Battling Elgin's cup run ends in Kirkcaldy
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ELGIN City's Challenge Cup adventure ended at the quarter-final stage as they lost 3-2 at League 1 leaders Raith Rovers.
In front of a live BBC Alba audience, City put up a battling display at Starks Park and even with ten men for the last half hour made their Kirkcaldy hosts dig deep for victory.
Gavin Price's side found themselves 2-0 down inside 25 minutes before a good Kane Hester finish got them back in the game.
A third Raith goal was followed by a red card for City's Rabin Omar, and despite home pressure Elgin broke away for a late second goal through Shane Sutherland's 20th of the season.
Backed by around 200 travelling fans on a Friday night, Elgin put up a great show and can take plenty positives from their defeat.
After a bright start, the Black and Whites went behind on six minutes when striker Kieron Bowie forced home from a John Baird header across goal.
A second goal arrived on 25 minutes as Bowie was allowed to seize upon a loose ball and waltz past the defence and goalkeeper to double his tally.
Elgin had a strong penalty claim rejected on 31 minutes when former St Johnstone veteran Steven Anderson appeared to handle inside his own box.
But on 35 minutes the visitors got back in the contest when a deflected Sutherland pass fell kindly for Hester to l;ash high into the corner of the net from 12 yards.
City had their tails up at this stage and almost levelled on the stroke of half time, but Rovers keeper Ross Munro was equal to Hester's tight angle drive from a Sutherland pass.
Perhaps unlucky to be behind at the break, Elgin made a slow start to the second half and on 56 minutes fell further behind when David McKay steered a controlled shot past McHale from 15 yards.
As Raith put on the pressure, Elgin's cause was hampered by a straight red card shown to Omar for a lunging tackle on 65 minutes.
The tie looked beyond City, who survived further damage when sub Lewis Allan rattled a drive off McHale's crossbar.
However with seven minutes left, Elgin sub Conor O'Keefe threaded a pass through to Sutherland who showed good strength and composure before rolling the ball home.
It was the striker's 20th of the campaign, keeping up his record of having scored in every round of the competition.
The ten men suddenly had hope and Brian Cameron had a last minute shot blocked from a corner.
The midfielder had one last opportunity in stoppage time when the ball dropped for him on the edge of the box but he couldn't keep his effort down and it skimmed over the target, much to Rovers' relief.
After victories at Hibernian Colts, Brechin City, Dundee and Airdrie, Elgin's superb run was finally ended by a strong Raith team who had to find an extra gear to make it through to the semi-finals.
City's attention will now turn to the Scottish Cup next Saturday and a home tie against Championship Alloa Athletic, who they beat on penalties in the Betfred Cup earlier this season.
Raith: Munro; Davidson, S Anderson, Benedictus; Mckay, Matthews, Armstrong (G Anderson 79), Spencer, MacDonald; Baird (Allan 70), Bowie (Dingwall 79).
Elgin: McHale; Cooper (McHardy 75), Bronsky, McDonald, Spark; Omar, Dingwall, Cameron, Mackay (O'Keefe 57); Hester (MacEwan 69), Sutherland.
