Report

Raith Rovers clinched their fourth Challenge Cup title on Sunday after dispatching Inverness Caley Thistle 4-1 in the neutral ground of Firhill.

Raith pulled ahead in the opening half hour, but Caley levelled things just before the break. The Rovers came out swinging in the second half and netted three goals in 14 minutes to bring the trophy back to Kirkcaldy.

Dougie Imrie made two changes to the side that overcame Ayr at Stark’s Park eight days earlier, with Paul Hanlon and Andy Winter both picking up injuries in the first half. The duo didn’t make the squad after being slated as “50/50’s” midweek, which saw Darragh O’Connor and Josh Mullin take their places in the starting lineup.

Inverness got things underway in front of the almost 5,000 fans who had travelled westward to support their respective teams. However, it was Raith that got off to a lively start, breaking into Caley’s box and getting some close, but ultimately tame efforts away on goal in the opening few minutes. Inverness settled somewhat and made some advances of their own, but would eventually undo their efforts after a mistake at the back…

With the half-hour mark a matter of seconds away, Inverness attempted to play out from the back following a throw-in. A mis-controlled pass gave the lurking Innes Cameron time to snatch possession on the edge of the box, before rifling one past Ross Munro and into the net from around 14 yards out.

Raith wouldn’t enjoy their lead for too long though and were put under pressure after giving away a free kick just on the edge of their own box. Alfie Stewart spotted some space towards the right side of the goal and curled a low effort around the wall and inside the near post for an equaliser in the 37^th minute.

Both teams emerged unchanged before the second half got underway, but the Rovers looked like a team with a point to prove following the restart…

A Raith set-piece in a near-identical location to Inverness’s came around the 55^th minute, but Mullin opted to cross instead of going straight for goal – a decision which would go on to pay dividends. His curling ball in from the right found the foot of Innes Cameron, who directed the ball goal-bound from four yards out to get Raith back in front, notching his second of the afternoon.

Raith didn’t let up, with Dylan Easton gathering the ball out wide in the 60^th minute. The Rovers wide man drove forward from around 40 yards out before cutting his way into the box. A touch towards the by-line beat the Inverness defence, before he rocketed an effort high into the net, to beat Munro between the sticks – putting Raith two goals up with around half an hour to go.

Easton continued to pile on the pressure and again won the ball high up the pitch. Raith’s showman danced his way into the box before letting fly, with this effort curling into the far side-netting for Raith’s fourth, and Easton’s second, just shy of the 70^th minute.

Brace-bagging Cameron and Easton were substituted off around ten minutes later, with the former picking up the Man-of-the-Match award as full-time approached.

Inverness failed to really threaten in the second half, which allowed Raith to see out their three-goal lead in comfortable fashion. The full-time whistle ended Caley’s 16-match unbeaten streak, whilst awarding Raith with a record-levelling fourth Challenge Cup title.

The silverware makes Dougie Imrie just the fourth manager in Raith’s history to have lifted a national title, placing him amongst the names of John McGlynn, Grant Murray, and Jimmy Nicholl.

Raith enjoyed their well-earned celebrations, but all focus will now shift back to the league with just five games left of their Championship campaign. Morton makes the trip to Stark’s Park this Saturday, which will see Iain Murray and Dougie Imrie re-acquaint with their former clubs.

Written by Hamish Rankine.

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