Tue 14th July / 19:45 / League Cup 26/27 / / away
Kilmarnock vs Raith Rovers
Line Up
Report
Raith notched a hard-earned point against Premiership side Kilmarnock on Tuesday night in the League Cup group stage, before losing a bonus point on penalties after full-time.
Dougie Imrie made two changes after his side’s 3-1 win over Elgin four days prior, which unfortunately saw George Oakley and Lewis Stevenson leave the field through injury. With the duo out, Kyle Turner and Jai Rowe were called on to start their first competitive games of the season. With four outfield players currently sidelined through injury, Imrie was left with just a four-man bench to utilise on the night.
Kilmarnock got things underway at Auchinleck’s Beechwood Park, the chosen ground due to ongoing pitch works at Kilmarnock’s usual home stadium, Rugby Park. The combination of Scottish football and a midweek kick-off is so usually accompanied by floodlights or chilling temperatures, but the mid-July kick-off provided a change of pace with clear skies and warm conditions.
Things got off to a lively start as Killie won themselves a corner seconds into the match, and would come close around fifteen minutes later when a free kick on the by-line was curled onto the top of the Rovers bar before eventually being dealt with.
Greig Kiltie was almost celebrating in the 16th minute after getting on the end of a pinpoint through-ball from Jamie Brandon, but the Killie captain’s effort from the angle narrowly bobbled by the far post.
Raith went on to create a few set-piece chances of their own as the half progressed, but numerous crosses into the box were ultimately marshalled away from goal in the end.
Set pieces continued to be the theme of the match as halftime came and went, with Raith threatening from a corner in the 47th minute. A scramble ensued as Killie attempted to clear, before a defensive free kick ultimately ridiculed any threat.
Raith continued their bright start to the second half and came close to scoring in the 55th after Zak Delaney’s cross was met by Lewis Vaughan in the box. The Rovers man neatly flicked the ball goalwards, but a reflex save from Stryjek put the ball onto the post before he managed to gather the loose ball.
The Rovers would create another chance just four minutes later after some sharp link-up play got Robertson in possession on the edge of the box. Crowded by Kilmarnock defenders, the winger managed to get a shot off, but the attempt was dragged just wide of the post.
It was Killie’s turn to miss the target by the slimmest of margins after substitute Roshaun Mathurin got on the ball on the left wing. A quick cut inside gave the newly-signed man a look on goal, but his effort towards the bottom right corner somehow didn’t find the net – possibly grazing the post on its way out in the process.
Kilmarnock kept applying pressure as full-time approached, and almost got their reward through a miss-hit by Josh Rae in the 90th minute. The Rovers’ defence did well to quell any danger though, earning them a hard-fought point when the whistle went a short while later.
The League Cup utilises a fairly unique method of splitting the points upon a draw at full-time, leaving a further bonus point up for grabs via a penalty-shoot-out after the final whistle.
Raith got off to a good start in the shootout, with Rae standing firm and saving Hugill’s central effort, before Vaughan stepped up and converted his spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Things were turned around quickly though, with Thomson scoring for Killie before Stryjek moved early to deny Telfer’s effort towards the bottom left.
A similar set of events would follow, with Ring scoring for Kilmarnock before Turner was denied by another stretching save by Stryjek.
A confident penalty from Owen, followed by a thunderbolt of a penalty from Millen into the top corner, gave the hosts a chance to claim the point. Such a chance was taken, with Mathurin converting to bring things to a close.
An important point against the top-seeded side of the group gives Raith a good chance of progressing, should they get results in the remaining two matches of the group phase. The first of such takes place away to Hamilton Accies this Saturday.
Written by Hamish Rankine.