Raith Rovers Walking Football travelled through to Glasgow on 11th April to take part with 23 other teams in the Glasgow Trophy. Our group mostly contained teams we had played before Ayr United, Carrick WF, Collingham, Dunfermline Athletic and, of course, St Anthony’s.

We were straight in with game 1 against Collingham, from Nottinghamshire, who we played last year winning a tight contest 1-0. The game started with both teams trying out the other’s defense. The first real action came in the third minute with a John Wylie turn and shot that was well saved. However a minute later a quick free kick from Ryan Ramsay in the midfield found John again and this time his turn and shot found the back of the net. 1-0 Two minutes later and contact in the tackle in the Collingham penalty area gave us a penalty. Ally Grant stepped up to put the ball in the net off the keeper’s right hand post. 2-0 In the 9th minute Raith were penalised for a third running foul which Collingham scored from the spot. 2-1 raith replied sharply with shots from John and Mikey in the following minutes as they held out for a rare first game victory.

Games 2 and 3 saw Dunfermline Athletic fall to a 0-5 defeat to Carrick WF and Ayr Utd fall 0-2 to St Anthony’s.

Raith started game 4 against Carrick WF brightly with three shots from John in the first three minutes. However despite all the pressure we were hit with a sucker punch when, totally against the run of play, a Carrick shot from distance beats Stevie in the Rovers’ goal. 0-1 In the 6th minute Mikey intercepts a pass out from the Carrick keeper but his shot rebounds off the bar. For the next 5 minutes it’s constant Raith pressure with shots coming from Mikey, John and Ryan. All being held by the keeper or turned away for a corner. In the 14th minute Graham steps onto a ball and, from the keepers right curls a ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. It’s looking a goal all the way until the keeper touches it round the post. However an almost certain defeat is avoided when, with the last kick of the game, Mikey finally beats the keeper. 1-1

We rest again as Ayr Utd beat Collingham 1-0 and St Anthony’s beat Dunfermline 2-0.

Game 7 was against Ayr Utd. A tight game of attrition looked to be breached when the referee penalised Ayr for a DOGSO offense in the 7th minute. The normally consistent Ally Grant stepped up to put Raith into the lead and promptly shot straight at the keeper. The game remained scoreless. Redemption came in the 10th minute with a third running offense by Ayr. Redemption completed as he knocks it past the keeper for a 1-0 lead. That’s the end of the scoring as both teams continue to cancel each other out.

Games 8 and 9 finish the morning session with St Anthony’s beating Carrick 1-0 and Dunfermline losing to Collingham 0-3.

And so onto game 10 against St Anthony’s. We got off to a quick start with a shot from John in the first minute. Two minutes later John’s in the middle of the action again as he’s fouled in the penalty area and the ref awards a penalty. Ally Grant steps up again to give Raith a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later parity is restored as a Saints player turns at the edge of the box and beats Stevie in the Raith goal. A minute later Saints take the lead with what looked like a run onto the ball but the ref gives the goal. A minute later there’s more controversy when a Saints player backs in to a defender and the ref somehow penalises the defender with a penalty which Saints convert. The drama isn’t over as within a minute Raith are penalised for three running offenses and it’s another penalty to St Anthony’s. This time Stevie guesses right and makes the save. In the 11th minute Mikey has the ball in the back of the net but the ref pulls play back for a running foul by St Anthony’s. There’s no more action of note and St Anthony’s run out winners 1-3.

Game 11 saw Dunfermline Athletic lose 1-2 to Ayr Utd while in game 12 Carrick beat Collingham 2-1 with a late goal that, to almost everyone on the side-line, looked to have come back off the post. But the ref is the ultimate arbiter and he chose to give the goal. The win for Carrick means that Raith go into their last game on the same points as Carrick but with a 5 goal poorer goal difference.

Game 13 and our final game of the group stages and we need to beat Dunfermline Athletic. Raith switched formation to try and get more players forward to score as many goals as possible. It doesn’t work as a congested Dunfermline half of the pitch stifled the shooting. However a trip on Mikey Curtis in the fourth minute gives a penalty to Raith. Ally steps up again and this time hits the post for his second penalty miss of the day. Despite the congestion in the Dunfermline half Raith did get some shots away which were saved by either the keeper or the woodwork. The game looks to be playing out to a nil nil draw to end Raith’s chances and give Dunfermline their first point of the day when John manages to shoot past the keeper from the edge of the box in the 14th minute. 1-0 Before the referee blows his whistle to end the game he blows it for a third running offense by Dunfermline. Ally steps up again but this time he beats the keeper and Raith win the game 2-0.

Game 14 saw St Anthony’s confirm their unbeaten group stage with a 1-0 win over Collingham while Carrick secured second spot on goal difference with a 4-0 win over Ayr Utd.

Reflections: A reasonable day out results wise. More goals and a refereeing decision in a game we weren’t involved in and it might have been different. But for now we look forward to next week when we’re back to league duty and face the team who eventually won this tournament, Forfar Athletic. Congratulations to Forfar and we’ll see you next weekend.