It’s now three games without a win for the Lichties, with second half goals from Paul Hanlon, Richard Chin and Jack Hamilton.
Arbroath made two changes to the side that faced draw specialists Morton at Gayfield last Saturday, with Taylor Steven and Jacob MacIntyre replacing Craig Watson and Ryan Flynn.
Raith had most of the early possession and territory in the opening stages, but it was Arbroath who came closest to taking the lead early on, with Findlay Marshall crashing a shot against the crossbar.
Nikolay Todorov and Harry Cochrane both had efforts off target as the Lichties began to grab a foothold in the game following the hosts’ bright start, but neither goalkeeper was really called into action as the clock ticked towards half time.
It would take just two minutes of the second half for the deadlock to be broken, and it was Raith who found the net. Dylan Easton’s corner from the left found its way to the back post where Paul Hanlon was on hand to knock the ball home.
Easton was kept waiting on the sidelines after changing his boots just beyond the hour mark but made an immediate impact after returning to the field. Skipping inside the Arbroath midfield, the midfielder slid a great pass through for Chin who showed composure to dink the ball over the onrushing Aidan McAdams.
The victory was complete with two minutes of normal time remaining as substitute Kai Montagu got in behind the defence before squaring the ball for former Lichtie Jack Hamilton to make it three from close range.
Despite some signs of positivity, it was ultimately a disappointing defeat in Kirkcaldy and we’re on the road again next Saturday, as we head to Firhill to take on Partick Thistle.
Raith Rovers: Rae; Doherty, Fordyce, Hanlon, Wilson (Stevenson, 84); McMullan (Mullin, 73), Brown, Matthews, Easton (Gentles, 84); Chin (Montagu, 78), Hamilton
Arbroath: McAdams; Stewart, Muirhead, O’Brien (Watson, 79), Wilkie; Steven, Cochrane, Marshall, MacIntyre; Dow (Pettifer, 75), Todorov
Attendance: 3323
