Hat trick hero makes Ross County promotion almost certain
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Ayr United 1
Ross County 3
Scorers: Ayr - Miller (11) County - Graham (42, 48, 66)
Brian Graham scored a hat trick to effectively send Ross County back into the top flight of Scottish football with victory at Ayr United.
County are nine points ahead of Dundee United who have three games left to play and with a goal difference of 20 between the two teams, promotion has virtually been signed and sealed for the Staggies.
Ross County got off to a decent start with three chances in the first five minutes all falling to Graham but he was unable to get any shots on target.
At the other end Nicky Cadden was left unchallenged to get a shot on target. But goalkeeper Scott Fox did well to get down and prevent the ball crossing the line.
But the hosts did take the lead in the 11th minute when Cadden’s cross from the left wing was unchallenged and Calvin Miller was at the right post to knock in from close range.
Ross County responded when Michael Gardyne’s cross from the right wing found the head of Graham who forced a save from Ross Doohan who tipped the ball over the bar.
The Staggies were almost gifted an equaliser in bizarre circumstances when Andy Geggan nearly bicycle kicked a corner kick into his own net but the ball smashed against the underside of the crossbar. Andrew Boyle then set up Don Cowie in the box but blasted well over the bar.
But Ross County equalised three minutes before half time when Jamie Lindsay intercepted a pass and sent the ball down the right wing for Josh Mullin.
His cross eventually found Graham who shot into the net from close range.
Three minutes into the second half Ross County went in front as Mullin sent in another killer cross into the box from 25 yards out which found Graham who headed past Doohan from 12 yards.
Graham secured victory midway through the second half by scoring his hat trick when he was unchallenged in the six yard box to connect with Michael Gardyne’s cross from the left wing and volleyed passed Doohan.
Tom Grivosti near made it four when he unleashed a belter from 30 yards which smacked against the crossbar.
Ross County's Championship win will be official if Dundee United fail to beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow.
Ayr: Doohan, Harvie, Geggan (Docherty 70) , Moffat (Forrest 67), Crawford, McDaid, Murdoch, Smith, Cadden (Kerr 70), Miller, Muirhead,
Subs (Unused) Hare-Reid, Ecrepont, Docherty, McCowan.
Ross County: Fox, Fraser, Kelly, Gardyne, Lindsay (Spence 88), Boyle, Mullin (Armstrong 86), Graham (McManus 84), Cowie, Stewart, Grivosti.
Subs (Unused) Fontaine, Vigurs, Munro, Paton
Referee: Euan Anderson.
Attendance: 1692
