Hamilton Academical FC vs Raith Rovers FC | Raith Rovers Football Club

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Raith Rovers increased their unbeaten streak to five on Saturday after overcoming Hamilton Academical 3-0 at New Douglas Park.

Dylan Easton opened the scoring just two minutes away from halftime, before Fordyce and Mullin fired in Raith’s second and third goals in the second half. Hamilton threatened late on, but Raith held out for their twelfth clean sheet of the league season.

Barry Robson made two changes after the team’s dramatic 3-3 draw away to Morton just four days earlier. Finlay Pollock and Josh Mullin replaced Euan Murray and Lewis Vaughan, who both dropped to the bench as substitutes.

Hamilton kicked the match off on a dreary afternoon at New Douglas Park as they looked to build some distance between themselves and the dreaded relegation play-off spot.

Raith had some early opportunities to get some shots on goal but failed to really test Dean Lyness in the Hamilton net, who safely gathered a handful of tame Raith efforts.

Hamilton very nearly had an opener in the eighth minute after a windy corner caused chaos in the Raith box. The resultant strike towards goal was deflected however, which ended up with a Raith goal kick.

The Rovers started to get some more threating shots away in the direction of Hamilton’s goal, but these efforts ended up just wide of the mark after Gullan and Easton came close.

With just two minutes remaining of the opening forty-five, a goalless first half was looking likely. Raith continued to work the ball around though and found Dylan Easton on the right-side of Hamilton’s box. The Rover’s “Showman” danced his way into the area and got to the penalty spot before firing a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal. Raith’s top goal scorer had yet again made the difference after putting his side ahead going into halftime.

Raith had a strong start to the second half, but Hamilton came close again after the ball came loose in the Raith box. Scott Brown was on the line to clear however, leaving Raith’s one goal lead intact.

Raith would increase their lead to two just after the hour mark, after Pollock won a freekick just outside the box on the right wing. Gullan floated a cross to the back-post from the set piece and Fordyce was left free to head home from close range for Raith’s second of the match.

Lewis Vaughan replaced Gullan in the seventy-first minute and contributed to Raith’s third just four minutes later after playing a pass across the face of Hamilton’s goal. Mullin met the pass at the far post and calmy controlled the ball before tucking away a near-post finish.

Hamilton didn’t go quietly and started to threaten again as the final whistle approached. MacDonald forced a good save from Rae and a few subsequent freekicks into Raith’s box caused trouble. The Rovers managed to avoid conceding however and the final whistle signalled the end of a productive afternoon for the away side.

The result marks the conclusion of a trio of consecutive away days for The Rovers, who have regained the fifth spot in the Championship after earning five points from nine on their recent travels. Raith will be looking to do their part in shortening the six-point gap to fourth place this Saturday as they return to Starks Park to face Ayr United.

Written by Hamish Rankine

Live Updates

Welcome to today’s William Hill Championship league game at New Douglas Park - Hamilton v Raith. It’s windy and it’s wet. Two changes as out go Murray and Vaughan and in come Mullin and Pollock

Hamilton get the game underway. Raith defending Sainsbury’s end this half

Early freekick for Raith after a foul on Pollock ball played to front of box and headed away by Hamilton. Play ends with the ball in the hands of Lyness

Easton with a pop approx 20 yards out and straight into the hands of Lyness

Mullin tries to drop the ball into the box for Pollock and Gullan but again ball into the hands of Lyness

Easton plays to Gullan but ball knocked from him and not for a throw in to Raith.

Freekick Raith after a push on Pollock from Maguire in the centre circle

Hamilton corner- ball played deep, its battered about a bit but ends up hitting the side netting

10'

Pollock turns 360 to keep possession, Gullan runs on to a loose ball and gets into the box but he can’t get the power or curve and shoots directly to Lyness

14'

Easton tries to lay the ball on to Gullan who would have been clear to run on goal but Hamilton intercept

19'

A shot from Hamilton approx 20 yards out, thankfully ball doesn’t dip in time and just goes over the bar

20'

Ball from Mullin to Pollock, it’s chased to the byline and Pollock is fouled - free-kick Raith - ball played to back post had headed clear

23'

Good play between Mullin, Brown and Easton down temporary stand side , ball eventually out for a throw in

25'

Freekick from Gulllan played into the mix of Hamilton box but again headed clear

26'

Easton with the ball on the edge of the box, he tries to lose his man sees an opportunity but ball just wide of goal

28'

Mullin drops the ball deep into the Hamilton box, Fordyce tries to head home but is unsuccessful

31'

Good play between Mullin and Pollock but Mullin’s delivery into the box is blocked, his second effort is into the hands of Lyness

35'

O’Hara attempts to deliver the ball into the Raith box and straight to the hands of Rae

36'

Good play between Easton and Pollock ball passed to Stevenson who is the Hamilton box but he loses possession

37'

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Booking for a Hanlon - freekick Hamilton who play the ball the ball deep into the Raith box. It’s headed towards goal but it’s soft and Rae comfortably saves

40'

Pollock and Matthews receiving treatment - play back underway with Easton delivering the ball to the edge of the box and it’s eventually out for a corner to Raith

41'

From the corner Gullan plays the ball into the mix it’s pinged about and Hanlon could have scored but so many legs and feet it’s blocked

43'

GOOAAAL it’s EASTON who has the ball along the edge of the box he runs and looks up and pings the ball low to the right of Lyness

44'

Hamilton going for goal now and Rae gets down to smother

45'

+1 ref blows for half time to the chorus of boos from Hamilton supporters - Hamilton 0 Raith 1 (Easton 44’)

45'

Easton gets the second half underway, Raith shooting towards the Sainsbury’s end this half

47'

Stevenson with a perfect delivery to pollock but as he tries to control the ball it hits his arm

48'

Easton’s strike is well over the bar

49'

Maguire thinks he’s through on goal but he’s offside

52'

Good play between Gullan and Easton but Easton can’t find a way through. He sees Mullin but the pass isn’t accurate

54'

Tumilty gets the ball into the Raith box, Rae spills and defence come to the rescue to clear inches from the goal line

56'

Pollock has the. All and he takes on Tumilty, he gets the ball round him but it’s straight it the hands of Lyness

58'

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Double substitution for Hamilton off go O’Hara and Maguire and on come MacDonald and McKinstry

63'

From a Raith freekick ball played to back post and FORDYCE SCORES with a header

65'

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McGowan booked before the freekick for the foul on Pollock

69'

Excellent challenge from Matthews on MacDonald as the latter charges a way into the Raith box

70'

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Raith sub off Gullan and bring on Vaughan

74'

Lovely ball to Vaughan… he cuts the ball across the goal and it’s MULLIN who slots the ball home for goal number three

78'

Nice ball from Vaughan to Pollock, the latter tries to cross the ball but wins a corner

79'

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Raith with a double substitution off go Brown and Easton and on come Connolly and Byrne

79'

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Hamilton also with the double substitution off go McGowan and Bradley and on come Barjonas and Todorov

82'

Hamilton corner ball played to far post it’s cleared and play ends with MacDonald coming close

84'

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Raith sub off Pollock and bring on Marsh

88'

From a Hamilton freekick ball place into the danger area and it looks like an own goal but corner to Hamilton. Ball played deep and Hamilton head toward goal and Rae clears

91'

MAcDonald gets the ball into the Raith box but Doherty there to head clear

92'

Ref blows for full time Hamilton 0 Raith 3 ( Easton 44’, Fordyce 63’ Mullin 74’) a well deserved three points