The Kirkcaldy side progressed to the last 16, and a glamour home tie against the Dons, with a deserved 3-1 win at the Shyberry Excelsior.

In a match of pivotal importance to the finances of the football club, goals from Kevin Smith, Gregory Tade and a late penalty from Johnny Russell saw off an Airdrie team who never came close to matching their first half efforts at Stark's Park on Monday.

After coming from behind to force the replay with 10 men in the initial encounter at Stark's Park 48 hours earlier, Rovers had the look of a side determined not to waste their second chance.

Boss John McGlynn made two changes to his starting 11, bringing Mark Ferry back into midfield at the expense of the suspended Stephen Simmons, and Johnny Russell replaced Darren Smith on the left wing.

Rovers fell behind early on Monday, and it was almost another disasterous start in the replay.

Mark Campbell was woefully short with a pass back to David McGurn on three minutes, allowing Airdrie striker Scott Gemmill to latch onto the ball. From a slight angle his shot flashed across goal, and luckily for the Rovers captain, a good few yards wide.

Rovers were soon on top however and when Ferry won the ball on the halfway line, Airdrie's defence was exposed. On loan Dundee United striker Kevin Smith played Gregory Tade clean through on goal but the French striker was being closed down, and he couldn't keep his shot under the bar.

Rovers were pressing the game into Airdrie's half and this tactic helped create the opening goal. Midfielder Allan Walker robbed a defender deep in Airdrie territory, and played a pass for Smith to chase into the box.

The striker's powerful left foot shot perhaps ought to have been saved by Stephen Robertson, but the Diamonds goalkeeper allowed the ball to squirm through his hands into the net.

The home side briefly threatened but an alert Grant Murray was quick to spot danger in the box and blocked a dangerous attack at the expense of a fruitless corner.

Smith had another couple of efforts from long range, before a neat Rovers move ended with Tade taking the keeper by surprise with left foot strike from edge of box, but his effort crashed into the side net.

Rovers had been reasonably comfortable, but Kenny Black's men levelled on 38 minutes. A free-kick from the left into the heart of the Rovers box was met by unmarked Robert Donnelly who stooped low to head past McGurn.

The game was level for just four minutes as Rovers picked themselves up, and regained the lead. Following patient build-up, Russell sprinted down the left wing and dinked a great ball to the back post for unmarked Tade to bury a header low inside the post on the keeper's left hand side.

It was an excellent finish from the often wasteful Frechman, and just rewards for a hard-working performance.

Rovers were coping comfortably in the second half when the first incident of note arrived on the hour mark.

Marc Smyth, scorer of the own goal that kept Rovers in the tie on Monday, blasted the ball into Tade with full force as the striker tried to shield it on the ground.

The defender was booked despite Rovers fans, sitting directly behind the incident, demanding a red from referee Stevie Nichols, who sent Simmons off for a similar act of frustration on Monday.

Strangely, the referee awarded Airdrie the free-kick, which prompted Walker to run away with the ball in hand, only to be chased to half-way line by goalkeeper Robertson. Both were booked.

Airdrie, in truth, looked a beaten side, their only real threat coming from occasional free-kicks in the Rovers half, and perhaps one or two corners which came to nothing.

At the other end, Russell cut inside from the right onto his left foot, and hit a decent strike just wide of near post.

Airdrie's only genuine chance of the second half arrived with four minutes left. A high ball forward was flicked to Gemmill in space in the box, but Campell raced across and managed to take the sting out of the forward's shot, allowing McGurn to make an easy save.

The tie was over in the 88th minute when Rovers were awarded a penalty, and Airdrie were reduced to 10 men.

Russell reached a loose ball in the box a fraction before keeper Robertson, whose momentum carried him into the Rovers man.

It was a stonewall penalty, but the second booking that resulted in the goalkeeper's early shower was perhaps harsh.

With Airdrie having used all three substitutes it was left to defender Scott McLaughlin to pick up the gloves, but he was left rooted to the spot by Russell's well struck penalty.

Chants of "Black must go" echoed from the home stand as Airdrie's fans frustration turned to venom at full-time, contrasted with scenes of jubilation among the travelling fans, who can now look forward to a cracking cup tie against a big SPL club.

Considering Raith looked dead and buried at half-time on Monday, the team deserve huge credit for salvaging the situation.

Rovers won't have much left in the tank for the trip to Ayr on Saturday, but the momentum from this vital win might just see them through.

Airdrie United: Robertson, Storey, Waddell, Smyth, Donnelly, McLaughlin, Trouten (D.Smith 53), McDonald (Watt 68), Baird, Gemmill, McCann (Lagana 64). Npt used: Nixon, Hollis.

Raith Rovers: McGurn, Wilson, Ellis, Campbell, Murray, Walker, Williamson, Ferry, K.Smith (Weir 68), Tade, Russell. Not used: D.Smith, Sloan, Hill, O'Connor.

Referee: Stevie Nichols