REPORT: Raith Rovers smash Arbroath to end pre-season

The Rovers smashed Arbroath 4-0 at Gayfield on Saturday with goals coming from Lewis Vaughan, Kevin McHattie and two trialists.

Locke admitted he won’t read too much into pre-season results but said the workout bodes well for his squad.

He said: “It was a test for us and I was pleased with the way the boys went about it. We started well which you’ve got to do. We’re delighted with the way pre-season has finished.

“We don’t read much into pre-season but we’ve set ourselves up nicely for our first competitive game next week.”

Kevin McHattie tested the Arbroath defence with an early cross but his whipped ball in was nodded clear by trialist Gary Phillips.

Steven Doris and Bryan Prunty showed some early signs of a promising partnership up front and a neat exchange between the two almost saw Doris in on goal.

The same pair combined minutes later but Raith’s defence held firm to clear the danger.

Rovers’ trialist striker fired wide of the goal before Vaughan and Ross Callaghan also missed the target.

Vaughan then opened the scoring on 33 minutes, firing under Robbie Mutch after receiving Callaghan’s through ball.

McHattie added a second soon after, curling a free kick inside the post after Bobby Barr was fouled by Omar Kader 20 yards from goal.

Trialist goalie Ricky Gomes came on for the hosts at half-time and he was beaten after just two minutes, with Raith’s trialist striker wearing number 18 putting the finish to a lovely team move.

Both sides used all of their substitutes as the second half lacked the tenacity of the first, but Rovers were able to add a deserved fourth when trialist Andreas Thorresen fired low under the goalie following a terrific Raith attack.

The Raith boss could add to his squad further following the signing of French defender Jean Yves M’Voto-Owono, who featured as a trialist, after the manager was impressed by some of those he has in on trial.

Locke added: “We’ve got a youthful side so we’ll need the injured players back, we certainly need their experience. The trialists are young lads and they are what we needed, they’re forwards and we’re short in that department.

“They’ve done themselves well. They don’t have a lot of experience but we’ll speak to them in the next 24 hours and hopefully get one or two in.”