Let’s get Inter them
Ex-Milan starlet ryan set for cup showdown
RYAN NOLAN struck gold with Inter Milan – now he wants to add some silverware with Raith Rovers.
After a six-goal rout of Cove Rangers to keep their Championship play-off hopes alive, Rovers now turn their focus to defending the SPFL Trust Trophy against Hamilton Accies this weekend.
Nolan went from own-goal villain against Rangers in Glasgow to one of the heroes at home within the space of a week.
Isma Goncalves, a double from Lewis Vaughan, Dylan Easton and Scott McGill sealed a stunning win to send the Stark’s Park men into Sunday’s final on a high.
And Nolan admits he was thrilled to nod in his first goal for the club after slicing into his own net in the 3-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat at Ibrox six days earlier.
He said: “With the cup coming up, we knew we needed a win to go into the final with confidence, so I’m happy.
“I was bit unlucky against Rangers. My clearance wasn’t the best and out of anywhere it could have gone, it went into the top corner. But it was a different feeling to score in front of our own fans this week.”
Nolan was born in Ireland but moved to Spain as a child and was spotted by Inter and came through their youth ranks.
The Milan giants gave him a taste of glory before he ended up at Raith via spells with Italians Arezzo, Getafe in Spain and Northampton Town.
The 24-year-old is now desperate to help Rovers retain the Challenge Cup and experience success for the first time with a top team.
He added: “At first-team level I haven’t won a cup yet. With youth teams I’ve won plenty but it’s not the same. With Inter, we won under-18s and under-19s and a few cups as well. But first-team football is a lot different. I know Raith have won it the last two times so we know how important it is for the club.”
Goncalves got the ball rolling for Raith’after three minutes when he seized on Kyle Gourlay’s poor kick out and Vaughan added a second before the break.
Nolan powered in a header from Vaughan’s corner before Easton flashed a volley in off the underside of the bar.
Jackson Longridge turned in a consolation for Cove but Vaughan’s penalty and a close-range finish from McGill left the visitors shell-shocked.
Boss Paul Hartley said: “We didn’t do the basics well – we didn’t compete, didn’t match runners, didn’t defend well, didn’t attack well. I’m really disappointed.”