Line Up

Report

Raith Rovers advanced to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup on Tuesday after some Josh Rae heroics tilted the outcome of a decisive penalty shootout in the Rovers’ favour.  

Raith took the lead in the first half, but Queen’s Park rallied and netted a second-half leveller in order to send the match to penalties, with extra-time being excluded from the Challenge Cup.  

Dougie Imrie made three changes to his side after dispatching the same opposition 4-1 in the league at Starks Park three days earlier. Jai Rowe, Josh Mullin, and Scott Brown made way for Paul Nsio, as well as Ross Matthews and Lewis Vaughan – who both started their first match since returning from injury over 2 weeks ago.  

Queen’s Park got the match underway after a storm-thrashed day had thrown doubts about the match taking place, but save for a bit of wind, the weather played little part on the night.  

Raith might have looked to continue the style of football that had earned them their comfortable result a few days prior, but Queen’s Park wouldn’t make it easy early on. However, the best chance of the first half-hour came from Raith’s Andy Winter, whose header from 12 yards out crashed off the crossbar via a Calum Ferrie fingertip.  

The Rovers endured, commonly making inroads down the left wing through Dylan Easton and Euan Wilson. Queen’s Park could only contain the threat for so long before Wilson managed to fire a pinpoint cross towards the edge of the six-yard box, with Paul Nsio rushing to meet. The Rangers loanee looked second-best to the cross at first, but an acrobatic move allowed the midfielder to deftly touch the ball into the net via the post – putting Raith a goal up in the 31st minute.   

The Spiders tested Josh Rae shortly before the break, with Sebastian Drozd attempting to bend a 20-yard free-kick over the wall. His effort ended up slightly more central than he would have hoped, but Rae still had to punch over to keep Raith a goal up going into halftime.  

Queen’s Park were fast out of the blocks from the restart, and should probably have found the net in the 46th minute after Drozd had Rae beaten from close range. Doherty was on hand to produce a goal-line clearance though, which was reinforced by a point-blank save from Rae just moments later.  

Jack Hamilton and Lewis Vaughan linked up a few times in the second half, but a decisive strike on goal never materialised. Imrie switched things up in the 65th minute with a triple substitution seeing Vaughan leave the field.  

Queen’s Park started to take hold of the match after a series of substitutions from both sides. Drowzd remained a threat down the left wing and played his part in an equaliser after tearing into the box. Josh Fowler was there to receive his cut-back and spun the Rovers’ defence before powering a shot into the far side of the net. With a little over 15 minutes left, The Spiders were back in the game.  

Neither side could produce anything more than a half-chance before the full-time whistle, which led straight to a tie-deciding penalty shoot-out.  

Queen’s Park won the coin toss and fired the first penalty away via Savoury.  

Scott Brown stepped up to take Raith’s first, but his penalty was a good height for Ferrie, who saved well to his left.  

Drozd looked to build an advantage for the hosts, but his spot-kick was denied by the right post.  

Josh Mullin took probably the best penalty of the night, lasering the ball into the bottom left corner.  

Former Raith man Aidan Connolly was up next for Queen’s Park, but Josh Rae denied his effort with a good save to his right – putting Raith ahead in the shootout.  

McMullan kept Raith in the lead after converting, which shifted focus back to Josh Rae.  

The Rovers’ keeper produced once again, denying MacGregor’s central effort with his knee and giving Raith the chance to clinch the tie with one more successful penalty.  

Doherty obliged, calmly tucking his effort away into the right-side netting for a winner and finishing the shootout 3-1 to Raith.   

The Rovers now await the result of a postponed tie between Arbroath and Airdrie, who they will play the winner of away from home in a midweek tie on the 24th or 25th of February. 

Before then, Raith travel to Ayr this Saturday in a return to the league.   

Written by Hamish Rankine

Live Updates

0'
Queen’s Park get the game underway, viewing from the supporters stand and Raih playing from left to right
2'
Wilson drops the ball into the Queen’s box and Hamilton is there but beaten to the header and Queen’s clear
4'
Clearance from O’Connor as Queen’s launch the ball into the Raith box
6'
Hamilton with the flick on ball to Easton wins Raith much of the possession but play ends after a few minutes with interception of Easton’s pass but takes a deflection and out for a Queen’s throw in
8'
Ball from Queen’s cut across into the Raith box but Rae gathers
10'
Foul against Easton just in seeing half played quickly
12'
Doherty with the ball crossed into the Queen’s box Hamilton has a touch but ball looks going wide but Queen’s keep ball in play, play ends with Nsio with a shot and it’s well wide
16'
Freekick Raith on the half way line - foul on Vaughan by Waugh
17'
Winter with a header which comes off the bar
19'
Foul on Hamilton not given deep in Raith half
20'
Fowler for Queen’s turns and has a pop ball ends in corner for Queen’s - ball played to far side an out the park
22'
Corner Queen’s main stand side at players tunnel ball played to front post and Hamilton with a strong header clear
23'
Nsio with the long pass to Easton who tries to cut back in but Queens intercept
24'
Fieldson with a delivery into the Raith box but ends out for a goal kick
26'
Great delivery from Matthews into the Queen’s box, Hamilton is up and tries to head the ball home but it skiffs past
28'
Raith charge upfield, Vaughan on the ball but his pass to Easton on Vaughan’s left is too heavy and out for a goal kick
30'
Doherty with a run down the right, the short pass to Winter whose return is blocked
31'
GOOOAAALLL , ball is played into the Queen’s box and it’s NSIO who is there to slot home
34'
Raith again get the ball into the Queen’s box- play between Wilson and Easton with the latter having a shot but Ferrie collects
36'
Corner Raith after a misunderstanding between the Ferrrie and his defence - ball played to the centre of 18 yard box and headed clear by Queen’s
37'
Winter on the ball he should have played early to Doherty and ball is stolen from him
38'
Queen’s freekick just outs side Raith box ball played goal bound and Rae punches over - corner Queens - ball played deep and Rae punches clear
41'
🟨
Nsio receives a yellow
42'
🟨
Yellow for Fieldson after he fouls Winter whose return was going to break free upfield
45'
+1 ref blows for half time Queen’s Park 0 Raith Rovers 1 (Nsio 31’) Raith fairly comfortable first half
45'
Second half gets underway
46'
Queen’s are denied not once but twice by Rae as Queen’s hot the ball yards from Raith goal line
51'
Wilson with a delivery into the Queen’s box, it’s cleared tho
52'
Corner Raith ball played short to Easton , back to Vaughan who can’t get the pass into the danger zone
54'
Wilson with a shot in the D shouts for handball from the Queen’s player - goal kick
55'
Nice low cross from Hamilton into the Queen’s box but ball runs past two Raith players
58'
↔️
Queen’s with a double substitution as off go Fieldson and McDonnell and on come Murray and McLean
59'
Hamilton again is in a goal scoring opportunity he tries to get the ball round Murray but his rear end blocks the ball
60'
Queen’s corner - ball played to the back post and out for a goal kick
62'
Hamilton sees Vaughan in a goal scoring opportunity and the latter over hits his first touch
64'
↔️
Raith make a triple substitution as off go Vaughan, Nsio and Winter and on come Brown, Montagu and McMullan
67'
🟨
Booking for Waugh
68'
Easton with a great delivery from the free kick but Raith players in the box don’t connect with the ball
70'
Good ball from Matthews to Hamilton but ball is cleared out for a Raith throw in
72'
Queens goal as Drozd’s threads a pass to Fowler who turns and shoots
74'
🟨
Yellow card for Montagu which looked a fair challenge
76'
Corner Raith - Easton delivers the ball to back post but Queen’s head clear
79'
Raith corner- Easton to take - ball played deep in 18 yard box and Hanlon heads out for a goal kick
82'
↔️
Raith make a double substitution as off go Hamilton and Easton and on come Chin and Mullin
84'
↔️
Queen’s make a double substitution as off go Waugh and Bradley and on come MacGregor and Connolly
89'
Queen’s miss a golden opportunity as the ball played low across the Raith 6 yard box and out for goal kick
91'
🟨
Yellow for Pignatiello on Montagu who was escaping and putting on the burners charge upfield
92'
Montagu to Mullin who crosses and Ferrie collecs
93'
Ref blows for full time Queens 1 (Fowler72’) Raith Rovers 1 (Nsio 31’) - game will go to penalties
93'
The penalties will be taken at the ‘North Stand’ - goal in line with the Raith fans
94'
Queens to go up first - it’s Savoury - and scores
95'
Raith next - Scott Brown - Ferrie saves
95'
Queens - Drozd to take - it hits the post
95'
Raith - Mullin takes - SCORES
97'
Queen’s - Connolly takes - Rae SAVES
98'
Raith - McMullan takes - Ferrie gets a hand to it but GOAL
98'
Queen’s - MacGegor - Rae SAVES
99'
Raith - Doherty takes - he SCORES
99'
Raith go through 3 -1 on penalties

Photos

Secret Link