Flanagan at double as Rovers rout sorry Sons

New boss watches his charges bag five to destroy Dumbarton

DUMBARTON 1 RAITH ROVERS 5

Nathan Flanagan was delighted to get off the mark for the season with a double as rampant Rovers destroyed Dumbarton to give John Mcglynn the perfect start to his second stint in charge.

Raith presented their new boss and a healthy travelling support with a nearperfect performance.

Flanagan said: “I’m just delighted to get the goal and get off the mark. It’s been a few games and a frustrating time not getting a goal but I’m delighted especially the way it came and then to get the second one – hopefully that is just a kick-start to the season.

“As soon as Vaughan puts that goal in it sets the tone for the match and I think we were on top after that.

“If you looked at the first half performance then it’s the best we’ve played all season.

“It’s a hard place to come and we expected a hard game but after the first half I don’t think you could ask for anything better and I don’t think we could ask for a better result going into next week especially with a top-of-thetable clash.

“After a couple of frustrating weeks this is definitely a change.”

And Flanagan believes there is a renewed confidence in the side since Mcglynn has taken over, adding: “He just told us to lift the standard of everything, all about a high press and everyone passing the ball.

“We’ve got good players who like to pass the ball so as soon as the manager has come in his emphasis is on passing and it suits everybody, and I think we showed that.

“Everybody has got confidence but the first goal lifted everybody and we felt even more confident. Everybody wanted the ball, no one was hiding.”

The visitors were in front in under 30 seconds when debutant Regan Hendry slid a ball through to Lewis Vaughan who added a deft finishing touch lifting the ball over the keeper.

Flanagan then thumped home the second with an unstoppable strike from the edge of the box after 12 minutes and bagged his second after 33 minutes, firing home from close range after a defensive mix-up.

Rovers added a fourth before the break when Vaughan’s corner found Kevin Nisbet who supplied the finish.

The Sons got a goal back through Calum Gallagher after 70 minutes but Rovers responded with a fifth from sub Liam Buchanan four minutes from time.

Sons boss Stevie Aitken said: “You don’t let teams score easy goals, and the goals were easy.

“But we have that many problems injury-wise that it is difficult to be critical.”

Picture: George Mcluskie. Nathan Flanagan: Delighted to get off the mark as John Mcglynn began his second spell at Raith with a win.