Ross County scored two goals in first three minutes but Ronan Hale scores winner after Dunfermline come from behind in thriller at Dingwall
Scottish Championship
Ross County 3
Dunfermline Athletic 2
Scorers - County: Fraser (2) White (3) Hale (67) Dunfermline: Tod (45) Stewart (52)
Ross County moved out of the relegation zone in the Championship as they picked up only their second league win of the season in a thriller in Dingwall.
The Staggies had the dream start as they found themselves two goals up after three minutes with strikes from Scott Fraser and Jordan White. However, Andrew Tod pulled one back for the Pars on the stroke of half time
Barney Stewart then levelled for Dunfermline in the early stages of the second half, but Hale then put County back in front midway through the second half which proved to be the winner.
The win has shifted them up to seventh place in the table as County hope it is the start of the turnaround in their fortunes.
Ross County made three changes to the team that lost 1-0 to Partick Thistle with Ben Crompton, Ryan Duncan and Jordan White all starting
Jay Henderson and James Scott were dropped from the starting line-up with Ross Docherty out of the squad.
Going into the clash with only one league win all season, County were desperate not to lose any more ground on the top four as they found themselves nine points behind the promotion play-offs.
They were also looking to get themselves out of the relegation play-off spot, as they were in ninth place and one point behind Queen’s Park.
Dunfermline on the other hand were going into the match in good form, picking up seven points from their last three matches, including winning their last two matches, including thrashing Airdrie 4-0 which led to the resignation of Danny Lennon.
However, it was The Staggies who looked beaming with confidence as they got off to a flyer and opened the scoring after two minutes. Declan Gallagher’s throw-in fell to Fraser who from the edge of the box fired a powerful drive past Mason Munn to give them the lead.
A minute later. Hale pounced on a defensive error by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen as he charged towards goal and laid the ball off for White who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net as County found themselves two goals up after just three minutes.
The Staggies were looking comfortable as the game progressed as Dunfermline barely forayed in the hosts’ end of the field.
Ross County attempted to get forward with Hale being caught offside on a couple of occasions. His frustrations on one of the linesman’ decisions and kicking the ball away earned him a booking.
Against the run of play, Dunfermline pulled one back just before half time. Shea Kearney’s cross from the right wing found Tod unchallenged in the box and he nodded the ball past Trevor Carson from six-yard out to put the Pars back in it.
It proved to be the confidence booster they were looking for as Dunfermline found themselves level seven minutes after the break. Tod’s cross from the left wing found Barney Stewart who fired a low drive from eight yards past Carson to make it 2-2.
However, County pulled themselves back in front the 67th minute when after a scramble in the box, Hale managed to fire a scissors kick past Munn from close range.
Dunfermline had a great chance to equalise with 15 minutes remaining when Robbie Fraser’s pass found Jefferson Caceres unchallenged eight yards from goal, but he fired wide of the right post.
Hale them went close again in the 77th minute after his shot from just inside the box hit the crossbar as the Staggies looked to kill the game off.
Dunfermline were awarded a free-kick at the edge of the box in injury time when Lindsay fouled Alfons Amade. But they could nothing with the free-kick as County held on for the win.
Ross County: Carson, Crompton, Wright, Randall, Hale (Phillips 89), Fraser (Cornelius 72), Iacovitti (Smith 70), White (Clark 45), Duncan, Gallagher, Lindasy.
Substitutes (Unused): Foster, O’Sullivan, Henderson, Mackay-Steven, Scott.
Dunfermline: Munn, Chilokoa-Mullen, Hamilton (Caceres 70), Gilmour, Todd (Amade 70) Kearney (Ritchie-Hosler 80), Abdulai, Stewart (Kane 80), Bray (Otoo 45), Tod, Fraser.
Substitutes (Unused): Mehmet, Tod, Oakley-Booth.
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
Attendance: 3271