Report

Raith Rovers overcame the first hurdle in their 2024-25 Scottish cup journey on Saturday, after comfortably dispatching lowland league side Linlithgow Rose 4-0.  

Raith gaffer Neill Collins made five changes to the team that faced Morton two weeks earlier – with a flurry of snow postponing last week’s trip to Hamilton. Most Notably, Korede David made his first start for the club and Lewis Gibson was given his first start in the league since Collin’s arrival. Sam Stanton also returned from a month-long injury spell, and was put straight into the starting 11 along side Euan Murray and Ross Matthews, who both earned their first start in eight weeks.  

Linlithgow kicked the match off, with a strong travelling Rovers crowd watching on. The home side had the first chance of the afternoon, but an effort from around the penalty spot ended up harmlessly bobbling past the post.  

Raith built up to their first goal of the match soon enough, after a long cross-field ball from Hanlon eluded the Linlithgow defence. The ball fell to Gibson on the edge of the box, who smashed a half-volley past the keeper and into the net. The 19-year-old’s first goal for the club had put Raith ahead with around 23 minutes on the clock. 

Raith continued to threaten, but didn’t manage to find the net again before the half-time whistle blew. With neither side making a change during the break, the match got back underway.  

Just three minutes into the second half, Dylan Easton picked up David’s pass out wide, and burst into the Linlithgow box. An outstretched leg clipped him as he cut inside – Penalty Rovers. Easton sent the keeper the wrong way  as he confidently converted the penalty kick – giving Raith a two-goal lead with over 40 minutes left to be played.  

Around fifteen minutes had passed, and David continued to be a handful for the Linlithgow defence. Having hit the post at the start of the half, the striker looked determined to net himself a goal as he tore into the Linlithgow area, before dancing his way through tackles as he hit the by-line. His eventual ball across the face of goal took a deflection, but it still found its way to Dylan Easton who was lurking at the back post. The Rovers “showman” cooly kept his header inside the post – scoring his second of the match as he put Raith three goals up.  

Raith kept up their forward press, which gave Linlithgow little free time on the ball. Montagu came on for Matthews in the 68th minute, and the 17-year-old came centimetres away from scoring a few minutes later after tearing through on goal. The midfielder tried to curl the ball into the far bottom corner, but an exceptional save from Linlithgow’s Cameron Binnie prevented Montagu’s attempt from hitting the net.  

Raith’s press continued to pay dividends, with numerous chances arising after they continued to pick the ball up in the attacking portion of the pitch. After several attempts on goal with no luck, two earlier substitutes joined up to give Raith their fourth and final of the afternoon, after Josh Mullin collected the ball up the field. The winger advanced forward before playing a pass to Jack Hamilton, who simply passed the ball into the net for Raith’s fourth of the match.  

The final whistle sounded not long after, meaning Raith are now into the pot for the fourth round of this season’s Scottish cup. All sights will be set back to the league however, with an away trip to 1st placed Falkirk up next this Saturday.  

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