The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Raith fire five past Queens to cheer up manager McGlynn
Raith Rovers assistant manager Paul Smith reckons a 5-2 mauling of Queen of the South is just what the doctor ordered for recovering boss Jo h n McGlynn.
The Championship new boys travelled to Dumfries with Smith once again deputising for the Stark’s Park gaffer who continues to recuperate after a routine operation.
Assistant Smith joked: “Maybe at 3-2 he’d be in a bit of a panic and shouting at me and the players from home!
“John’s making a slow recovery and won’t rush back, but the players have been fantastic since John’s been off so hopefully that will help his recovery.
“Ev e r y game in the Championship is difficult and we knew how important it was to get points on the board early doors.
“To get three points last week and then three at Pa l m e r s t o n , which is always a difficult place to come, is a fantastic start.”
Rovers got off to the perfect start when they broke the deadlock after just 60 seconds.
A lovely ball over the top of the Queens defence from Dan Armstrong played in Ross Matthews and he tucked away a neat finish past Rohan Ferguson.
But just three minutes later the home side levelled as Euan East was dragged down by Regan Tumilty.
Referee Euan Anderson pointed to the spot and Stephen Dobbie sent Jamie MacDonald the wrong way.
Ethan Ross was brought down by Gregor Buchanan with 10 minutes played and, while he had to come off injured, Raith were able to score from the resulting free-kick when the ball fell to Iain Davidson on the edge of the box and his cross found Manny Duku whose header looped over Ferguson.
Raith extended their lead after 27 minutes as Tumility found Armstrong , who slotted home from close range.
Af ter the break, the Doonhamers got a foothold as Calvin McGrory’s cross into the box was headed home by Ayo Obileye to make it 3-2 on the hour mark.
However, 10 minutes later, Raith restored their two-goal advantage when substitute Brad Spencer sliced open the Queens defence and Dylan Tait finished off the move.
Obileye had a shocker in the 85th minute as Raith ran rampant with a fifth goal. A high ball into the Queens back line should have been dealt with easily, but the big centre-half ’s header back to goal was pounced on by Duku, who finished the rout with a tidy finish.