Emphatic Rovers bounce from 7th to 3rd

GOAL!…Dylan’s shot flies past Smith
The game started with great intensity with half chances for each side, however the Rovers took one of the early chances with Dylan Easton scoring an absolute peach of a goal in the 4th minute, curling the shot into the far corner after the ball deflected to him at a difficult angle. 1-0 Raith Rovers.
After the goal the Rovers begun to assert dominance keeping the ball well, however, Hamilton’s Tiehi managed to score an equaliser 12 minutes after the opening goal with a tidy dink over Jamie MacDonald, the equaliser was very against the run of play, but it was 1 each with 16 minutes played on the clock. 1-1.

Smith pulls of a fantastic save to deny Brown
The Rovers showed great mentality to just go again and try to get in front again as soon as possible – they created multiple half chances, the pick of the bunch being a beauty of a strike from a half volley at a tight angle from Scott Brown to force a top class save from Hamilton goalkeeper Jamie Smith.
Scott Brown was then penalised for a slightly high challenge earning him a booking in the 35th minute. 10 minutes later and it was half time. 1-1 half time.

GOAL!…Aidan Connolly fires home the penalty
The home side begun the 2nd half in the same fashion that they started the first, with a great chance to go ahead again from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge from the Hamilton defender on Liam Dick.
Aidan Connolly stepped up to take the penalty whilst looking like the calmest person in Starks Park, he put the ball right down the middle sending the keeper the wrong way to put the Rovers ahead. 2-1 Raith Rovers.
Raith continued to dominate with chances after scoring, with a beautiful counterattack just not being finished. In the 73rd minute, the returning fan favourite Lewis Vaughan came on for the impressive Kyle Connell to make a quick impact getting a beauty of an assist in the 79th minute playing the ball low across the box for Liam Dick to tap home to make it 3-1. 3-1 Raith Rovers.
Full time and it ended 3-1 with Aidan Connolly being voted for as Man of the Match by the 1890 in attendance. The home side have jumped from 7th to third after the game whilst Hamilton are now rock bottom of the league table.

GOAL!…Liam Dick makes it three for Raith
MacDonald, Dick, Millen, Spencer, Connolly, O’Riordan, Ngwenya, Stanton, Connell, Brown, Easton. Subs: NcNeil, Matthews, Vaughan, McBride, Mahady, Coulson, Masson, Frederiksen.
Hamilton
Smith, Doyle, Virtanen, Easton, Brown, McGinn, Martin, Lawson, Winter, Tiehi, Ryan. Subs: Fulton, Shiels, Zanatta, Smith, Mimnaugh, Ngandu, Owens, One, Scully
All the pictures from Rovers’ 3-1 victory over Hamilton at Stark’s Park.
- Visitors to the match from Basildon in Essex Neil and Freddie Blackburn and Robert Neville
- Match Sponsors Howe Inns
- John MacDonald interviews the mascots
- Collecting for Maggies pre match
- The proud mascots with the captains and Match officials
- Aidan Connolly tries a shot on goal
- Kyle Connell chips over a cross
- Tiehi out jumps the Raith defenders
- Aidan Connolly fires in on goal
- GOAL!...Dylan's shot flies past Smith
- Connor O'Riordan makes sure the balls firmly in the net
- Goal one celebrations from the home crowd
- They are happy in the Directors box too
- When you've just scored you get to do a funny walk
- Ian Murray encouraging the team on
- Incoming ball
- Connors not letting go
- Jean Pierre Tiehi scores the equaliser for Hamilton
- Determined Scott Brown
- Scott Browns on target pile driver
- Jamie Smith makes an amazing save from Scott Brown's shot
- Connor in the Hamilton box fires in a header
- FP Graham Robertson pics the winning 50-50 ticket 50622 worth £520
- Half time winner Anabelle Cameron with Roary and former player Graham Robertson
- Scorer of the opening goal Dylan Easton
- Ellis Brown tries to block Kieran Ngwenya
- Poetry in motion
- Hand ball ref
- Aidan Connolly's 50th minute penalty beats Jamie Smith
- Goal 2 Celebrations
- Brad beats Michael Doyle to the ball
- Brads the meat in the sandwich
- No way past Liam Dick
- MOTM Aidan Connolly
- Ian explains his next move to Colin
- On his own Sam fires in a shot on goal
- Looking for a target to hit
- It's ma Baw !
- Dylan glides past Scott Martin
- Statues
- Lewis Vaughan helps out the home defence
- Sam on a mission
- Airborne Kyle Connell
- Matt Shiels beats Lewis to the ball
- GOAL!...Liam Dick makes it three for Raith
- GOAL!...Liam Dick celebrates after making it 3
- Goal three celebrations
- Ross Millen and Miko Virtanan get together
- C'mon Ref !
- Raith throw in
- Go that way Aidan
- Incoming ball
- The final score
- Hoping for that elusive autograph
- Well done Raith
- Sending the fans home happy
- Aidan connolly receives his Man of the Match award from sponsor Robbie Hunter
- The Ball Attendants take their stations
- Dylan Easton fires home the opener
- Dylan celebrates by showing off his golf swing
- All smiles for the Rovers
- Ross Millen was once again spot on with his crosses
- Kyle Connell gets his magic towel ready for the long throw
- Sam Stanton meets the long throw head on
- Connor O'Riordan battles to turn in the box
- It's behind yoooo!
- Aidan Connolly prepares to take on McGinn
- Dylan Easton charges towards the box
- Sam Stanton heads for the bye-line
- Sam beats off the challenge from Virtanen
- Connor O'Riordan takes charge in the box
- Scott Brown gets a tackle in on Easton
- Scott Brown fires in a rocket
- Smith pulls of a fantastic save to deny Brown
- Connor O'Riordan gets his head on a cross
- Scott Brown and Brad Spencer gang up on Winter
- Smith pulls off a great save from Easton's shot
- Connor O'Riordan has another go
- Brad Spencer on the ball
- Aidan Connolly gets a shot in
- Liam Dick clearly never touched the ball.....
- ...but the assistant ref decides it's a goal kick
- Sam Stanton has his eye on the ball
- Liam Dick gets up to head
- Dylan Easton lays the ball back
- Kieran Ngwenya shields the ball from Winter
- Sam Stanton looks on as Kyle Connell gets up
- Kieran Ngwenya keeps tabs on Ellis Brown
- GOAL!...Aidan Connolly fires home the penalty
- Aidan Connolly attempts to stop Lawson
- Jamie MacDonald pulls off the save and injures himself in the process
- Dylan Easton is stopped in his tracks
- Aidan Connolly's shot beats Smith but went past the post
- Brad Spencer and Liam Dick join forces
- Sam Stanton is thru on goal.....
- ...but he fired the ball wide
- Brad Spencer nicks the ball
- Kyle Connell flies in on Smith
- Sam Stanton wins the ball
- Lewis Vaughan gets in some shooting practise
- Liam Dick celebrates after scoring Rovers' third
- A full moon and full points for the Rovers
- Ross Matthews
- Lewis Vaughan takes on Easton
- Lewis Vaughan races back to help at the back
- Lewis close in on Doyle
- Handshakes all round and three well earned points
PHOTOS © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY
Manager Ian Murray spoke after the home victory against Hamilton Academical:
Raith Rovers are looking to make it four games unbeaten this weekend, when they host Hamilton Academical at Stark’s Park.
Last weekend’s excellent 3-0 win over Partick Thistle meant Rovers had taken seven points out of a possible nine from their last three games, and while they didn’t move up a place in the league table and remained seventh, they’re just two points behind second placed Morton, in a league which could barely be tighter.
Saturday’s opponents had their own noteworthy result at the weekend, coming from 4-1 down to draw with Cove Rangers 4-4 a comeback which brought back memories of the Accies previous great comeback at Stark’s Park last July
That day they came from four down to grab a late draw, in one of the most incredible games Stark’s Park has ever seen.
The two sides have met once already this season, with Rovers winning two nil in Lanarkshire back in August, thanks to goals from Dylan Easton and Jamie Gullan.
Saturday’s match referee will be Scott Lambie.
Head-To-Head Record Versus Hamilton:
Raith Rovers Wins: 61
Hamilton Wins: 60
Draws: 34