Fife Cup v Raith Rovers
Tuesday, 30th Apr 2019Fife Cup Semi Final: Trialist B (3) 1-0: Stuart Morrison (7) 1-1: Lewis McCann (15) 1-2:
Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 2
Greg Shields took the Dunfermline Athletic reserves to Kirkcaldy on Tuesday night to face Raith Rovers in the Semi Final of the Fife Cup. Missing from his side that lost to Hibs the previous week were the central defensive partnership of Thomas Bragg and Gregor Jordan while into the team came Lewis Martin and a young trialist. Taking a place on the bench was Andy Ryan, making his return after missing over five months through injury.
The hosts who had disposed of Kelty Hearts 5-1 in the previous round opened the scoring from a good move in just the third minute. Euan Valentine was fed the ball out left by Dylan Tait and the looping ball to the back post was met by Kieron Bowie. Cammy Gill pulled off a spectacular save with his right hand but TRIALIST B following up prodded the ball home. 1-0
Just three minutes later the Pars forced a corner when a fierce left footed Paul Allan shot from the edge of the box was pushed behind by the Rovers Trialist keeper. Allan’s corner was met by the head of Josh Robertson but the home side scrambled the ball away to the left. This time the cross found MORRISON and his powerful header made it 1-1.
Fife Cup | Raith 1 Dunfermline 2
Thu, 2nd May 2019
Eight further minutes and the visitors went ahead. Lewis Crosbie made a great surging run up the right before cutting back for Lewis McCANN to slot home from 15 yards. 1-2
The Raith keeper held an on target effort from Allan in 21 minutes when his corner from the right was sent back to him by the deep lying Paul Brown. The Pars with most of the possession, were beginning to make Raith anxious and they got away with a slip up when Martin’s ball up the left slipped through Josh McConville to Callum Smith and unselfishly he teed up Crosbie for a shot that again the keeper did well to save.
Another sweet move in 29 minutes from Smith to Martin looked as though it had put Lewis Sawers in on goal but the offside flag was raised. Again some slick passing play from the Pars ended up with an Allan ball into the box that Smith glanced wide left.
Valentine got to the byeline in 33 minutes but the sting was taken off his cross by Robertson and Gill collected at the near post. Back to the other end a swift movement of the ball from McCann, Brown and Crosbie almost let Smith in again.
Eight minutes from the interval Jamie Watson earned Raith a corner on the right but Gill easily held Tait’s chipped shot. The home side had another corner in 40 minutes and this time after it was quickly taken to Ryan Stevenson, Bowie overhit the cross from the left.
A soaring run from Martin switching the ball through McCann and Smith got the left back to the byeline but the defence intercepted his cut back. Raith had played better in the final quarter of an hour but the Pars were well worthy of their half time lead. It had been a thoroughly entertaining first half, who needs Champions League football?
Half time: Raith Rovers 1 Dunfermline 2
Gregor Jordan replaced Lewis Martin before the restart. He went into central defence and Morrison moved into midfield with Brown moving to left back.
First effort of the second half came in its sixth minute when Crosbie’s pass to Sawers was moved on to McCann on the left but his effort from a tight angle was blasted over the bar. In 58 minutes the home keeper was out quickly to save at the feet of Allan who had been put through by McCann. Next minute the hosts almost hit on the counter Valentine picking out Stevenson on the left but failing to make a difference.
On the hour Rovers Trialist C was replaced by Trialist D. The Pars Trialist headed away another Valentine delivery before another Raith sub quickly followed their first with Liam McDaid replaced by Cairn Dow.
At the midpoint of the half the home keeper held a good effort from 30 yards out when Brown walloped a Smith cut back. Then came the very welcome return of Andy Ryan replacing Lewis McCann for the final twenty minutes.
Ryan made an early run from half way and released a fine low shot from 25 yards out that the Raith keeper held at his second attempt. Morrison required the physio’s attentions with five minutes left of normal time but was able to continue and in an unrelated event Michael Mbewe had to replace Dylan Tait.
There was a great chance to put the tie to bed in 87th minute but in an attempt to burst the net Ryan fired over the bar. The Pars survived a late penalty appeal and even though they went down to ten men with their Trialist limping off, they went through to the final.
RAITH ROVERS: Trialist A: Jamie Watson, Euan Valentine, Josh McConville, Liam McDaid (Cairn Dow 62), James Berry, Ryan Stevenson, Trialist B, Trialist C (Trialist D 60), Dylan Tait (Michael Mbewe 86), Kieron Bowie.SUBS NOT USED: Jay Bridgeford,
SCORERS: Trialist B (3)
YELLOW CARD: Stevenson
RED CARD: Stevenson (90+5)
DUNFERMLINE: Cammy Gill: Josh Robertson, Stuart Morrison (c), Trialist, Lewis Martin (Gregor Jordan HT): Lewis Crosbie, Paul Allan, Paul Brown, Lewis Sawers (Kieran Swanson 82): Lewis McCann (Andy Ryan 70), Callum Smith.
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Bragg, Liam Newton, Lucas Berry, Craig Burt (GK)
SCORERS: Morrison (7), McCann (15)
REFEREE: Scott Lambie
WEATHER: Overcast 11C
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