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:

Live Updates

0'
Welcome from a sunny Stark's Park for this afternoon's SPFL Trust Trophy third round tussle versus Northern Irish team, Cliftonville.
0'
Cliftonville are 5th in the NIFL Premiership, so this should be an interesting tie.
0'
Both team making their way into the pitch. Cliftonville in all red.
0'
Cliftonville kick off, shooting into the South Stand (trad home end)
4'
Easton tries his luck from outside the box. Wee deflection gives Raith their first corner.
5'
Corner cleared.
10'
Free kick to Cliftonville. A couple of yards outside of the box.
12'
Slight error from Millen there. Cliftonville striker reacts quickly, trundles a shot past Thomson, but also past the post.
14'
Hale with a chance after a great piece of ball control. Thomson saves the day. Corner Cliftonville
14'
Short corner. Cross deflected for another Cliftonville corner.
17'
🤕️
Hamilton down. Clutching his arm.
17'
🤕️
Hamilton seems to be okay.
18'
Raith Rovers 0-0 Cliftonville
18'
💬
Possession - Raith 62%-38% Cliftonville
21'
Byrne's shot in box deflects out for a Rovers corner.
25'
Water break at Stark's Park!
28'
🤕️
Thomson is down and doesn't look in a hurry to get up.
28'
🤕️
Looks like his game is over.
30'
↔️
Dabrowski replaces Thomson
30'
Raith Rovers 0-0 Cliftonville
35'
Dabrowski rushes out to win the race and collect the ball just inside the box.
40'
Gullan drives down the left, sends in a cross that the defence doesn't pick up. Hamilton close, but can't quite connect.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 0-0 Cliftonville
45'
💬
Fairly quiet affair at Stark's Park. Raith winning the possessed battle. Time for a Doner pie!
46'
Rovers kick off the second half.
47'
Corner Raith.
48'
Easton does well and chips into the box. Just too high for Hamilton and out for a goal kick.
48'
Corner Raith.
49'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
49'
Vaughan with the skills, drives into the box in the left, crosses in and MASSON is there to score his first goal for the Rovers!
51'
Manager Magilton shown the yellow card.
53'
↔️
Berry replaces Ashford
55'
🤕️
Millen on the deck.
55'
↔️
Smith replaces Millen
55'
↔️
McGill replaces Gullan
58'
Murray rises well and heads low to Odumosu's left. The keeper does well to save.
60'
Raith Rovers 1-0 Cliftonville
68'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
68'
VAUGHAN, with ball just outside the box, looks up to see where the goalie is and drills low in off the keeper's right hand post.
69'
Curran replaces McGuinness
69'
↔️
Jordan replaces Doherty
69'
↔️
Pepper on for Lowe
71'
💬
Shots (shots on target) 7-4 (4-2) to Raith.
73'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
73'
⚽️
HAMILTON unmarked at the back post and bullets his header home!
75'
Raith Rovers 3-0 Cliftonville
78'
Great move from Raith. Ball falls to Easton, whose shot is well saved.
81'
↔️
Ross replaces Hamilton
81'
↔️
Connolly replaces Easton
85'
↔️
Kearney replaces Gallagher
89'
Casey booked for a foul on the halfway line.
90'
Attendance: 1,561
91'
MoM: Adam Masson.
93'
Corner Raith.
94'
Full time: Raith Rovers 3-0 Cliftonville