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

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Raith Rovers made the most of their game in hand against Hamilton Accies on Tuesday night after comfortably defeating the evening’s hosts 3-0.

Barry Robson made two changes to the team after a defeat to Falkirk just three days earlier. Jamie Gullan was named in the starting 11 for the first time since his return, whilst Josh Mullin earned his first start since under the new manager.

Hamilton kicked the match off as they looked to cut the gap in the league between themselves and The Rovers to strictly goal difference. Raith swiftly put those plans on hold however…

With just three minutes on the clock, Finlay Pollock collected the ball after a neat flick-on from Jamie Gullan at the halfway line. The Hearts youngster muscled off one Hamilton defender before outpacing another as he raced into the opposition penalty area and calmy scored past the on-rushing Charlie Albinson to give Raith an early lead.

The Rovers won a corner just four minutes later, with Dylan Easton and Lewis Stevenson standing over the set piece. A short ball to Stevenson allowed the veteran wing-back to whip a ball into the host’s box, which eluded the Hamilton defence. Gullan was lurking at the back of the area and powered a half-volley through a sea of bodies and into the Hamilton net, doubling the visitors lead in the 7th minute.

Raith were forced to substitute Pollock around the 20-minute mark due to injury, with Aiden Marsh taking his place. Haste had seem been the style that Raith were going for on the evening, and Marsh clearly had no intention of changing that…

The Rovers went on to work the ball around and up the park well, leaving Hamilton to chase Mullin down the right wing. The Raith wide man slotted a ball towards Marsh in the box, and the 21-year-old striker made no mistake as he spun and fired the ball into the bottom left corner. Having come on nine minutes earlier, Marsh had just put the finishing touch to a ten-pass move from The Rovers in the 30th minute.

Raith kept Albinson busy in the Hamilton goal for the remainder of the half after Easton and Marsh came close on multiple occasions, but the Hamilton shot stopper kept Raith’s goal tally from increasing as halftime approached.

Hamilton gaffer John Rankin enacted a quadruple-change at halftime as he tried to get his side back into the game. Raith continued to create chances however, with Mullin providing some dangerous crosses into the box throughout the second half.

Hamilton started to swing the ball into the Raith box as the half progressed, but The Rovers managed to deal with the crosses as they came.

Robson placed some faith in the younger members of the team after substituting Lewis Gibson and Kai Montagu on for Lewis Stevenson and Dylan Easton on the 74th minute.

Raith didn’t let up as they tried to net a fourth, but the combination of a shored-up Hamilton defence and numerous saves from Albinson prevented any additional goals.

With three goals, three points, and a clean-sheet earned upon the sound of the fulltime whistle, The Rovers can certainly be happy with the result of their mid-week trip.

An additional three points on the board now stretches Raith’s lead over Hamilton to six points, and pushes Raith up to 6th in the table. The season’s third Fife Darby is up next, as Raith travel to East End Park in a mission to retain the bragging rights over 9th placed Dunfermline on Saturday.

Live Updates

Hamilton get the game underway. Raith defending the away end this half

Freekick Raith just in Hamilton half. Ball played long to back post but it’s eventually cleared

It’s POLLOCK… he picks up the ball and runs the ball into the Hamilton box to slot the ball past Albinson

Hamilton corner ball played to centre of box and Dabrowski up and punches the ball clear

Raith corner, ball played short then played into the centre and it’s GULLAN who controls and fires home number two

Smith tries to cross the ball in the Raith box, ball blocked and out for a Hamilton corner which is cleared

12'

Raith corner, ball played into the mix, punched clear and nothing comes of it

14'

Mullin gets the ball into the Hamilton box and Gullan with the header just doesn’t come to fruition

15'

Hamilton free kick deep in Raith half, Shaw is challenged just in the D and a foul occurs in the 18 yard box - free kick Raith

18'

Hendrie for Hamilton with the long ball to Shaw who is in the D but Raith clear well

20'

Lamie and Hendrie for Hamilton linking well down their left, play ends with the latter crossing the ball into the Raith box and it’s cleared

21'

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Raith being forced into a substitution as off goes Pollock and on comes Marsh

25'

Hendrie attempts to cross the ball into the danger area but Mullin there to block

27'

Gullan in the box passes to Marsh who forces Albinson to come out - corner Raith

30'

It’s MARSH this time who has no one o. Him he controls and fires the ball home

33'

Easton with an effort approx 20 yards out, it’s low and through the defence but Albinson gets down to save

35'

Brown over the top and Marsh has two Hamilton players by his side but it’s Marsh who wins the battle has a pop and Albinson down to save

38'

Easton tries to cut the ball back to Marsh in the Hamilton box but it’s intercepted

40'

Brown with the long ball to Marsh but his effort towards goal is well over the bar and ball sitting in the Sainsbury’s delivery area

42'

Easton with a low shot just outside the Hamilton box and Albinson down to save

45'

+1 Hamilton corner, ball played deep and headed out for another Hamilton corner. Ball played to back post and it’s been indicated another Hamilton corner which doesn’t come to anything

45'

+2 ref blows for half time Hamilton 0 Raith 3 (Pollock 2’, Gullan 6’, Marsh 30’)… all Raith first half

45'

Second half is underway

45'

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Hamilton sub off Henderson, Barjonas, Lamie and Shaw and bring on McGinty, O’Hara, MacDonald and Todrov

49'

Easton tries to run the ball into the 6yard box but loses possession

54'

Raith corner ball falls to Marsh but he heads over the bar approx 5yards from goal

58'

Brown to Easton who tries to chest the ball to Marsh but ball intercepted

60'

Mullin with an effort approx 29 yards out but ball over the bar

61'

Marsh from close range but he’s offside

62'

Hamilton free kick ball falls to McGowan who heads toward goal but ball cleared

65'

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Raith sub off Gullan and bring on Connolly

70'

Stevenson runs up the left wing, he passes the ball into Marsh by the latter is challenged

71'

Easton to the left to Marsh who tries to cut the ball back into the centre of the box but ball doesn’t reach Connolly however Raith win a corner which comes to nothing

74'

Easton to Marsh who has a man on, he cutely cuts the ball back to Stevenson

75'

Raith corner - ball played to the mix and nothing comes of it

76'

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Double Raith substitution off goes Easton and Stevenson and on come Montagu and Gibson

78'

Good play from Montagu and Gibson with the former getting the ball to Marsh who has a pop and wins a corner

79'

Raith corner - ball played to the mix and Hamilton head out for another Raith corner - ball played again into the mix, cleared as far as to Connolly who hits the ball first time but ball wide

82'

Marsh to Montagu but ball intercepted

84'

Bradley for Hamilton tries to find a way though but Brown on his tail and intercepts

86'

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Hamilton sub off Smith and bring on McKinstry

89'

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Booking for O’Hara for a push

91'

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