Raith Rovers completed an unbeaten pre-season run with a 2-0 victory over East Fife at MGM Timber Bayview.
Second-half goals from Lewis Vaughan and substitute Jamie Gullan gave Ian Murray’s side the win ahead of the competitive football starting next weekend.
Vaughan’s penalty was his third goal in the three friendlies he has played and Gullan has netted in each of Rovers’ four warm-up fixtures.
⚽East Fife v Raith Rovers
📍MGM Timber Bayview pic.twitter.com/efcI899fCh— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) July 8, 2023
The home side will be pleased with how they matched up to full-time Championship opposition, especially after getting in level at the break.
Debuts
Former St Johnstone star Brian Easton was one of a trio of new defenders brought to the club this week but was the only one to start – though he was replaced by Jacob Comerford at half-time and Sean Docherty came on in the second half.
Easton lined up in central defence alongside Jonathan Page in an experienced back line that kept Rovers at bay.
Mullin starts on the right and Smith on the left. https://t.co/pw2v97mC4s
— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) July 8, 2023
For Raith, all eyes were on Jack Hamilton as registration delays and injury delayed him from playing for his new side until now.
He started as a trialist as he awaits confirmation of his registration with the SFA and was a little frustrated at times during his first 45 minutes for the club.
The big striker stabbed just wide early on from a Callum Smith cross but continually made runs behind the East Fife defence that went unnoticed.
East Fife threat
Fifers manager Greig McDonald fielded his side in what looked like an attacking 4-2-4 formation.
In reality, they allowed Rovers to have the vast majority of the ball and largely snuffed out their threats.
When they did get forward, the hosts were a threat on the break.
Both Nathan Austin and Scott Shepherd looked to make runs in behind as Raith committed men forward, though they were limited to half-chances.
For all their possession, there was a lack of a final ball in Raith’s play, though Scott McGill and Sam Stanton both went close from distance.
Rovers take the lead
The second half followed a similar pattern before both sides made a number of changes and the game opened up.
By then, Vaughan had given Rovers the lead from the spot after Page’s handball.
Liam Dick had gone close at the near post early in the half and Keith Watson missed an excellent opportunity to tap in a second Rovers goal but somehow skewed it wide.
East Fife stuck with their brave formation but it was another fairly quiet half for Rovers keeper Kevin Dabrowski – the only save he had to make was to get behind Jack Healy’s free-kick.
Gullan stakes his claim
Gullan was one of the Rovers changes but, like he did for a portion of the match versus Linlithgow Rose, he played on the left.
He put Rovers 2-0 up from distance after drifting into the centre and catching Fleming off his line with a spectacular volley.
The 24-year-old was the man to drop out of the starting XI for Hamilton and will have done his chances of starting next Staurday’s Fife derby no harm with this showing.
Whether Hamilton will be ready to start may be the determining factor, but Gullan may be the one to get the nod.
