Preview

After exiting the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage at Ibrox on Sunday, Raith Rovers return to league action on Saturday, when Paul Hartley's Cove Rangers are the visitors to Stark's Park.

The Toonsers will be desperate for three points in this one, after just one win in 11 games in all competitions, a sequence which now sees them hovering just above the relegation places in eighth place in the Championship, one point ahead of Hamilton, and two above bottom side Arbroath.

Hartley returned to the Balmoral Stadium to take charge for the second time in January following the departure of Jim McIntyre, but despite a busy January transfer window, they've picked up just five points out of a possible 27 since he took over.

However, one of those points was picked up against Raith the last time they met in January, despite Rovers leading twice.

Lewis Vaughan had nudged Rovers in front on the half hour mark, only for Leighton McIntosh to equalise from the penalty spot almost immediately.

Ian Murray's men continued to look the more likely however, and it was no surprise when Dylan Easton gave them a lead going into the interval.

Raith couldn't extend their lead in the second period however, and they were made to pay for that in injury time, when Morgyn Neill earned the home side a point with a goal in the closing seconds.

That match was the third time Raith had travelled to Aberdeen to face Cove this season, with the first being the opening league game of the Championship campaign, when a brace from Mitch Megginson handed Cove a well earned three points.

The two were paired together in the SPFL Trust Trophy Third Round in September, when a Connor McBride goal saw Raith through to the next round, while their only meeting in Kirkcaldy in October was a far more straightforward affair.

Aidan Connolly and Jamie Gullan had Rovers two goals to the good at the interval, and Rovers ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, after Sam Stanton sealed the victory with a third midway through the second half.

Saturday's match referee will be Lloyd Wilson.

Head-To-Head Record

Raith Rovers wins: 3

Cove Rangers wins: 3

Draws: 1

Reports

Raith score 6 to move into 6th

Raith started the game without right-back Ross Millen and top goal-scorer Aidan Connolly in the match day squad, however this did not stop Raith from scoring quickly.

Isma Goncalves capitalised on a poor goal kick from the Cove Rangers goal keeper, intercepting and running through 1 on 1 against the keeper and performing a Panenka to put the ball into the net, in only the 3rd minute of the match. GOAL RAITH 1-0!

GOAL 1....THE BALL'S IN THE NET

Although Raith dominated the early stages of the game Jamie MacDonald did have work to do, making a top class save when Cove’s number 22 Dunne had the chance to level things up.

Lewis Vaughan would double Raith’s lead in the 27th minute after a fantastic pass from Dylan Easton - Vaughan scoring with a powerful strike from a tight angle beating the keeper. GOAL RAITH 2-0!

GOAL 2....LEWIS VAUGHAN FIRES THE BALL PAST GOURLAY

Not much happened for the rest of the half other than Raith keeping possession. HT 2-0.

Raith started the second half in a similar fashion to how they started the first, scoring in the 53rd minute of the match, when Lewis Vaughan’s excellent corner found the towering head of Ryan Nolan who in turn headed the ball into the back of the net, for his first goal for the club. GOAL RAITH 3-0!

GOAL 3.... RYAN NOLAN LEEPS TO HEAD HOME GOAL 3

Raith would very quickly score a 4th in the 56th minute when Dylan Easton scored with a sublime volley from the edge of the box, hitting the crossbar on its way past the keeper. GOAL RAITH 4-0!

GOAL 4..... DYLAN MAKES IT FOUR

Cove did manage to get a consolation goal in the 66th minute when Longridge put the ball past Jamie MacDonald from close range. GOAL COVE 4-1!

Raith very quickly restored the 4 goal lead when they won a penalty in the 70th minute when Lewis Vaughan smashed the ball down the middle of the goal, for his second goal of the game and Raith’s 5th after Dylan Easton was deemed to have been fouled in the area when cutting in from the left. GOAL RAITH 5-1!

GOAL 5...LEWIS MAKES NO MISTAKE FROM THE SPOT

Scott McGill then went on to score his first goal for Raith and Raith’s 6th. The goal came in the 79th minute when Dylan Easton’s deflected cross was volleyed home by McGill in his first start for the Rovers on loan from Hearts. GOAL RAITH 6-1!

GOAL 6....THE BALL BEATS GOURLAY

The Man of the Match award went to opening goalscorer Isma Goncalves.

Photos

All the action and goals from Rovers 6-1 win over Cove Rangers.

PHOTOS © TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke to RaithTV after the 6-1 win against Cove Rangers FC:

Live Updates

0'
Cove Rangers kick off the first half. They're shouting into the traditional home end goals.
1'
Early corner for Cove after Dick nudges out a dangerous cross.
3'
Snap shot from Vaughan, whistles low past the post. Nice work from Gonçalves.
3'
⚽️
Goal Raith!
3'
GONÇALVES goes clean through and dinks a cheeky chip over the out rushing Gourlay
5'
Save from MacDonald! That was a big chance for Cove there.
11'
Reynolds booked for impeding Gonçalves
13'
Corner Raith.
15'
Raith Rovers 1-0 Cove Rangers
20'
Easton with a lot of good work running into the Cove box. His shot is easily blocked.
24'
↔️
Longstaff replaces O'Halloran
26'
⚽️
Goal Raith!
26'
⚽️
Lovely ball through from Easton to VAUGHAN who calmly slots home from 12 yards.
30'
Raith Rovers 2-0 Cove Rangers
30'
McIntosh booked.
34'
🤕️
Lang in a bit of discomfort. Looks like he'll be okay.
39'
💬
Cove having a fair bit of possession in the last 5 minutes.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 2-0 Cove Rangers
45'
Vaughan kicks off the Second half.
45'
↔️
Lang is replaced by Ngwenya at half time.
47'
Nolan with a good block to avert the danger. Corner Cove.
49'
Nolan heads out for a Cove corner.
51'
Deflection from a shot and out for another Cove corner.
53'
Vaughan wins a Raith corner.
53'
⚽️
Goal Raith!
53'
⚽️
Vaughan with the corner finds NOLAN who out jumps the Cove defence and bullets home.
55'
Corner Raith
56'
⚽️
Goal Raith!
56'
Vaughan's corner is headed clear, EASTON runs to attack the ball and volleys a beauty from just outside the box!
58'
Gonçalves sent clear. He races through but puts his shot low and past the post
60'
Vaughan through on goal. Good save from the keeper. Corner Raith.
60'
Raith Rovers 4-0 Cover Rangers
65'
⚽️
Goal Cove.
65'
Longridge slips behind the Raith defence and bundles the ball into the net.
66'
↔️
Weston replaces Virtanen
66'
↔️
Glass replaces Dunne
68'
Penalty Raith!
69'
⚽️
Goal Raith!
69'
⚽️
VAUGHAN fires straight down the middle.
70'
↔️
Akio replaces Gonçalves
73'
Akio misses straight in front of goal. Great ball from the left from Ngwenya.
75'
Easton's cross needs shepherd out for a Rovers corner.
75'
Raith Rovers 5-1 Cove Rangers
78'
⚽️
Goal Raith!
78'
⚽️
Easton cross is deflected and McGILL is waiting in the box to drill home with his left foot.
80'
McIntosh turns a rifles a right foot just over the bar.
82'
Raith App MoM is Esmaël Gonçalves
82'
Corner Raith.
83'
Crazy skills from Vaughan. He tries a Connolly special, but ball is tipped onto bar by the keeper. Corner Raith.
85'
↔️
Ross replaces Easton
87'
Ross sent through into the box. Good block needed. Raith corner.
89'
↔️
Masson replaces Vaughan
92'
Naismith blocks Akio's advances.
93'
Full time: Raith Rovers 6-1 Cove Rangers
93'
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Epic!
93'
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Epic!