Self-confessed Hibs fan Lewis Vaughan continued his hot scoring streak to condem his favourite team to defeat at Stark’s Park on Saturday.
The 19-year-old showed no mixed loyalties as he pounced for a late winner after Fraser Fyvie’s equaliser had cancelled out Mark Stewart’s opener early in the second half.
“I’m a Hibs fan, but I’ve got to do my job, which is play for Raith and score goals,” said Vaughan.
“I’m always going to be a Hibs fan but if they come up against me and my team then I want to do the best I can.
“I had a season ticket at Easter Road when I was younger, and all my mates are Hibs fans.
“There was five or six of them in the away stand, and they’ve all been texting me.
“But I’ll take as many goals as I can get. If I score none against Hearts but three against Hibs then I’ll take that.”
The goal capped off a perfect week for Vaughan, who also scored in wins over Alloa and Queen of the South, to take his tally to five in his last six starts.
“It’s the most goals I’ve ever scored in a season,” he said.
“I want to keep scoring as many goals as I can, but the main thing is that we played well and got the three points.
“We’ve got a great squad and competition for places up front but hopefully I can keep myself in the team as long as can.
“I was frustrated at the start of season but when I got my chance it was a case of making sure I took it, and hopefully I’ve done that.”
While putting a dent in Hibs hopes of finishing second in the Championship, Raith’s victory also put them back in the hunt for fourth place ahead of a trip to Falkirk on Saturday.
“If we can go and turn them over you never know what could happen,” Vaughan added.
“As the manager keeps telling us anything can happen in football. Hopefully we finish in the top four.”
Hibs dominated the match for long spells but found it difficult to break down a determined Rovers side with the woodwork twice coming to Raith’s rescue in the first half.
David Gray ghosted inside from the right wing to shoot against the far post in the seventh minute, before Dominic Malonga sent a header crashing against the bar from Gray’s cross in the 29th minute.
Ryan Conroy also cleared off the line from a Sam Stanton header.
Remarkably, Raith took the lead with their first effort on goal in the 52nd minute as in-form Stewart sent a stunning volley past Mark Oxley from Jason Thomson’s cross.
Hibs took just four minutes to equalise as Scott Allan’s deflected effort fell perfectly for Fyvie who steered a low effort past David McGurn.
Malonga sent a header inches wide and McGurn made a stunning one-on-one save to deny Gray as Hibs pushed for a winner.
Rovers soaked up the pressure then struck in the 84th minute as Ryan Conroy’s effort was saved by Oxley, but Vaughan managed to squeeze the rebound over the line.
Raith boss Grant Murray was delighted to collect a third home win in a week.
“We were pinned back for long spells but when you come up against good teams you have to defend well and we did,” he said.
“The all-round effort and commitment the players showed right to the death was fantastic, and it was thoroughly deserved.”