Raith Rovers CC Over 35s

A quieter week this week…

Training tomorrow night at Stark’s Park, 9-10pm.

We will see what we can do for a game on Friday but as it stands it is a free week.

COYR 🔵⚪️⚽️

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Friday night saw us take on opposition from Tayside in the East Region All in One Cup, with a visit from Arbroath Harp. Typically, teams from north of the Tay have always been tough opposition for the boys, and this proved to be the case tonight. Strong in the tackle and well organised across the park, it meant our boys needed to be at their best.

With Mayney still struggling with an Achilles problem, Hammy joined Martin at the heart of the defence. This meant that Clunie could move back into midfield after spending the last match as a makeshift centre half. Scotty Finlay recovered from last week’s groin issue to join Clunie in the middle of the park, with Thommo and Scotty G out wide. Up top, we had the formidable pairing of Gaz and Stuarty G.

We started the match very brightly, and it wasn’t long before Scotty F had a shot from the edge of the box. However, it looked like Clunie got in his way, and the shot ballooned over the bar. Clunie could then have done slightly better with a header moments later after a shot/cross from Greg. However, it wasn’t long before this early pressure paid off. Stuarty G rifled a shot towards goal, which was well saved by the keeper. From the resulting rebound, Stuarty picked out Thommo with a lovely cross, which he headed into the far corner of the net. Given the intensity with which we started the game, the lead was well deserved. We kept up the momentum with a number of good moves and shots from the edge of the box. These included a Gourlay-esque “outside-of-the-boot special” from Gaz, which went narrowly wide. Clunie was also unlucky with a rifled shot from the edge of the box, which just skipped past the post.

Thommo was seeing plenty of the ball and had a great chance to double his tally after a great layoff from Stuarty G. However, his shot flashed wide of the post. Scotty G could perhaps have done slightly better not long afterwards, following great work by Scotty F in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, he couldn’t guide his shot into the top corner. Despite all this sustained pressure, we were fortunate not to get caught on the break when a long ball caught us out. Luckily for the boys, Kris came to the rescue with a great save.

This seemed to shake us back into life. In the space of a couple of minutes, Stuarty G rattled the crossbar from ten yards out, while Clunie had a free kick tipped over the bar. It wasn’t long, however, before we managed to get our second of the night through Gaz. A headed clearance was taken down expertly by the big man before he executed a lovely turn-and-swivel and a first-time volley, which left the keeper with no chance. Suggestions from the bench that there may have been a slight deflection were quickly—and fiercely 😂😂—denied!

As the first half drew to a close, there was one final chance for Scotty G. He tried an ambitious overhead kick, which drew ironic cheers from the travelling ultras. They had also been giving him a bit of grief when he’d taken a corner moments earlier!

We started the second half pretty poorly, which allowed Arbroath to spend more time in our half and put us under a bit of pressure. Arguably, they could have done better with an opportunity early in the half, when the striker had more time than he thought. Luckily for us, his early shot was easily saved by Kris.

We slowly managed to get back into the game, and Thommo continued to cause problems down the right. This resulted in the keeper being booked after he fouled Thommo out on the right touchline. Shortly afterwards, one of the more bizarre incidents of the match took place over at the right corner flag. Ivory, who had come over to take a corner, suddenly hit the deck. Unfortunately—and embarrassingly for him—his feet got caught in the netting for a spare set of goals at the side of the pitch, and he managed to trip himself up. Man down! Moments later, we were treated to the moment of the match when Gaz perfectly executed a 60-yard, outside-of-the-boot pass straight into Thommo’s feet. According to Gaz, this felt even better than his goal!

It wasn’t long, however, before we managed to grab a third. After a great run on the edge of the box, Stuarty G managed to squeeze a shot into the bottom corner. For this excellent contribution, he was then promptly substituted by management…🤦‍♂️😂

We continued to press for more goals, and Thommo could possibly have done better with a shot that flew past the upright after good work from both Ivory and Hammy. Hammy was having a very solid game at the heart of the defence. However, management weren’t too happy with him after he almost smashed a window on Pratt Street with one of his clearances. I’m not sure whether we were able to retrieve the ball, as it was last seen bouncing down the road towards Morrisons.

Thommo was finally rewarded with his second of the evening after great work down the left by Paul, who cut inside and squared the ball to Thommo. He calmly finished in the corner of the net. He could have had his third moments later after some great work in the middle of the park from Pocket. A deft first touch took him away from the midfielders before he drove towards the box and slipped Thommo in behind the defence, but his shot went narrowly wide. Kev created a great chance for himself when the pitch opened up in front of him, but unfortunately, his shot went straight into the keeper’s arms. It wasn’t long before Kev was on the receiving end of a few industrial challenges. In one instance, Neil Rocks was also involved in the stramash, and there was a suggestion that it was actually Neil who caught Kev, but he denied any involvement. Towards the end of the game, Ivory should have made it five after he found himself with acres of space in front of goal. His first shot went straight at the keeper, his second hit the post, and the keeper then saved his third.

A great result for the boys against a very tough opponent. Thanks to Arbroath Harp, and we wish you all the best for the rest of the season.

Thommo ⚽️⚽️
Gaz ⚽️
Stuarty G ⚽️

CalForth Construction Ltd | SPAR Motherwell Road | Styx Kirkcaldy | Halstead Waste Management & Pressure Washing | Spark & Grow | Steven McIntosh Photography

Player Sponsors:
Ryan Gabellone
Shaun Lamont Ceramics
Gav Reekie Driver Training
Https://aioncrest.com/
Jamie Aitken Motoring School
Limitless Waste Management & Skip Hire
ICON Taekwon-Do

⚽️ STARTING XI ⚽️

Tonight’s lineup against Arbroath Harp, sponsored by Spark & Grow 👏🏻

COYR 🔵⚪️⚽️

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⚽️ MATCHDAY ⚽️

🏆 East Region All in One Cup 🏆

Get along tonight and cheer the lads on 👊🏻

Thanks to our matchday sponsor - Halstead Waste Management & Pressure Washing

COYR 🔵⚪️⚽️

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🚨 Squad News 🚨

Here is the squad for Friday night’s match against Arbroath Harp, sponsored by Halstead Waste Management & Pressure Washing

COYR 🔵⚪️⚽️

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🏆 LEAGUE CUP 🏆

🆚 Arbroath Harp
🗓️ Friday 28th August
📍 Stark’s Park
🕣 1930 KO
🎟️ Free entry - use the North Stand

COYR 🔵⚪️⚽️

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A look at the week ahead…

Monday night we are at Stark’s Park for training, 9-10pm. If you are interested in coming along, message the page to check for space.

Friday night we are in cup action as we welcome Arbroath Harp over 35s to Stark’s Park - details to follow.

COYR 🔵⚪️⚽️

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Some action pictures from last nights game vs Armadale Thistle.

Big thanks to photographer George Mcluskie for coming along to support the boys 📸