KDM TROPHY FINAL WOE

The KDM TROPHY Final would be played out at the Wyre Stadium, Firhill, with Championship side Raith Rovers facing League1 Inverness CT. Both sides had won the Challenge Cup three times. Both sides shared the win in season 2020/21 when it was the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Trophy with Covid preventing the final from going ahead. So today it's the Harry Hill way to sort it out 'FIGHT'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the 'FIGHT' it was a record fourth Challenge Cup win for Rovers. They'll be dancing in the streets of Raith tonight. Bless them!

A defensive error allowed Rovers to take the lead through Innes Cameron but that strike was cancelled out by a superb free kick from Alfie Stewart ten minutes before the break in a relatively even first forty-five. Ten minutes into the second half Cameron scored his second after a free kick was put into the six yard box. Raith were now on top and Dylan Easton hammered in a third on the hour following us giving the ball away in midfield. An exact replica goal from Easton again gifted Rovers a fourth and the game was beyond Inverness now.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alfie Stewart got the game underway in bright sunshine. It was ten minutes in before the first half chance appeared when a long ball forward fell for Innes Cameron but his attempted flick goalwards was wide of the mark. A good burst forward by Jordan Alonge ended with a wayward pass to Liam Sole who has yet to get into the game. First save of the game arrived when Mullin brought Ross Munro into action with a shot from inside the box. Minutes later he had to pluck a deflected shot out of the air and right on the goal line. First good attack from the Caley Jags saw Sole drift forward and an interchange with Paul Allan but it was cut out for a throw in opposite the Rovers box. Munro saved comfortably midway through the half but it was Raith that were looking the busier. A long range snapshot from Sole almost surprised Josh Rae in goal but he grasped it at the second attempt. Out of nothing we gifted Raith Rovers the opening goal when Mitchell Robertson's short pass to Alfie Stewart was miscontrolled by the midfielder and Innes Cameron stepped in to knock the ball past a stranded Munro. A massively avoidable goal to lose and hugely disappointing. Inverness responded and an attempt from Sole was deflected high into the air as Zimba and Rae clashed in the six yard box. Minutes later, Alonge was brought down on the edge of the box and Alfie Stewart atoned for his earlier mistake to curl a beauty round the four man wall and into the bottom corner from 25 yards, and boy did he like that one! Much better from the Highlanders since the equaliser and they were now forcing the play and the half ended with the Caley Jags on top.

HALF TIME: 1-1

First moment of the second half saw Zimba booked for catching Cameron late outside our box. From the free kick into the box Cameron knocked in from close range amongst a ruck of people. Not bad after almost looking for a stretcher two minutes earlier. It looks like game over minutes later when after giving the ball away on the left midfield, Rovers moved swiftly into the box where Easton lashed the ball high into the net from fifteen yards on the left side. Looking suspiciously like a foul for us, Easton added a fourth from the same spot after we gave the ball away for the third assist to Rovers. After that everything was flat with a number of subs disrupting play.

FULL TIME: 4-1

More Match Reaction to follow

Inverness were the architects of their own downfall with some slack passing and poor ball retention. However, it's congratulations to Raith Rovers on their fourth Challenge Cup win and back to concentrate solely on League1 business for us over the next Month.

Two goals each for the danger men Innes Cameron and Dylan Easton were the difference with Inverness getting three assists. Unfortunately the assists were for Raith Rovers. Take nothing away from the goal scorers, they finished with aplomb, but it's criminal to keep presenting them with the opportunities. Players of that quality don't need a helping hand.

One plus was a super free kick for Alfie Stewart.

Difficult to find an Inverness player to pick as our MotM with too many posted missing and making punished errors. We certainly missed Danny Devine at the back but errors were being made all over the park. Disappointing second half after we ended the first on the front foot.

 It's a massive week coming up for the manager who will have to lift the players for the six pointer away to Stenhousemuir next week and a difficult away fixture at Peterhead three days later.

It's in our own hands, but we need to believe in ourselves and stop showing so much respect for teams that have still to earn that respect.

Highlights from Raith TV. We are still searching for our highlights

Congratulations to Dougie in what has been a difficult year for him

Date:  05/04/2026  Venue: Firhill, Glasgow Attendance: 4812 Referee: Ryan Lee 
 
Raith Rovers: 4

• Manager: Dougie Imrie

• Lineup:  Rae; Rowe, Fordyce, O'Connor, Stevenson, Easton (Wilson 79), Montagu (Brown 59),

• Mathews, Mullin (Chin 71), Nsio (Vaughan 71), Cameron (Hamilton 79)

• Subs (not used):  Glavin;

• Scorers: Cameron (29, 54), Easton (60, 69)

• Booked: Rowe (77), Brown (90)

• Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup:  Munro; Millen, Robertson, Savage, MacIntyre, Sole (Wotherspoon 77), Alonge (MacLeod 77),

• Chalmers (Bavidge 66), Stewart (MacKinnon 77), Allan, Zimba (Longstaff 66)

• Subs (not used): Ross; Clark, Brannan, Willox

• Scorers: Stewart (37)

• Booked: Zimba (53)

• Sent Off: none