Players keep cool heads
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Ayr......1
Ross County......3
(Scorers: Ayr – Trouten 63; County – Gardyne 46, McMenamin 67, Morrow 84)
ROSS County refused to let an evening of celebrations in store get in the way of a thoroughly professional job in South Ayrshire.
Before an impressive away support singing and conga-ing the night away, County produced a stunning second half show to sweep Ayr aside.
Relegation-scrappers Ayr applauded the County players onto the field but then did their best to wreck the evening.
The Honest Men came out with all guns blazing and there were telling six yard box clearances from Scott Morrison and Scott Boyd in the first 15 minutes.
Michael McGowan’s deflected free-kick dipped narrowly wide and Martyn Campbell had a strike saved by Michael Fraser, while Grant Munro made one important headed clearance.
County, though, began to find their feet and showed a willingness to go for the kill at every opportunity.
Colin McMenamin and Paul Lawson went close before half-time, but the breakthrough arrived just two minutes into the second period.
Pressure told as one Ayr defender dealt poorly with a high cross from Richard Brittain and chested into Michael Gardyne’s path.
The County striker’s finish was cool and clinical.
Alan Trouten levelled when he wriggled through the visiting defence to level with a well-placed shot.
Just before, County’s Iain Vigurs had struck the post with a brilliantly-controlled attempt before the equaliser and County regained the lead on 67 minutes when McMenamin met a Lawson cross with a thundering six-yard header.
Substitute Sam Morrow then fired into the roof of the net to add to the County supporters mood of triumph.
AYR — Cuthbert, John Robertson, Malone, Martyn Campbell (Trouten 46), Smith, Geggan, Tiffoney (Moffat 85), Tomsett, Parker, Wardlaw (Roberts 77), McGowan. Subs: McWilliams, Ross Robertson. Booked: McGowan, Tiffoney.
ROSS COUNTY — Fraser, Miller, Morrison, Boyd, Munro, Lawson, Gardyne (Craig 81), Kettlewell (Quinn 76), McMenamin (Morrow 81), Brittain, Vigurs. Subs: Malin, Corcoran.
Referee — Brian Colvin.
Attendance — 1,389.
