Raith rise to the challenge by knocking out St Mirren

Raith Rovers ensured the Irn-bru Cup fell flat for Championship leaders St Mirren with a 3-1 win in Paisley taking the Fifers into tomorrow’s quarterfinal draw.

Gavin Reilly volleyed the Saints in front on 63 minutes, however within a minute Lewis Vaughan had thumped in an equaliser. Greig Spence fired Rovers back in front and Bobby Barr curled in the third.

Raith manager Barry Smith said: “The players answered a big question against a Championship side.”

Falkirk defeated visitors Dunfermline 2-0 in what was Alex Smith’s last game in temporary charge, with Paul Hartley reporting for managerial duty today.

Conrad Balatoni flicked in during the first half and Myles Hippolyte darted through to grab the second, with the Pars losing Dean Shiels to a red card in injury time for a crunching challenge on Joe Mckee. Dundee United ’s 17-year-old Logan Chalmers struck in injury time at Tannadice to see off Northern Ireland side Linfield 1-0.

Liam Polworth cracked home early as Inverness Caley Thistle beat Peterhead 3-0, with Ricardo Calder and 16-year-old Daniel Mackay also on target.

Stephen Dobbie rescued Queen of the South at Montrose with a late goal to cancel out Terry Masson’s effort, with the Doonhamers winning 3-1 after Lyndon Dykes and Dobbie netted in extra-time.

Crusaders defeated Highland League Cove Rangers 3-0 in a game played out in a sombre mood as Billy Whiteside, the father of the Belfast club’s treasurer Tommy Whiteside, collapsed and could not be resuscitated.

The players left the field before returning with Michael Carvill, Jamie Glackin and Declan Caddell scoring and Cove’s Scott Ross dismissed.

Welsh side The New Saints triumphed 4-0 over Elgin City, with Greg Draper grabbing a double.