Preview

After the disappointment of conceding a last minute equaliser at the Balmoral Stadium against Cove Rangers in our most recent match, Raith Rovers are in Scottish Cup action next, when they travel to Prestonfield to face Linlithgow Rose.

The Gallant Rosey Posey are in sterling form this season, leading the East of Scotland League by 15 points, after winning 15 and drawing two of their 18 league games, scoring 66 goals in the process.

Gordon Herd's side reached this stage of the competition by defeating Sauchie Juniors by a single goal in the Third Round, after disposing of Lowland League sides Berwick and Spartans in the previous two rounds, with the 4-0 win over the Edinburgh side a particular eye-catching result.

This will be the second time that the two sides have met in this competition, with the last encounter taking place in the Third Round in 2014.

Rovers edged through after a hard fought 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Ryan Conroy and Paul Watson, but Rovers were made to fight all the way, with David McGurn the busier of the two keepers in the 90 minutes.

Two years later, Linlithgow became the first junior side to reach the last 16 of the Scottish Cup, going down to Ross County 4-2.

Whoever comes out on top will find out their opponents in the next round on Sunday evening, with the draw for the Fifth Round taking place at 6pm.

The match referee will be Graham Grainger.

Reports

Rovers progress in the Scottish Cup

Rovers travelled to Linlithgow for the rearranged Scottish Cup 4th round tie on Tuesday night. And they certainly didn’t take it lightly (considering recent ‘cup-shocks’) fielding a very strong starting line-up, as well as the healthiest set of substitutes Rovers fans had seen in a while.

Credit to the ground staff at the Prestonfield Stadium – who had clearly worked hard to get the pitch in the best condition as possible, despite the recent cold-snap.

Rovers were first to really threaten with Dylan Easton charging into the box, but his penalty protests were rightly waved away by referee, Graham Grainger (however, it wasn’t going to be his last involvement in moments of controversy).

Next up it was the hosts: a long ball eluded Rovers’ defence but Rose’s Mark Stowe snatched the chance wide.

The half, without too much quality, saw some half-chances fall for each team. Lewis Vaughan’s cross had a bit too much pace on it for Aidan Connolly to reach, before Stowe went down in the box under an Easton challenge – but it would have been as equally harsh as Rovers’ claim earlier in the game.

A stalemate of a first half.

 

Half-time: Linlithgow Rose 0-0 Raith Rovers

 

Rovers started up a gear second-half and should’ve took the lead. A through ball was flicked on by Lewis Vaughan, and although Jamie Gullan was offside at the time, Alexander Webb’s attempted headed clearance put him back onside (2nd phase), and Gullan nicely lifted over Rose’s on rushing keeper, Cameron Binnie. Confusion throughout the stadium as the goal was not awarded, then it was awarded, then finally not awarded. Still Rose 0-0 Rovers.

Rovers, however, finally did take advantage of their counter-attacking threat. Connolly slipped the ball through to Gullan who took the ball round the keeper and slotted home. 55 minutes in and it was Rose 0-1 Rovers.

GOAL...Jamie Gullan fires home the opening goal

Rovers were starting to take advantage of the extra bit of quality with a few balls in flashing across the face of goal, and a left-footed shot from Scott Brown well-saved, before Gullan hit the post.

Gullan should have killed the game off when he got in behind Webb again, but Binnie turned his low finish round the post. He wasn’t to be denied, though: another break through the home defensive line saw Gullan slot a right-footed shot past the keeper, and guarantee Rovers’ place in the next round. Rose 0-2 Rovers.

GOAL...Jamie Gullan scores the second goal to clinch it for Rovers

Over-the-piece, Rovers deservedly progressed to the 5th round, setting up a now much-anticipated home-tie to Premiership side, Motherwell.

Full Time: Linlithgow Rose 0-2 Raith Rovers
Crowd: 1,720

by David Proudfoot

Photos

 

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after tonight's win

Live Updates

0'
Welcome to tonight's 4th round Scottish Cup tie at Prestonfield Park - Linlithgow Rose v Raith .. Raith make one change out goes Millen and in comes Masson. Linlithgow I'm led to believe have made three changes out go McKenzie, Davidson and Bremner and in come Thom, Ogilvie and MacPherson
0'
Welcome to tonight's 4th round Scottish cup tie at Prestonfield Park - Linlithgow Rose v Raith
0'
Raith have made one change, out goes Millen and in comes Masson
0'
Linlithgow I'm led to believe have made three changes, out go McKenzie, Davidson and Bremner and in come Thom, Ogilvie and MacPherson
0'
Linlithgow have made a late change of Heaver out and Docherty in
0'
Linlithgow get the game underway
0'
Linlithgow with the first free kick of the evening about 40 yards out
2'
Ball put into the box but cleared by Raith
3'
Game halted whilst Linlithgow player receives treatment
3'
Game back underway
3'
Booking for I think, Linlithgow Skinner for a foul on Brown
6'
Spencer tries to lump the ball forward but only falls to Thom who thumps it back into the Raith half
8'
Easton tests Binnie after play started with a great ball fed up to Gullan
10'
From a throw in Easton gets the ball to Vaughan he sees an opportunity but his shot is weak and wide
10'
Easton gets past two Linlithgow players, gets into the box and is downed, he was looking for the opportunity but ref saw through it
11'
A shot from Linlithgow takes a wee tweak in the air but it doesn't trouble MacDonald
12'
Lang with a brilliant long ball to Connolly but he has to take a couple of touches to control the ball and it goes out of play
13'
Foul to Linlithgow as Brown has a wee push
15'
A long ball to Gullan but Thom has the ball in his sights first
16'
Long switch of play to Liam Dick but it's a bit short and MacPerson clears
17'
Gullan with the ball he should have sent Vaughan on his way before the former was tackled
18'
Foul to Raith after Skinner fouls Vaughan
19'
Ball sent forward but Brown stalls as I think the thought he was offside
20'
Vaughan to Easton, Vaughan is expecting the ball back but Easton's first touch is too heavy and possession lost
23'
Gullan succeeds to ge the ball into the the Linlithgow box but it's cleared
25'
Lang plays some brilliant football as he weaves through the midfield. He passes to Gullan as Lang continues forward expecting the return pass but ball has gone out of play
28'
Easton does well to win the ball he passes to Spencer who is challenged but he keeps going and he tries to pass back to Easton but ball goes out of play
29'
Stowe with an easy chance in front of the Raith goal but his effort goes wide
30'
Yellow for Brown as he makes a heavy challenge
31'
Gullan with a through ball to Connolly but he is just beaten by Linlithgow
31'
Corner Raith
31'
Nothing comes of the corner
33'
Vaughan sends a lovely ball on to Gullan, he's away but the linesman says offside… nae chance, he was on
34'
Vaughan gets the ball makes a wee turn, passes across the box to Connolly but he can't make the connection
39'
Linlithgow appeal for a penalty but ref says no
40'
Brown with the pass to Vaughan as Raith push forwards but his pass isn't weighted well
40'
Spencer gets booked for a foul on the halfway line
41'
Ogilvie for Linlithgow booked
43'
Corner Raith
43'
Played short and Linlithgow clear when the ball is finally placed in the box
44'
Lovely ball from Connolly to Easton but he is challenged by Linlithgow
45'
Freekick Raith in the Linlithgow half after a foul on Connolly
45'
+1 ref blows for half time Linlithgow 0 Raith 0
45'
Raith get the second half underway
46'
Goood play with Raith as they work together to get the ball forwards. Play ends when Easton has a pop and the ball is over the bar
49'
What an absolute farce…. Gullan scores, linesman says offside, ref says no and looks as though he gives it but then the ref talks to the linesman and now it's not a goal!!!!
53'
GGOOOOAALLLL
53'
It's GULLAN who puts the burners on, wins the ball, Linlithgow keeper comes out Gullan goes the long route and as the keeper and a defender run back Gullan has a slot home
56'
A second corner in succession for Raith
58'
Docherty is on the run he passes into the box but Nolan is there to clear
60'
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Linlithgow sub off Ogilvie and Sneddon and bring on Bremner and Allan
61'
Binnie gets down to collect after Vaughan has a wee soft toe poke towards goal
63'
An ooh as MacDonald takes too long to release the ball and Linlithgow nearly pounce
65'
Freekick Raith as Spencer is being held back
66'
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Linlithgow sub off McMullan and bring on Cunningham
67'
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Raith sub off Vaughan and we welcome back Sam Stanton
68'
Masson plays a decent ball through to Easton but it's just too heavy
70'
Gullan picks up the ball he powers forward, crosses into the box but Raith can't connect. Brown is on the edge and he has a pop but it takes a deflection and Binnie eventually collects
72'
Stanton steals the ball he passes to Easton who releases Gullan but Binnie just gets to the ball in the box
74'
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Linlithgow sub off Docherty and bring on McKenzie
76'
Easton gets the ball into the box but Linlithgow clear
77'
Corner Raith
77'
Booking for Lang as he pushes a Linlithgow player at the half waylay line who has made the break
79'
Booking now for Thom for Linlithgow
79'
Foul after Connolly challenges Binnie as he tries to collect a Raith cross
83'
Gullan powers forward he has a Linlithgow player by his side the keeper comes out, Gullan has ithe keeper to beat but his shot is deflected by Binnie
84'
Freekick Raith just in the Linlithgow half
86'
↔️
Raith sub off Connolly and bring on McBride
87'
GGOOOOAAALLLLLL
87'
It's HAMMER TIME as Gullan powers through to a ball and he has a pop and ball is in the back of the net for goal number two
90'
Linlithgow corner
90'
Gullan should have gone for goal number three but he decides to pass to McBride instead and offside ruled
91'
↔️
Double sun for Raith as off go Masons Dan Goal scorer Gulland and on come Ngwenya and Mitchell
93'
Ref blows for full time. Raith are through to the next round against Motherwell at Stark's Park……Linlithgow 0 Raith 2 (Gullan 53' 87')