Arbroath were handed a Halloween fright as Raith Rovers demolished the Lichties for the second time this season.
George Oakley fired home a hat-trick including an opener inside the first minute with Scott Tiffoney also on the scoresheet in a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Rovers at Gayfield.
Michael McKenna’s red card at Livingston last week saw him suspended, while Craig Watson also dropped out of the starting lineup. The returning Scott Constable and Ryan Flynn took their places in an otherwise unchanged XI.
A last gasp winner from Ryan McGowan at Almondvale denied Arbroath a point after a positive performance that would have provided some hope of ending a four-match run of defeats, but instead things began to fall apart straight from kick off as Raith took the lead.
There were only 19 seconds on the clock when the ball flashed past Aidan McAdams, with Oakley turning home his first of the afternoon following an inch perfect cross from Paul McMullan after a clearance had deflected his way.
Arbroath looked shocked and were soon further behind as Raith again found a way through, with a ball clipped in behind for Calum Adamson to square for Tiffoney to tap home the simplest of goals from close range.
In their defence, the Lichties reacted well and were the width of the post away from a goal of their own on five minutes. Gavin Reilly did well to hold the ball up in the area before cutting it back for Scott Stewart who somehow cracked his shot off the woodwork.
Jacob MacIntyre was next to try his luck as Arbroath continued to fight for a way back into the game, but his low effort was no trouble for Josh Rae in the away goal.
Chances began to fade at both ends as the home side began to settle, but the game was put beyond any doubt just beyond the half hour mark as Oakley found a way past McAdams once again, glancing a header into the far corner from Lewis Stevenson’s set piece.
The big Englishman had another couple of chances to complete his hat-trick before the break, first curling an effort wide with the outside of his boot before flicking another effort on target that McAdams was this time able to hold.
Rovers knew that the game was theirs as the second half progressed, although Arbroath did try their best to find a way back into the game with a Reilly header and low strike from Flynn not hitting the target.
MacIntyre tried his luck with two strikes as the game ticked past the hour mark, firstly shooting straight at Rae before firing a powerful volley wide of goal.
Kai Montagu had a great chance to make it four when he raced in on goal, but his effort was well kept out by McAdams low to his left.
Rovers didn’t have to wait long for that fourth goal though, with Oakley notching his third 12 minutes from time. Scott Brown picked out Tiffoney on the left, with the winger’s cross picking out the forward in the area and he made no mistake, turning to slot the ball into the net.
Substitute Andy Winter had a header held by Rae before Dylan Reid’s shot went wide as Arbroath tried to salvage some form of pride, but the Raith keeper was never properly troubled as the Lichties’ nightmare month came to an end.
Arbroath: McAdams; Constable, Dewar, O’Brien, Paterson; Flynn, Reid; Stewart, MacIntyre, Dow; Reilly (Winter, 68’)
Raith Rovers: Rae; Millen (Rowe, 66’), Baird (Fordyce, 77’), Hanlon, Stevenson; Brown, Adamson (Turner, 46’); McMullan (Dowds, 66’), Montagu, Tiffoney; Oakley
Attendance: 1,501 (480 away)
