Report

Raith Rovers kicked off the competitive stage of their 2026/27 season on Saturday, dispatching Elgin City 3-1 at Starks Park in the group stage of the League Cup.

Dougie Imrie included all eight of his new signings in the match-day squad, with Zak Delaney, George Oakley, John Robertson, Charlie Telfer, and Ross Millen all getting a start. Arron Lyal, Kyle Turner, and Luke Armstrong all took places on a six-strong bench amid injuries to Paul Hanlon and Scott Brown in pre-season, which ruled them out of this match. Lewis Vaughan took the captain’s armband in the absence of brown – marking his first time leading The Rovers out after spending over 14 years at the club.

Elgin got things underway in Kirkcaldy, but it would be Raith who would threaten in the opening seconds after a quick turnover allowed Millen to cross the ball in from right. Vaughan managed to get on the end of it, but his header from ten yards cleared the near post in the end.

The visitors managed to settle fairly quickly, getting a couple of ultimately wayward shots off towards Raith’s goal in the minutes that followed.

The Rovers would eventually find a breakthrough as the half-hour mark approached after a free kick from deep gave them a chance to work the ball into Elgin’s box. Easton did just that, finding Vaughan as he bore down on goal. Neill in the Elgin net brought Vaughan down before he could get a shot away, but a deflection from his own team-mate turned the ball in for an own-goal before a penalty could be awarded – putting Raith ahead in the 28th minute.

Oakley pulled up shortly after Raith’s opener, which unfortunately required the debutant striker to be stretchered off the pitch just 38 minutes in. Lyall took Oakley’s place, marking his competitive debut for the club.

Raith grabbed their second in the midst of their injury situation, after a few smart touches from Robertson on the right allowed Vaughan to make his way into the penalty area. The Rovers skipper found Kai Montagu on the edge of the six-yard box, and the latter calmly finished a good team move by slotting the ball home in the 42nd minute.

Half-time came and went without any changes for either side. Elgin were unfortunate to not find the net just three minutes into the half, after a well-worked set-piece forced a good save from Josh Rae.

Elgin would eventually get their goal after a slick counterattack got the better of the Rovers’ defence. Russell Dingwall had done well to get himself clean through against Rae, but a selfless pass to an awaiting Oliver Colloty allowed the Elgin man to score into the roof of the net in the 62nd minute.

Raith quelled any doubts arising from the home end after a flurry of substitutions for both sides, through a dangerous corner-ball to the back post. Jai Rowe commanded a header back across goal, which left Ross Millen to pass in from close range for Raith’s third in the 73rd minute – scoring on his return to the club.

Things started to wind down after Raith reinstated their two-goal lead, and, after a few final substitutions, things were brought to a close after a couple minutes of injury time.

The result gives Raith a good platform to progress from in the League Cup, with fixtures against Kilmarnock, Hamilton, and Peterhead lined up. An away day against Killie – to be played at Auchinleck’s Beechwood Park due to ground maintenance at Rugby Park – is next up for the Rovers, taking place midweek on Tuesday the 14th of July.

Written by Hamish Rankine

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