Preview

After the excitement of last weekends 3-2 win over Ayr United at Stark's Park, Raith Rovers are on the road this Saturday, as they travel to Aberdeen to face Cove Rangers in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

It's a competition that Raith have an excellent recent record in, winning it last season, when a Matej Poplatnik brace and a goal from Ethan Ross sealed a 3-1 win over Queen of the South in the final at Airdrie.

Indeed, Rovers haven't lost a game in this tournament since September 2018, when they went down to Ross County 5-0, as in the following season they shared the trophy with Inverness as the season was curtailed, and the tournament was mothballed for the 2020/21 season.

They face a tough challenge to keep that record going however, against a team that they've had a poor record against in their limited head-to-head record.

Four times the sides have met, and only once, in their very first match, have Raith come out on top, in a League Cup group stage match in 2016. Despite going a goal down, Rovers eventually edged out the Highland League side 2-1, thanks to goals from Kyle Benedictus and Lewis Vaughan.

There's been far less success against Cove since then however, and Raith lost to them for the third consecutive occasion on the opening league match of the campaign, when two goals from Mitch Megginson secured a deserved 2-0 win at the Balmoral Stadium.

Saturday's referee will be Gavin Duncan.

 

Head-to-Head Record:

Cove Rangers wins: 3

Raith Rovers wins: 1

Draws: 0

Reports

A 10th 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.

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the win in the SPFL Trust Trophy against Cove Rangers FC:

Live Updates

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')