Raith Rovers striker Lewis Vaughan reveals next target after reaching 101 Raith goals
After becoming the first Raith Rovers player in 31 years to reach 100 goals for the club – including friendlies - via a penalty before also netting a second half shot in the 2-0 league win at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, Lewis Vaughan was asked if his next target was scoring another nine to reach 100 competitive goals.
Striker Vaughan, 30, an ex-Raith youth player who went on to make his senior debut for the Stark’s Parkers way back in 2012, told Raith TV post match: “It’s brilliant to be honest. I’ve probably waited too long for it in my opinion, but we got there in the end.
"My heart dropped a wee bit at the penalty, but thankfully it went under the goalie. But I'm delighted we get to 101 goals now, hopefully many more to come.
“It's an honour to be fair to score 101 goals for the club, it's an unbelievable achievement.
"To be the first one to do it in so long, it's an amazing achievement for myself.
"I'm proud to have done it and hopefully I score nine more to get there again.”
When asked if he was nervous stepping up to take the 39th-minute penalty - awarded for a foul on him - at The City Stadium, Vaughan added: “To be honest, no. I just thought Eastie (Dylan Easton) had also missed one (in the 3-2 home win over Greenock Morton on Saturday).
"I had missed one and Eastie went on them, so fair's fair, he missed one on Saturday, so as soon as we got it, I was confident I wanted to take it.
"I knew what it meant to me personally, but also what it meant to the squad, chasing the play-off places.
"But my heart dropped when the keeper went the right way. Thankfully it went underneath him and into the back of the net.
"So I'm just grateful that it crossed the line and you don’t need it to hit the net to score goals.”
Vaughan’s second goal was a trademark finish on the swivel after 55 minutes which killed off the Spiders, who’d been down to 10 men since defender Rickie Lamie was shown a straight red card on 42 minutes for a foul on Rovers striker Jack Hamilton.
He said: “The second goal is probably more of a trademark goal like I score usually.
"On the swivel, a half-volley first time hit in the back of the net. I'm a striker, I'm frustrated I didn't go on to get my hat-trick, but there's still three games to go so I might get one.”
Fifth-placed Raith, who have 42 points from 33 William Hill Championship matches, are now officially safe from relegation and just five points below third-placed Dunfermline Athletic and fourth-placed Arbroath as the battle for play-off places intensifies.
Their next match is a crucial one, as they visit Arbroath this Saturday in a 3pm kick-off.