Sat 9th September / 13:00 / Challenge Cup 23/24 / / home
Raith Rovers vs Cliftonville
Preview
After a thrilling, last-gasp 3-2 win over Queen’s Park last weekend, Raith Rovers will put league business to one side this Saturday, when they kick off their SPFL Trust Trophy campaign against Northern Irish side, Cliftonville at Stark’s Park.
This will be The Reds first time they’ve participated in the competition, and while Jim Magilton’s side started the season in fine form, a run of three league games without a win has seen them slip to fourth in the standings.
While this is the sides first competitive fixture, they’ve met three times in friendly matches, with Rovers winning all three, the last coming in 2005, when Rovers triumphed 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, to win the Shine A Light charity trophy.
Cliftonville have a smattering of players who have SPFL experience, with central defender Luke Turner previously on the books of Aberdeen, right back Conor Pepper played for Morton and Inverness, while forwards Joe Gormley and Sam Ashford played for St Johnstone and Ayr United respectively.
Ben Wilson is the club’s top scorer this term, with four goals in just three appearances, since joining from Brighton in the summer.
Saturday’s referee will be Grant Irvine.
Reports
Rovers’ success in the SPFL Trust Trophy continues
After recent good form, the Round 3 match saw Rovers face a unique challenge in the shape of Cliftonville - who were visiting Stark’s Park from Belfast.
The game kicked off in tropical Kirkcaldy weather and the heat may have been the reason for a slow first half. Rovers weren’t zipping the ball around with their usual pace and were almost punished when the visitors, Ben Wilson, shot narrowly wide. Rory Hale was next threaten the home goal and he’ll believe he should scored - but again it went wide.
And that was about it for a laboured first half! With Rovers’ fans hoping for a lot better in the second half.
Half-time: Raith Rovers 0-0 Cliftonville
And they got it…5 mins into the half.
A quickly worked corner found Adam Masson in the box and he smashed in from close range - scoring on his competitive home debut. Rovers 1-0 Cliftonville.
Lewis Vaughan then scored from the edge of the box with a perfectly whipped shot into the bottom corner. Rovers 2-0 Cliftonville.
Finally Jack Hamilton rounded off the scoring: nipping in at the back post to head home. Rovers 3-0 Cliftonville.
An excellent second half performance which could have been 5 or 6. Rovers will have to wait until Thursday before finding who they face in the next round.
Full-time: Raith Rovers 3-0 Cliftonville
Crowd: 1,561
by David Proudfoot
Photos
Highlights
Interviews
Manager Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the win v Cliftonville in the SPFL Trust Trophy:
Adam Masson spoke with RaithTV after his first competitive goal for the club v Cliftonville: