Scoreline flatters Killie as County falter on the road
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Kilmarnock 3 Ross County 0
Attendance — 4,012
(Scorers: Heffernan 66, 81, Harkins)
A CRUSHING defeat? Only if you take the bare statistics. County fans deflated at Rugby Park could reflect on what might have been.
There was very little between the sides for a full hour with County creating the better chances while, regrettably, failing to take them.
The first period showcased two sides intent on gaining midfield superiority and willing to move the ball attractively.
County’s edge could and should have told, especially two minutes before the interval.
Rocco Quinn was left kicking himself after threatening to punish a Killie slip only to shoot wide in clear sight of keeper Cammy Bell.
Earlier, young Steven Ross might have done better with a 26th minute chance while Killie’s Michael Nelson had a header cleared off the line.
Games will always change on the first goal, however, and Michael Fraser’s first half saves were left to count for nothing as the deadlock was broken on 67 minutes.
Referee Bobby Madden awarded Killie a free kick near the touchline and, from a Perez cross, fit-again Paul Heffernan headed the ball past Fraser from eight yards.
Nine minutes later, County were in deeper trouble.
Gary Harkins lit up the game with a terrific goal, surging from midfield and then durling a superb 25-yard effort high past Fraser into the top right-hand corner.
Cillian Sheridan then found Heffernan again with a fine pass from midfield and the Killie striker controlled neatly and thumped past Fraser from the edge of the box.
Ross County — Fraser, Kovacevic, Boyd, Munro, Fitzpatrick, Kettlewell (McMenamin 49), Brittain, Vigurs, Quinn (Glen 81), Ross (Cooper 55), Fotheringham . Subs: Brown, Tokely, Macphee, Morrow.
Referee — Madden.
Fixtures, Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League, Friday, November 16, 7.45pm — Dundee United v Kilmarnock. Saturday, November 17, 12pm — Aberdeen v Celtic. 3pm —Dundee v Hibernian; Hearts v St Mirren; St Johnstone v Ross County. Sunday, November 18, 12.45pm — Inverness CT V Motherwell.
When might a County star be called up for Scotland? Alasdair Fraser asks Derek Adams just that - inside this week's Ross-shire Journal.
