Reports

Rovers returned to Stark’s Park after 3 games on the road and the fans were eagerly awaiting the welcome return to action of Lewis Vaughan, on the bench after 14 months off due to injury.

Thistle had lost 4 goals in each of their last 2 games so how would they react?

Jamie MacDonald was the first to be called into action, blocking a shot from Bannigan in 7 minutes, but just 2 minutes later, Sam Stanton gave indication that Rovers meant business when he tried a speculative shot from 20 yards which Mitchell gathered without much problem.

Ian Murray’s men were playing some great football down the right and the breakthrough came in 12minutes when Ross Millen sent the ball forward to Kyle Connell who layed it into the path of Aidan Connolly to run in and fire an unstoppable shot from 20 yards high into the top corner past Mitchell.

GOAL!.....Aidan Connelly fires the ball into the top corner

Kyle Connell was keen to claim the title of long throw specialist when a throw into the box was cleared, but only as far as Scott Brown who fired a shot goalwards into the arms of Mitchell, but Connell was not giving up and it wasn’t long before his long throw skills bore fruit, in a repeat of his previous effort he threw the ball from just south of the tunnel straight to Aidan Connelly just outside the 6 yard box and the No7 made no mistake, turning and firing a left foot shot low past the helpless Mitchell with 30 minutes on the clock.

GOAL!....Mitchell is helpless as Aidan Connolly's shot flies past him

By now, Millen, Stanton and Connolly were running riot on the right and just before the break,  Ross Millen sent over a cross to the far side of the box, Akinola pulled down Kyle Connell on the penalty spot, a stonewall penalty.

The Kilmarnock loanee dusted himself down to take the kick himself and he made no mistake sending Mitchell the wrong way.

Kyle Connell's spot kick hits the net

After the break Thistle had a chance to claw themselves back into the game but Sam Stanton denied them clearing the ball off the line with an overhead kick, and when Jamie MacDonald uncharacteristically fumbled a cross, Liam Dick was on hand to get the ball clear.

With 5 minutes left on the clock, a perfect day was made even better with the long awaited return to action of Lewis Vaughan and it was almost a dream return for the fans favourite when Ross Millen sent a cross into his path as he ran in on goal but there was just a bit too much on it and it ended up in the arms of Mitchell.

Next up is Hamilton at Stark’s Park next Saturday and the fans cannot wait!

Photos

All the pictures from Rovers 3-0 victory over Partick Thistle at Stark's Park.

Photos ©  TONY FIMISTER & JIM FOY.

Highlights

Interviews

Ian Murray spoke after the win against Partick Thistle:

Live Updates

0'
35 minutes till kick off at Stark's Park.
0'
BIG team news is the return of Lewis Vaughan to the team sheet!
0'
Both teams emerging from the Main Stand tunnel.
0'
Always nice to see the away team in their traditional home top when there's not a clash.
0'
Partick kick off the first half…
3'
Brown knocks the ball out for a Thistle corner.
3'
Messy cross, lands at Connolly's feet. He takes the safe option and puts the ball into touch for a second corner.
7'
Big save from MacDonald there. Bannigan tried to place his shot low into the corner.
9'
Stanton looks up, tries a shot from 20 yards. Curls the ball into Mitchell's arms.
11'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!!
11'
⚽️
What a crackerjack!!! CONNOLLY races through, on the right. Puts the ball onto his left foot and curls an absolute postage stamp from just outside the box.
11'
⚽️
What a crackerjack!!! CONNOLLY races through, on the right. Puts the ball onto his left foot and curls an absolute postage stamp from just outside the box.
13'
Ngwenya races down the wing, cuts back, but easily mopped up by Partick defence.
15'
Raith Rovers 1-0 Partick Thistle
28'
Corner Partick
28'
Connell almost played through, but good defending saves the day.
29'
Ngwenya with the cross from the right. Connell gets a good head to the ball, but Mitchell is there to easily hold.
30'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
30'
⚽️
Connell with the long throw. Not picked up by the Thistle defence and CONNOLLY is there to side step a cheeky wee volley low and into the corner.
32'
Raith Rovers 2-0 Partick Thistle
32'
Ngwenya fizzes in a low cross from the left wing. No one in the box to connect.
33'
💬
Loving Ngwenya's runs down the wing.
37'
Huge let off for Raith. Slack passing in the defensive zone sees Dowds with the ball. He hesitates his shot and the chance gone.
41'
Corner Raith. Pass back from the Raith half gies wrong!
42'
Penalty Raith!
42'
Akinola booked for foul in the box.
43'
Connell to take…
43'
⚽️
GOAL RAITH!
43'
⚽️
CONNELL shoots low and direct. Keeper dives to his left.
45'
Half time: Raith Rovers 3-0 Partick Thistle
45'
💬
Great stuff from the Rovers there.
45'
Rovers stats: Shots 6 on target 6. Possession 49%. Corners 1.
46'
Rovers back on the pitch for the start of the second half.
46'
Rovers kick off the second, shooting into the traditional away end.
46'
↔️
Lawless replaced by Mullen Akinola replaced by Turner
46'
Corner Raith
46'
Stanton blocks an attempt and out for a second corner.
46'
MacDonald can't hold a looping header. Stanton with the overhead kick on the goal line. Phew!
48'
🤕️
MacDonald on the deck after clashing with a Thistle Forward in the box.
49'
Another Partick corner.
49'
💬
A lot of Thistle pressure in first five minutes of the half.
58'
Bannigan booked for a strong challenge on Brown.
59'
Smith replaced by Fitzpatrick
60'
Raith Rovers 3-0 Partick Thistle
60'
Corner Partick
63'
O'Riordan yellow card for time wasting.
64'
Ngwenya wins a Raith corner.
66'
Millen does well there to chest and clear the ball in the box.
66'
(in Fife) Stanton wins himsel a yellie caird…
68'
↔️
First Rovers subby - Matthews on for Connell
71'
MacDonald holds a Milne cross.
74'
↔️
Bannigan replaced by Stanway
74'
↔️
Dowds replaced by Weston
77'
Raith Rovers 3-0 Partick Thistle
78'
Muirhead booked for a not-very-good challenge.
80'
Corner Partick
80'
MacDonald drops a cross. Ball falls behind him. Partick striker slides in and ball hits the post.
82'
💬
Someone has taken off their training top…
84'
Millen does well to stifle an attack. Corner Partick.
84'
↔️
Easton replaced by Vaughan
89'
↔️
Stanton replaced by Frederiksen
90'
Vaughan inches away from connecting with a Millen cross from the right.
90'
Raith Mom - 7 Connolly
93'
Full time: Raith Rovers 3-0 Partick Thistle