Raith back at the summit after putting on a five-star show in victory over Morton

Raith Rovers’ love affair with the Championship continued with the Kirkcaldy men racking up a 5- 0 win over visitors Morton to return to the top of the table.

The opening goal for last season’s League 1 winners came on 20 minutes when Dani el Armstrong dusted himself down after being tripped by Lewis Strapp and slotted home the resultant penalty.

It was 2-0 four minutes later when a short corner allowed Ethan Ross to whip over a cross and Frankie Musonda rose to flick a header over Aidan Mcadams from six yards.

Morton’ s day worsened on 35 minutes when Jim Mcallister dived into a challenge with Ross Matthews and was red-carded by Willie Collum.

Matthews took Raith further away from their visitors early in the second half when he converted a low cross from Ross with the midfielder then turning in a fine through ball from Regan Hendr y to make it 4-0 on 54 minutes.

With eight minutes to go Fernandy Mendy thump ed the ball past Mcadams from six yards after the Morton defence had failed to clear a corner to leave Raith’s assistant manager Paul Smith, who was again in charge as John Mcglynn recuperates from gallbladder surgery, saying :“Ten points out of 12 is a fantastic start. The players deserve a lot of credit for how they have gone about things.

“We star ted this game well but ironically lost our way a bit when they went down to ten men. We got back on track in the second half.”

Dunfermline slipped to second as they dropped points for the first time this season in a goalless draw at Ayr in a game of few chances.

Arbroath remain in bottom spot, however, they picked up their first point in a 1- 1 draw with visitors Queen of the South who also moved off the zero-point mark.

James Maxwell put the Doonhamers into the lead on 32 minutes when he accepted a cross-field pass from Gregor Buchanan and darted away from Scott Stewart before rifling a shot past Derek Gaston.

The Red Lichties drew level within a minute of the restart through Bobby Linn who sent a drive past Jack Leighfield and they went close through Dale Hilson and Ricky Little before the visitors were left incensed that Stephen Dobbiew as booked for simulation when he appeared to be tripped by Little.