MATCH STATS

STAR MAN: AIDAN CONNOLLY produced an outstanding performance with a stunning secondhalf hat-trick.

A second-half hat-trick from Raith midfielder Aidan Connolly was sufficient to end off Auchinleck’s dreams of a giant-killing.

The non-league Ayrshire side had already claimed the scalps of Ayr United and Hamilton Accies during their recent Scottish Cup adventures.

“I was delighted for Aidan” said Rovers manager Ian Murray.

“He’s hitting a rich vein of form at present and his hat-trick was really well deserved.

“I was a bit frustrated at halftime. We’d had so much of the ball but we knew we’d have to do much more in the second half.

“The players deserve great credit for the patience they showed and in the end its all about being in the hat for the next round.”

During the opening stages of the contest, the visitors demonstrated all the qualities and attributes that have marked some excellent performances in the tournament in recent years.

Their solid tackling, slick distribution and general discipline opened up the possibility of a shock result – and Raith knew they had to treat their opponents with real respect.

Auchinleck laid down a marker in the sixth minute when a powerful shot from frontman Bryan Boylan stung the palms of Raith goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald.

The home side responded with a great chance of their own midway through the first half when Lewis Vaughan found himself with only Talbot keeper Andrew Leishman to beat.

But the striker failed to make the most of it when he sent his final effort high over the crossbar.

There was little between the sides until the interval and Auchinleck deserved to be on level terms at the break. But Raith moved through the gears and tried to take control of affairs.

It still took them 18 minutes before they got the breakthrough – Connolly opening the scoring with a trademark goal, running on to a precise through ball from Scott Brown before dispatching a curling shot beyond Leishman.

The midfielder then made it 2-0 shortly afterwards with a carboncopy strike from his deadly left foot on 72 minutes and he went home with the match ball after tapping home from an Ethan Ross cross in the closing stages.

“Our game plan worked well in the first half” reflected Talbot boss Tommy Sloan. “But they scored a world-beating goal and went on to win the game.”