Raith Rovers celebrate Challenge Cup winSNS

Raith Rovers celebrated winning the cup for the fourth time.

Andy Coyle
BBC Sport Scotland

Raith Rovers outclassed Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a strong second-half performance in the KDM Evolution Trophy final.

With the tie level at the break, Rovers scored three times to overcome the League 1 side and joined Falkirk as record winners as they lifted the Challenge Cup for a fourth time.

The Scottish Championship team had served notice of their attacking intent early on when Innes Cameron improvised a back heel finish that went wide early on, but the striker made no mistake when given the chance to open the scoring after 29 minutes.

Inverness' attempts to play out from the back faltered when Alfie Stewart lost control at the edge of the box and Cameron took advantage to thump a shot past Ross Munro and open the scoring.

Dougie Imrie's side could not build on that strong start though, and gave Inverness an opportunity when giving away a free kick 25 yards out. Stewart stepped up and curled a shot around the wall and low into the corner of the net to draw his side level.

After the break, Raith stepped up their game and they regained the lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Cameron was fouled outside the box and Josh Mullin swung in a dangerous ball with the resulting free-kick. Cameron was there first, prodding in a finish with his right foot.

Inverness didn't have an answer, and Raith pushed on, with Dylan Easton stepping up to take centre stage after Cameron's double.

The attacking midfielder seized on Inverness' slackness in possession again, winning the ball on the left and carrying it into the box under pressure before hitting a powerful left-foot shot high into the net.

With 20 minutes to go, he repeated the trick and put the match out of sight, bursting into the box and this time using his right boot to curl a shot past Ross Munro into the far corner of the net.

Raith remained in control without fuss as the final whistle sparked celebrations in the stands and on the pitch.

"I'm proud of every single player," Raith Rovers head coach Dougie Imrie told BBC Alba.

"It was a fantastic achievement to lift this trophy and I'm so proud of the group.

"We've found real confidence in the last couple of weeks and I think you saw that today. The boys stuck to the game plan and the press was outstanding.

"Inverness caused us problems in the first half but we sorted that at half time and they really took it to them. The three goals in the second half were excellent.

"I said to them not to play the occasion, just to play the game. I thought they were excellent.

"It's been a tough year for me and to get this has just put a wee smile on my face."

Inverness were left to turn their attention back to their League 1 title push and a top-of-the-table meeting with Stenhousemuir next week.

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