06/07/03 Raith Rovers 2 Parscelona 8

July 6th 2003

Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy

March 2000 saw Parscelona's only previous encounter with their Fife neighbours but with the Rovers having formed a new team since then it was time for the first trip to Kirkcaldy. 

Having only just managed to scrape together eleven players, Parscelona had cause to worry about fitness when they turned up to find what was an exceptionally young Rovers team compared to our motley crew with no substitutes. Things certainly looked dodgy for Parsca after conceding a very early goal.

Usually when you see an old man wandering around the park looking lost it's because he shouldn't be out on his own. On this occasion, it's because he was in goals for Parscelona. Davie G's questionable positioning aside, the young Rovers' attack played some great football leading up to their opener.

Parscelona then drew level through Ross McGregor, one of the few Parsca players who was actually close to the same age group as the opposition. A high ball into the box was headed home by Ross for his goal, and he was unlucky not to add to it with another couple of shots later on.

Parsca did manage to grab the lead before long however when Grant Cotter's shot rattled the Rovers' post and the rebound was knocked in by Alan Maxwell. Alan also should have added to his tally when he dribbled round the Raith goalkeeper only to hit his shot off the post.

The hosts equalised early in the second half when a decent lob sailed over Davie Galloway into the net, but Parsca restored their lead when Alan Maxwell headed Grant Cotter's cross into an empty goal from close range.

Parscelona's lead was extended when Craig Lister's header across goal was turned into the net by an unfortunate Raith defender, then Grant Cotter made it 5-2 after expertly controlling a superb long ball from Neil "doesn't like long football - that's irony for you" Holland.

After squandering a couple of other chances, Alan Maxwell managed to grab a hat-trick after latching onto a through ball from Grant Cotter and sliding it past the keeper. Alan turned provider for Parscelona's next goal by laying the ball off for Ross McGregor to score from the edge of the box.

Ross wrapped the game up with a hat-trick of his own, forcing the ball home after a Parsca corner kick gave way to a goal mouth scramble.

Parscelona squad: A. Maxwell, C. Lister, Alex Mercer, E. Campbell, M. Falconer, D. Galloway, J. Wilson, R. McGregor, G. Macleod, G. Cotter, N. Holland