If not for his proficiency with a ball at his feet, Lewis Vaughan would have been roaring on Hibernian alongside his mates in the Val McDermid Stand on Saturday.

Instead, he was showcasing his razor sharp instincts on the pitch to smuggle home the winning goal for Raith Rovers, administering a substantial jolt to his boyhood heroes' hopes of finishing second in the Scottish Championship.

Vaughan, 19, was an Easter Road season ticket holder prior to embarking on his playing career, idolising the most recent 'Golden Generation' at the club which spawned the likes of Scott Brown, Derek Riordan and Garry O'Connor.

He was even among the green-and-white hordes at Hampden when they lifted the 2007 CIS Cup.

However, those allegiances were soon forgotten when Mark Oxley parried away Ryan Conroy's low shot after 84 minutes, with the teenager sliding in to prod the rebound over the line.

It was a fifth goal in seven matches for a young forward whose burgeoning reputation is soaring, with scouts from south of the border already understood to be monitoring his progress.

"I had a season ticket when I was younger and was at Easter Road every other week," recalled Vaughan. "Five or six of my friends would have been in the away section on Saturday, actually - so they'll not be too happy! I've already had a fair few texts from my mates.

"I'm from the era of Derek Riordan, Garry O'Connor, Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson - that generation of players. I was a regular at the Hibs games until I started playing Saturday football with Raith Rovers.

"I was at Hampden the day we won the CIS Cup, beating Kilmarnock 5-1 - I remember big Rob Jones scoring that day and lifting the trophy.

"I'm a Hibs fan, but I need to do my job, which is scoring goals for Raith. I still hope Hibs get second spot - but any time I come up against them I'll be looking to get the win for Rovers."

Vaughan's late strike secured a victory which belongs in the file marked: 'smash and grab'. Hibs were largely dominant throughout the contest and, but for the woodwork and their own profligacy, would have secured a comfortable win to take back over the Forth.

David Gray, a constant threat for the visitors, struck the post with a low shot after just seven minutes after latching only a lovely pass from Dominique Malonga.

They swapped roles mid-way through the first-half, with Gray this time finding the rangy Congo internationalist with fine cross which Malonga headed against bar.

Gray and McGeouch saw further opportunities come and go before Rovers claimed the lead with their first serious attack, with Mark Stewart connecting with a Jason Thomson delivery to produce a stunning volley past Oxley from 14 yards.

Fraser Fyvie restored parity three minutes later, drilling a left-footed shot beyond David McGurn after a deflected Scott Allan drive had spun kindly into his path inside the box.

However, Vaughan was on hand to secure the victory for the hosts in the closing stages.

Hibs, who are only ahead of Rangers on goal difference in the race for second spot, have won just two of their 10 games against Queen of the South, Falkirk and Raith Rovers, while they have dropped points against Alloa and Dumbarton.

"Too many times this season we've absolutely dominated games, created chances, and not won," acknowledged Gray. "If you don't turn chances into goals then it can come back and bite you in the bum.

"But I would be more worried if we hadn't created chances. We'll go again and work hard in training and make sure we put this right.

"If we keep playing as we did on Saturday then we won't be far away. Ideally, you want to finish second - but our objective at the start of the season was to get promoted and we're still on course to do that."