Ross County get Viaplay Cup campaign off to a winning start with victory in Stranraer
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Viaplay Cup
Stranraer 1
Ross County 5
Scorers - Stranraer: Robertson (71) County: Ross (11 O.G) Murray (26, 63, 85) Baldwin (88)
Ross County kicked off their Viaplay Cup group stage campaign with a routine victory at Stranraer.
An own goal from Craig Ross and strike from Simon Murray gave the Staggies a comfortable first half advantage.
Murray then grabbed his second midway through the second half with Scott Robertson replying for Stranraer to give them some hope.
But Murray completed his hat trick before Jack Baldwin scored a late header to give the Staggies an impressive win.
Ross County had a heart in mouth moment in the first few minutes of the game when Scott Allardice's back pass was attempted to be chested down by goalkeeper Ross Munro.
The ball spun through his legs in the six-yard box, thankfully there was not enough pace in the ball to stop Munro recovering and punting away from danger.
The Staggies were gifted the lead after 11 minutes as a dangerous cross into the six-yard box from Kyle Turner was met by Stranraer defender Ross who attempted to clear it, but could only divert it into his own net.
Ross County doubled their advantage when Jordan White got a flick on to a long ball and allowed Murray to drive into the box and fire a low drive past Martin McDonald.
George Harmon almost made it three for Ross County on the hour mark when his shot from the edge of the box clattered off the right post.
But Murray appeared to kill the game off two minutes later. He pounced on a horrendous passback from captain Grant Gallagher and rounded the goalkeeper, before firing home from a tight angle.
However, Scott Robertson gave Stranraer hope when he beat County's defence in the air to nod home a cross from the left wing at close range.
But the game was beyond doubt now with five minutes left as James Brown flicked on Jay Henderson's cross for Murray to fire home from close range and claim his hat-trick.
Baldwin put some gloss on the scoreline when he was unchallenged to nod home a cross from close range.
Ross County will continue their group stage campaign against Greenock Morton in Dingwall next Saturday.
Stranraer: McDonald, Robertson, Ross, Armour, Gallagher, Orr (Dolan 63) Walker (Hawkshaw 33), Forrest, Fleming, McIntosh, Grant.
Substitutes: O'Connor, Hughes.
Ross County: Munro, Randall, Purrington, Baldwin, Allardice (Mackinnon 68), Turner (Henderson 63), Dhanda (Smith 80), Sims (Brown 68), Murray, Harmon (Sheaf 63), White.
Substitutes: Ross, Ewan.
Attendance 514.
