| Saints were forced into one change for this, their first involvement in the Scottish Cup of the 2007/2008 season, with striker Daniel McBreen missing out – Andy Jackson took his place in the starting line-up.
The Kirkcaldy side opened the brighter of the two teams and the Saints defence was kept on their toes in the opening 10 minutes with Alan Main having to get down smartly to smother a long-range Steven Hislop drive.
Saints looked to impose themselves on the game and they did so to some extent over the course of the 10 minutes which followed with Peter MacDonald and Paul Sheerin both coming close with efforts from distance.
The game turned in the space of sixty seconds in the 17th minute when Raith passed up a glorious opportunity to take the lead and then fell behind to the opening goal of the game. With the Saints defence all at sea Goran Stanic cleared the ball off the goal line from Steven Hislop not once but twice in a matter of seconds before the danger was cleared and in no time at all defence had been turned into attack as Andy Jackson ran down the inside right channel to chase a Kevin Rutkiewicz pass and, having steadied himself, ‘Jacko’ fired the ball with unerring accuracy out of the reach of Renton and into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.
Raith’s David Templeton was proving a handful for the Perth defence and he fired an effort narrowly past the post after 29 minutes as the visitors looked to get on level terms.
Saints were forced into a change ten minutes before half-time when Allan McManus replaced a limping Stuart McCaffrey at the heart of the defence.
Saints could and perhaps should have doubled their advantage in 38 minutes when a real scramble in the box ensued after the Rovers defence failed to deal with a Sheerin corner kick but in the melee which followed, Rutkiewicz saw his shot cleared off the line and then Kevin Moon fired the ball over the bar from 12 yards.
Just before the interval Saints had the ball in the net again but the effort was rightly ruled out for offside – Steven Milne moving onto a Jackson pass just a shade too quickly after Jackson had brilliantly turned Marvin Andrews on the touchline.
Saints were worth their half time lead but it was clear that Rovers would have plenty to say in this cup tie in the second half and it was important for Saints to get a second goal as soon after the interval as possible and they did just that – not once but twice.
It was 2-0 in 49 minutes when Steven Milne provided a clinical finish from ten yards after Rutkiewicz had challenged for a high ball from a set piece and then just a few minutes later Paul Sheerin made his usual clinical success of a penalty kick after Steven Milne had been brought down in the box as he ran onto a short corner.
In between those goals Kevin Moon fired in an effort that almost brought him a goal to his add to the recent strike at Broadwood.
That quick double so soon after the break killed the game as a competition although former Saints man Robert Sloan was not too far away with a dipping 25 yard free kick for Raith.
Kevin Rutkiewicz appeared to be suffering from a knock or a bit of cramp and he was replaced in 65 minutes by Steven Anderson – David Weatherston took over from Peter MacDonald moments later..
After what had been an entertaining first half, the game had died a bit as a spectacle and it was 15 minutes from time before there was another effort of note – Alan Main saving from Graham Weir after Main himself had given away possession with an ill-advised throw to Jackson in the middle of the park which was intercepted by Andrews.
Kevin Moon seemed destined to have an off night when it came to grabbing a goal – in 77 minutes he was set up beautifully by a Liam Craig pass but he allowed Renton to save his effort and then skied the rebound over the bar.
With 11 minutes remaining Raith pulled a goal back despite the best efforts of Alan Main. The Saints keeper pulled off a point back save from a Marvin Andrews header from a corner kick on the right and although he got his hand to Graham Weir’s follow up he couldn’t prevent the ball from crossing the line.
Confirmation that it was not to be Kevin Moon’s night came three minutes from time when, with plenty time and space after collecting a Liam Craig pass, he fired his effort weakly past the post.
A charging run from Marvin Andrews saw the big Raith defender crowded out in the box and referee Steven Finney seemed to think long and hard before ignoring the pleas of the travelling support for a penalty kick.
A deserved win for Saints who looked reasonably comfortable throughout although there would be relief in the Perth ranks that two goals came so soon after the half-time break, easing any pressure that might have been growing against a good Raith Rovers side.
Website Man of the Match: Lively throughout the game and a clinical finish for the opening goal it has to be recalled ANDY JACKSON.
SAINTS: Main, Irvine, Stanic, Moon, Rutkiewicz (Anderson), McCaffrey (McManus), MacDonald (Weatherston), Craig, Jackson, Milne, Sheerin.
Subs not used: Daal, Cuthbert
ROVERS: Renton, Wilson, Dingwall, Tod, Andrews, Winter, Sloan (Borris), Davidson, Weir, Hislop (Carcary), Templeton (Halley)
Subs not used: Wedderburn, Fahey.
Att: 2,113
Liam Craig battles with Raith Iain Davidson in a touchline joust |
Steven Milne provides a clinical finish to make it 2-0 |
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