New signings Callachan and Samuel get on the scoresheet as Ross County beat Elgin City 5–0 in pre-season friendly
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Elgin City 0
Ross County 5 (Callachan x2, White, Samuel, Wright)
Ross County eased to a comfortable victory in their first pre-season friendly away at Elgin City, where both of the new signings in their side found the back of the net.
New signing Ross Callachan put in a particularly pleasing performance for Staggies fans who will have been keen to see him continue his strong form at Hamilton last season.
It only took him three minutes to open his account, although he might count himself a tad fortunate as it was a cross for Jordan White that went past everyone and found the net.
Elgin did respond with a few chances of their own, the first of which came from a mistake in the County backline.
Keith Watson, wearing the captain's armband, and Alex Iacovitti each tried to head the ball back to Ross Laidlaw, only for Kane Hester to intercept the ball one-on-one with the keeper.
Laidlaw did well though, and managed to smother the prolific Elgin striker's effort.
Brian Cameron and Josh Peters also had sights at goal for the hosts, but as the half wore on County grew more and more into the game.
Oli Shaw and White looked like they were linking up well, and a one-two between the pair saw Shaw find the net, only to look up and see the offside flag in the air.
White himself went close with a header before Callachan was denied a second by Thomas McHale, before Connor Randall got in on the act with a shot that just missed the target.
Coming out for the second half, the only substitution was the introduction of Inverness Caledonian Thistle academy product Daniel Hoban in goal for Elgin, and he could not have feared a worse introduction.
Within seven minutes of the restart, County had added another two goals to their lead through Callachan and White.
Callachan's second came from a quickly taken free kick from Blair Spittal, which sent Harry Paton in down the left.
His low cross was initially met by Alex Iacovitti, whose effort came back off the bar for Callachan to nod in.
White's goal again came from some good work down the left, but this time it was all Spittal as he went past his marker and sent a dangerous cross into the middle for White to head home – with a little help from the crossbar.
County continued to keep control of the game, forcing several good saves out of Hoban to keep the scoreline down as Shaw was twice denied, and Callachan was kept out again after a clever flick from substitute and fellow debutant Dominic Samuel.
Samuel would get on the scoresheet himself to mark his own debut, stooping extremely low to head past Hoban at the near post with eight minutes left on the clock.
Unfortunately for Elgin, the scoring did not end there, as youngster Matthew Wright rounded things off with what was arguably the strike of the game.
Waltzing his way past the City defenders, he left two players on the ground before side-stepping Hoban and picking out the net with apparent ease.
Line-ups
Elgin City: 1. Thomas McHale, 2. Angus Mailer, 3. Euan Spark, 4. Darryl McHardy, 5. Craig Little, 6. Russell Dingwall, 7. Tony Dingwall, 8. Brian Cameron, 9. Kane Hester, 10. Josh Peters, 11. Connor O'Keefe.
Substitutes: 12. Dylan Lawrence, 14. Fin Allen, 15. Aiden Sopel, 16. Ben Cormack, 17. Rory MacEwan, 18. Elie Junior Akobeto, 19. Charlie Hay, 20. Jamie Tinnock, 21. Daniel Hoban.
Ross County: Ross Laidlaw, Connor Randall, Harry Paton, Blair Spittal, Ross Callachan, Oli Shaw, Keith Watson, Alex Iacovitti, Jordan Tillson, Coll Donaldson, Jordan White.
Substitutes: Ross Munro, Dominic Samuel, Matthew Wright, Adam MacKinnon, Ben Williamson, Ryan MacLeman.
