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County lose to Livingston deep in stoppage time


By Alasdair Fraser

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Ross County Football Club logo
Ross County Football Club logo

Ross County (1) 2

Livingston (2) 3

(Scorers: County - Clarke 7, Callachan pen 67; Livi - Anderson 31, Bailey 43, Parkes 90+5)

SUBSTITUTE Tom Parkes sank luckless Ross County five minutes into stoppage time with a towering header to settle a frenetic contest in Dingwall.

The spirited Almondvale side came from behind to lead in the first half and then shrugged off a County leveller before the big defender grabbed the last-gasp winner.

It was a stomach-wrenching finish for County who again failed to capitalise on an abundance of chances and pressure, paying the price for careless lapses.

Still winless after 10 games, County grabbed the opening goal for only the second time this season in the league with Harry Clarke’s stunning strike.

But Jordan White saw a penalty saved before Livingston’s Bruce Anderson and Odin Bailey turned the first period on its head.

Callachan kept his cool after County’s second spot-kick award midway through the second half, but then Parkes’ moment came.

County, craving that first Premiership win, made three changes from the previous week’s home defeat to St MIrren.

Joseph Hungbo, Ben Paton and Jordan White returned to the starting line-up at the expense of benched trio David Cancola, Alex Samuel and Jack Burroughs.

The tweaks certainly seemed to make a positive difference, with the Staggies netting the first goal in a Premiership match for only the second time this season, the previous being in the draw at Pittodrie.

After six minutes, the lively Regan Charles-Cook had an attempt pushed wide for a corner by keeper Max Stryjek.

County forced another corner before taking a seventh minute lead.

Charles-Cook cut inside from the left and fed Ross Callachan who, with two Livi players closing in, laid the ball off to Harry Clarke 25 yards out.

The on-loan Arsenal defender’s controlled precision strike with his right foot nestled beautifully into the keeper’s right hand corner of the net.

Livi had broken a run of three straight defeats with a fine 3-0 win away to St Johnstone.

They would have fancied their chances in Dingwall, but mustered not a single attempt of worth in the first half hour.

County looked in the mood to increase the lead.

After 14 minutes, Hungo tore forward on the counter-attack and fed Harry Paton, who slipped and lost the ball.

It fell to Blair Spittal who struck hard at goal from distance but saw it held by Stryjek.

Three minutes later, Alex Iacovitti side-footed just wide from a long Clarke throw from the left.

Hungbo was proving a menace for the visitors with his running and trickery and delighted the fans with a couple of flashes of movement.

After 19 minutes, Jordan White played the on-loan Watford winger behind the away rearguard, but his right foot strike flashed powerfully just wide of the left hand post.

The Dingwall hosts then had a dream chance to double the lead after a tremendous piece of skill from Regan Charles-Cook in cutting into the penalty area along the bye-line.

Ayo Obileye brought Charles-Cook crashing to earth, but White’s penalty kick was saved down low to keeper Stryjek’s left.

Still County came - and, from Spittal's corner, defender Jack Baldwin sent a header just over the bar approaching the half hour.

County would pay dearly for that missed penalty with a double-whammy before the break.

Livi’s first attempt on target came in 31 minutes, with Bruce Anderson gleefully grabbing the leveller.

Sean Kelly’s cross from deep left was superb, but County let the former Dons striker go and he was able to head home close in front of keeper Ash Maynard-Brewer.

Two minutes before the break, the improving Lions had a second attempt on target - and their second goal.

It was a stunner - with Odin Bailey, taking the ball onto his left foot from the right side of the area, executing a sublime curling finish high past the home keeper and into the top corner of the net.

Scott Pittman had an early second half attempt blocked but the restart ushered in a more subdued confrontation for a spell

Approaching the hour, County threatened with Spittal’s cross finding Charles-Cook in a decent position, but the wide man couldn’t find enough purchase on his shot, with Stryjek grasping easily.

Manchester City loanee Alex Robertson replaced Spittal soon after as manager Mackay sought to find a creative spark.

The leveller did come for the hosts after 67 minutes with the second penalty award of the day - this time with Sean Kelly bringing Hungbo tumbling on the right side of the box.

Ross Callachan took responsibility after White’s earlier miss, but was a little fortunate to see his kick only just squirm through Stryjek’s grasp.

Harry Paton’s neat one-two with Robertson ended with a wasteful sclaff high and wide from the right side of the box.

Into the final 10 minutes, play was halted for a nast head clash between young Robertson and Livi’s Omeonga with the latter needing longer treatment.

Ben Williamson replaced his concussed team-mate as extra substitute.

With less than three minutes of ordinary time left, sub Alan Forrest flashed a powerful attempt just over from just outside the area.

County pressured in six minutes’ stoppage time, but then came the bodyblow.

Livingston won a free-kick deep and centrally and Forrest’s delivery found sub Tom Parkes towering above everyone in the crowded box to loop a wonderful header high past Maynard-Brewer.

ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1) - Maynard-Brewer 6; Clarke 8, Iacovitti 6, Baldwin 6, B. Paton 7; H. Paton 6, Callachan 7; Hungbo 7, Spittal 6 (Robertson 59, 5), Charles-Cook 7; White 5 (D. Samuel 70, 5). Subs: Laidlaw, Cancola, A. Samuel, Watson, Burroughs.

LIVINGSTON (4-2-3-1) - Stryjek 7; Devlin 6, Fitzwater 6 (Parkes 74, 6), Obileye 6, Kelly 6; Holt 6, Omeonga 6 (Williamson 83, 3); Bailey 7 (McMillan 77, 4), Pittman 6, Montano 6 (Forrest 63, 5); Anderson 7. Subs: Maley, Sibbald, Kabia.

Booked: Devlin 65, Omeonga 75

Referee: Euan Anderson 7

Att 2566


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