The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Vaughan’s high hopes for strike partnership
Manager Locke delighted by how his side is shaping up
ROSS COUNTY 1 RAITH ROVERS 1 (RAITH WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES)
Raith Rovers forward Lewis Vaughan hopes his newly-forged strike partnership with Declan McManus can thrive in the Championship this season.
The pair combined to set up Rovers’ opener in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Ross County in the Betfred Cup, with Gary Locke’s side going on to take the bonus point with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory.
McManus was making his debut for the Kirkcaldy outfit, having completed a season-long loan from Fleetwood Town.
Vaughan, who missed the majority of last season with a knee injury, is encouraged by the early signs in the partnership, and the 20-year-old said: “Sometimes you get that with players.
“We’re not opposite players literally, but he likes to go long and stretch the game, while I like to get on the ball and play.
“I think we’ll complement each other’s game, and hopefully we can stay in the team.”
Rovers took the lead after 18 minutes at Victoria Park, with Vaughan slipping a ball to McManus, whose low cross was bundled into his own net by County defender Erik Cikos.
Raith survived a let-off on 26 minutes when County’s Richard Foster screwed a free header wide of target.
The visitors appealed for a penalty during the second-half, when they claimed McManus had his jersey pulled by defender Chris Robertson.
It was County who were handed a penalty, on 75 minutes, when former Raith forward Brian Graham was felled in the box by Jason Thomson.
Graham stepped up to fire past Kevin Cuthbert to send the match to penalties.
Rovers triumphed, Kyle Benedictus, Mark Stewart and McManus finding the net. Although Ross Callachan’s effort was saved by Fox, and Thomson hit the post, Kevin McHattie’s strike proved decisive after County’s Ian McShane put his effort wide.
The bonus point puts Rovers in the driving seat in Group D, with a victory in their final fixture at Stark’s Park on Saturday enough to send them through to the last 16 as group winners.
Manager Locke said: “I was delighted with the performance against top-class opposition. Myself and Darren Jackson are over the moon with the performance. I feel as if we have been improving over the course of pre-season.
“I am pleased by how we are shaping up. We are in cup competition perhaps earlier than we would have liked but the players have responded well.”
I feel as if we have been improving over the course of pre-season. GARY LOCKE