Ashley-Seal and on comes Tiehi
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Free kick Hamilton after a foul on Smith approx 25 yards out
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Hamilton put the ball to the far side of the box and it eventually goes out for a goal kick
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Raith playing well passing the ball about but they couldn’t find a way through to get into the Hamiton box
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Easton passes to Vaughan who decides he is going to have a pop but it’s high
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Hamiton being forced into another substitution going off  is Redfern and coming on is Sparrow
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Isma is down in the Hamilton box but he seems to be fine as he gets back to his feet
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Brown, Stanton and Spencer working hard to get the ball off Hamilton
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MacDonald gets a hand to the ball as Hamilton get the ball into the Raith box from a corner
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Corner Raith
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Ball is put to the front post and cleared. Raith continue to press with a powerful challenge from Liam Dick
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Millen gets the ball to the centre of the box - Vaughan is there but so are many Hamilton defenders
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Spencer booked
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Hamilton corner
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Corner is put to the back post and Raith head clear. Another Hamilton corner
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Tumilty scores as the ball is put into the mixer from the corner
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Easton has the bal, he turns but his pass into the box is way off
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Freekick Hamilton just in Raith half  as Isma fouls Smith
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Spencer makers an eror of judgment as his pass to Liam Dick is very weak. Hamilton pick up the ball and push forward. Tumilty has a pop but it trundles into MacDonald’s arms
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Isma to Easton. Easton gets the ball to the centre spot of the box, Stanton is there but he can’t capitalise
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Easton to Stanton who quick passes to Isma. Isma see Vaughan to his left. Vaughan has a pop but it’s weak and Fulton gathers
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Fourth official has indicated 6 min of additional time
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Raith corner
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+2 Raith pushing looking for that equaliser. The last few minutes Raith have had opportunities and it ends with Easton having a shot and it’s high
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+4 Hamilton on the ball in the Raith half. Tumilty falls at the edge of the box and ref says play on
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+6 Lang booked after a foul on Martin
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+6 ref blows for half time Raith Rovers 0 Hamilton 1 (Tumilty 28’)
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Raith get the second half underway. Hamilton have made a half time substitution off goes Shiels and on comes Zanatta
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Raith shooting towards their own fans this half
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Hamilton corner, Mimnaugh to take
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Ball out to the front post and Raith clear
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Freekick Hamilton just in their half after Brown fouls Smith
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Raith push forward, Easton has the ball but his delivery into the box is poor
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Stanton does well to win the ball from Tumilty but Vaughan can’t pick up the loose ball
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Raith corner
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Vaughan to take. He gets the ball into the mix but Hamilton clear
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Stanton cuts the ball back but still Raith can’t sink the ball away
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Stanton is in goal but he shoots ti the keeper.. Raith corner
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Raith sub off Isma and bring on Connolly
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Red card for O’Reilly has he wipes out Stanton
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Stanton is back in his feet
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Hamilton sub off Smith and bring in B Easton
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Spencer with the freekick who gets the ball perfectly into the box and Fulton gets up to collect
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Raith are pushing and pushing looking for that break theough
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Still Raith push as they get the balls into the box
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Hamilton clear the ball as the final flirts near the goal line
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Easton has a pop and Hamilton clear
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Good play between Connolly and Millen
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Spencer with a shot it takes a deflection - Raith corner
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Ball falls to penalty spot and Hamilton clear. Ref blows as foul has been committed. Hamilton freekick
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Millen with the. All into the box, Fulton fails to collect and Raith try to ping the ball into the net but Hamilton hold on
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Easton with a shot  direct to Fulton
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Ooofft Stanton with a powerful shot and Fulton gets a hand to it.. corner Raith
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Ball gets into the box but Fultonnis able to collect
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Brown with a powerful shot but it’s high and over the bar
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Millen with a great ball into the box, Hamilton clear. Brown with a shot and Hamilton block
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Raith sub off Spencer and bring in Ross
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Raith get the ball into the box and Tumilty clears
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Ooooffft Raith so close, don’t know how the ball didn’t go in
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Corner Raith
79
Ball played to the back post Stanton gets a head to it but Ref blows for a foul
80
Raith have the ball into the box and that ball will still not go into the back of the net
81
Easton tries to cut the ball back in the box but Hamilton are on it
83
Raith sub off Nolan and bring on McBride
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Stanton tries to win the ball from Tumilty
86
Vaughan is looking for a penalty but the ref blows for a foul in Hamilton’s favour
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Raith corner
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Raith trying to find a way through
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Raith pushing forward again and again but they just can’t get that ball into the back of the net
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4 min of additional time
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Freekick Raith as Millen is fouled
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MacDonald has gone up in t Eh Hamilton box
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The ball is in Fulton’s hands
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Ref blows for full time Raith 0 Hamilton 1 (Tumilty 28’)
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Congratulations to Hamilton who are this years SPFL Trust Trophy winners for 2023

Raith Rovers: MacDonald, Dick, Millen, Nolan, Spencer, Vaughan, Lang, Stanton, Brown (C), Easton, Goncalves

Subs: McNeil, Thomson, Connolly, McBride, Ngwenya, Ross, Masson

Hamilton Academical: Fulton, Shiels, O’Reilly, Martin, Ashley-Seal, Smith, Redfern, McGowan (C), Mimnaugh, Tumilty, De Bolle

Subs: Smith, Easton, Zanatta, Sparrow, Stephenson, Tiehi, Winter, Owens, McGinn

It’s been cup final fever in Kirkcaldy this week, with Raith Rovers facing off against Hamilton Academical in the SPFL Trust Trophy final on Sunday.

The match takes place at The Falkirk Stadium, and with Rovers selling their full allocation of tickets, their promises to be a brilliant atmosphere, as Rovers look for their second successive win in the competition, after last year’s 3-1 win over Queen of the South.

Indeed, this is the third successive time that Rovers have reached the final, after defeating Partick Thistle in the semi-final of the 19/20 competition, which was unfortunately mothballed due to the season being curtailed.

Raith have arguably had the toughest possible run to this final, facing four Championship sides on the way to the last two.

Cove were seen off at the Balmoral Stadium in September, with Conor McBride the only scorer in a 1-0 win.

Morton were then the visitors to Stark’s Park in December, and despite holding the upper hand for the bulk of the game, a Lewis Vaughan equaliser in the 1-1 draw took the game to penalties, with young Andy McNeil the hero, saving two spot kicks in the shoot out to see Rovers through 4-2.

Rovers then travelled to Ochilview in the quarter finals to face Queen’s Park, and again one goal was enough, with John Frederiksen the hero on the night with a well taken goal.

The run seemed to be at an end at Dens Park in the semi-finals however, as they trailed Dundee 2-0 with 13 minutes remaining. However, William Akio reduced the arrears in the 77th minute, and five minutes later, Sam Stanton made the score 2-2.

There was no further scoring, which meant Rovers were once again reliant on penalties, and this time Robbie Thomson was the hero, saving Max Anderson’s penalty before Zak Robinson missed his effort to send Rovers through.

Hamilton have played sides from three separate tiers to reach the final, disposing of Lowland League side Rangers B in the third round, before disposing of Championship team Inverness, League One strugglers Clyde and Queen of the South in the quarter finals and semi-final respectively.

This will be the fourth time the two teams have met this season, with Rovers coming out on top in all three.

Their first encounter was back in August, when goals from Dylan Easton and Jamie Gullan sealed a 2-0 away win, and it was the same winning margin at Stark’s Park in November, when goals from Easton, Aidan Connolly and Liam Dick secured a 3-1 victory.

It was a far tighter match at New Douglas Park on January though, with Jamie Gullan’s early goal all that separated the teams.

If Sunday’s match is drawn after normal time, a further 30 minutes (15 minutes each way) of extra time shall be played. Thereafter, if the match is still undecided, the winner shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the rules laid down by IFAB. The Club which scores more times in respect of such kicks will be declared the winner of the Match.

Sunday’s match referee is Colin Steven.

Head to Head Record

Raith Rovers wins: 63

Hamilton Academical: 60

Draws: 63