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.
Manager Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the match.
Live Updates
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Welcome to today's Premier Sports Cup Aberdeen V Raith Rovers. It's a warm 24°, bright with a wee breeze. Ethan Ross is the captain for Raith today
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The match official is David Munro, assisted by Graeme Stewart and Dougie Potter. Fourth official is Euan Anderson
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A couple of changes to the Raith side, Thomson is in goals and Arnott starts with Easton on the bench
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Teams are making their way into the pitch
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Raith in their brilliant new away strip
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Aberdeen get the game underway
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Gullan intercepts a loose Aberdeen ball he runs up field passes to Connolly but it was just a bit heavy
2'
Good defending by Raith as Aberdeen break through
4'
Freekick Aberdeen after Ross fouls
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penalty Aberdeen
5'
Aberdeen's Miovski scores from the spot
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Millen does well to cover as he gets the ball back to Thomson
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Freekick Raith after Connolly is fouled deep in the Raith half… Thomson to take
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Thomson's freekick does reach upfield but a hard one for Gullan to latch onto
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Besuijen with a long range effort but Thomson collects comfortably
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Ross picks up a loose ball, he finds Zanatta who then passes to Millen who gets the ball into the mix but Aberdeen clear
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Corner Raith Ross to take
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Raith close as Gullan's effort is just wide across the face of goal
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Aberdeen push forward but Hayes cross goes out for a goal kick
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Thomson does well to save from close range
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Liam Dick does well to run back and retrieve the ball he was challenged for
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Stanton intercepts an Aberdeen pass
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Freekick Aberdeen as Berra fouls on the turn
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Gullan and Arnott link well with play ending as Arnott is challenged in the box
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Corner Raith
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Ball put in the box but Stewart for Aberdeen heads clear
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Raith with a shot but Roos palms over . Raith corner
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Aberdeen ion the threat again but Berra heads clear from the line
24'
Ross chips the ball into the box but it comes to nothing and Roos gathers
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Freekick Aberdeen as Stanton fouls deep in the Aberdeen half
27'
Gullan picks up a loose ball he drives forward but he just can't quite find a break through
28'
Good play between Liam Dick and Ross. Liam Dick tries to get the ball into the box but Aberdeen intercept
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Freekick Raith in the Aberdeen half as Stanton is fouled
30'
Ross from the freekick gets the ball into the box, Berra heads, play eventually ends as Zanatta has a shot but it's just wide
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Aberdeen corner
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From the corner Aberdeen get the ball into the box but Thomson eventually punches clear
33'
Connolly tries to get the ball to Arnott but it's a bit to heavy
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Gullan has a pop but it's blocked
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Besuijen has a shot, thankfully it's over the bar
35'
Gullan charges forward he passes into the box to Connolly but it doesn't come to fruition
36'
Ross to Arnott but the latter is flagged offside
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Goal Aberdeen as McCrorie charges forward and shoots into top right
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Freekick Aberdeen deep in Raith half as Arnott fouls
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Aberdeen corner
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+1 Thomson punches clear and the ref blows for halftime Aberdeen 2(Miovski 5', McCrorie 38') Raith 0
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Raith get the second half underway. Raith shooting towards the seaside section
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Goal Aberdeen as Hayes goes it alone with one on one with Thomson and slots Aberdeen's number three
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Excellent save by Thomson as Besuijen blasts
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Aberdeen pressing, Raith do well to defend the latest challenge
54'
Aberdeen with most of the possession at the moment keeping Raith in their half
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Liam Dick intercepts an Aberdeen pass
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Before the Raith freekick, Raith sub off Arnott and bring on Easton
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Raith currently in possession looking for a way through
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Aberdeen sub off Hancock and Miovski and bring on Ramirez and Lopes
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Brown and Liam Dick do well to defend an Aberdeen threat
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Raith pushing forward but nothing comes of it
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Brown this time with a clearance
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Raith sub off Gullan for Mitchell and Aberdeen sub off Hayes for Duncan
71'
Ross with an effort but it's blocked, Raith can capitalise in the rebound
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Aberdeen sub Kennedy and Besuijen and bring on Watkins and Polvara
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Easton with the long ball to Mitchell but the latter couldn't quite get the ball under control
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Brown intercepts an Aberdeen pass
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Ramirez from close range blasts over the Raith bar
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Ooft that was a risky ball from Easton back to Thomson with Aberdeen well in the danger zone
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Thomson with an outstanding save, Aberdeen corner
80'
Thomson gathers as Aberdeen push the Raith defence
81'
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Raith sub off Connolly and Zanatta and bring on Mahady and Coulson
82'
Raith freekick after a foul on Easton
83'
Bookings for Dick, Coulson and Aberdeen's Richardson after an altercation
86'
Easton again trying to find Mitchell but again it doesn't come to fruition
87'
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Geez that was nearly a defensive howler
88'
Easton taken out as he passes the ball just on the edge of the box
88'
Booking for Stewart after that foul
89'
Easton is back on his feet
89'
From a Raith freekick the ball is put over the bar
90'
There will be two minutes of additional time
91'
Aberdeen are through on goal all Ramirez has to do is find a spot but he blasts it over the bar
92'
The ref blows for full time Aberdeen 3 (Miovski 5', Hayes 45' McCrorie 38') Raith 0
It was Aberdeen the dominant side.
Our league campaign starts next week against Cove Rangers
