YFS
Yaw Osei Opoku-Berchie’s broke Edinburgh City hearts as he guided Raith Roivers into the Scottish FA Youth Cup third round with a cool finish following a clever one-two in the dying seconds at Ainslie Park.
It was a hard fought cup tie with the ever changing weather conditions making it difficult for both sides, although throughout the piece Raith were probably deserved winners.
Raith certainly started the brighter of the two, with Opoku-Berchie, Ryan Stevenson and David McKay all coming reasonably close for the visitors in the early stages.
However City grew into the game and a teasing ball by Kyle McClung was dealt with by the Rovers defence as the rain began to pour down onto the artificial surface.
Jamie Watson watched his long range strike comfortably caught by Fraser Morton in goal for the hosts and a few minutes later the referee had his yellow card out for a late challenge from City skipper Ryan Day on Jack Smith.
The best chance of the game fell the way of Raith Rovers after 31 minutes when the impressive Stevenson picked out Kyle Bell with a pinpoint pass and Bell rolled Opoku-Berchie in on goal and his was shot was met by a strong hand from Morton who wasn’t to know the attacker was offside.
Stevenson had a couple of attempts blocked a few minutes later and at the third time of asking the midfielder lashed the ball over from the right of the area.
As the interval beckoned, Raith surged forwards in search of the opener. Initially Smith rounded Morton but failed to convert from the wide position as he was dispossessed.
Moments later a ball into the back post and a free header from Opoku-Berchie brought out a stunning point blank range save by Morton to keep his side on level terms going into the break.
