The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Bowie’s the star man for Rovers as positive Fifers turn on the style
Irish visitors simply had no answer to Raith’s devastating teenage hit man
RAITH ROVERS 3 GLENAVON 1
Raith Rovers striker Kieron Bowie won’t be at the club for long if he keeps up performances like this.
That was the view of Glenavon playermanager Gary Hamilton after the former Northern Ireland international watched the 17-year-old terrorise his defence.
The youngster scored one and set up another as Rovers made it through to the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup quarter-finals for the second time in two years.
Bowie said: “It’s good to get a goal but I’m disappointed not to get more.
“I should’ve had four or five, just in the first half.
“It’s a win though and that’s all we needed.
“I’m just going out and expressing myself because I’m only young.
“The manager has had confidence in me and I’ve played well, so hopefully I can keep that going.
“I can admire the compliments I’m getting but I just need to keep my head down, and keep working hard.”
Rovers led their Northern Irish opponents on 15 minutes through Bowie’s impressive solo strike, chasing a ball down the right channel and cutting inside his marker before steering a left foot finish beyond Johnny Tuffey in goals.
Despite dominating the first half, the hosts were pegged back on 24 minutes when a mix-up in defence saw Kieran Macdonald collide with goalkeeper Ross Munro, leaving Rhys Marshall with the simplest of tap-ins.
Bowie missed from close range before Dan Armstrong put Rovers back in front with his second goal in as many games since returning to the club, toe-poking the ball beyond Tuffey after making space for himself in the box.
Glenavon had a glorious chance to level in the second half but after racing clear on goal Andrew Mitchell could only blast his effort over the bar, while at the other end Steven Anderson’s flick from a Rovers corner rebounded off the post.
The home side suffered an injury blow on the hour mark with Grant Anderson taken to hospital for an X-ray on his collarbone but his replacement, Tony Dingwall, made his first appearance of the season following ankle surgery in the summer.
Bowie was involved in Rovers’ bizarre third goal deep in stoppage time as Welsh referee Bryn Markham Jones allowed play to continue after the teenager had been flagged offside, and with the Glenavon defence at a standstill, he squared for sub Lewis Allan to seal the victory.
Rovers boss John Mcglynn said: “If we come in three or four up at half-time that wouldn’t have been an injustice.
“We were in complete control and playing some fast, flowing football.
“The second half we didn’t quite click, and it became a little bit of a struggle, without them creating an awful lot.”