Raith Rovers Dominate Hamilton with Emphatic 5-2 Victory in Challenge Cup

Introduction: A Commanding Performance at Stark’s Park

Raith Rovers secured an impressive 5-2 victory over Hamilton Academical in the Scottish League Challenge Cup on 9 December 2025, demonstrating their attacking prowess in front of 596 fans at Stark’s Park. This commanding performance showcased the home side’s dominance and highlighted their historical edge over Hamilton, further cementing their position in the Round of 32 of the competition.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

The goalscorers for Raith Rovers were Darragh O’Connor (5′), Scott Brown (51′), and Jai Rowe with a hat-trick (58′, 81′, 87′), whilst Hamilton’s Finlay Cameron scored twice (40′, 79′). The match statistics revealed Raith’s control throughout the evening, as they dominated possession with 56% compared to Hamilton’s 44%, registered 10 shots on goal to Hamilton’s 2, and forced 5 corner kicks whilst Hamilton managed none.

Defender Jai Rowe emerged as the hero of the night with his treble, whilst Raith Rovers hold a clear historical advantage, having beaten Hamilton Academical 15 times in 29 meetings, with only 6 draws and 8 losses. The victory continues Raith’s recent dominance in this fixture.

Significance for Both Teams

This result holds considerable importance for both clubs moving forward in the Challenge Cup competition. For Raith Rovers, the comprehensive victory demonstrates their attacking capabilities and squad depth, particularly with Jai Rowe’s exceptional individual performance. The match also showcased their ability to maintain offensive pressure throughout the 90 minutes.

For Hamilton Academical, despite Finlay Cameron’s brace providing moments of hope, defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, conceding five goals in a single match. The result will prompt reflection as they seek to tighten their backline in future fixtures. Both teams will now turn their attention to upcoming league commitments, with Raith looking to build on this momentum whilst Hamilton aims to regroup and address the defensive issues highlighted in this encounter.