Staggies steal three points from Dunfermline
Dunfermline 1 (Anderson)
Ross County 2 (Mckay, Gardyne)
Ross County were poor for large spells at East End Park, but thanks to the impact of two half time substitues they managed to take all three points away from Dunfermline.
County had looked most likely to scpre by capitalising on a defensive error from Dunfermline early on.
Instead it was Dunfermline who had the better of the play, with Bruce Anderson and Joe Thomson impressing.
Anderson should have put the Pars in the lead when he outpaced Callum Semple to win the ball inside the Staggies box, but his shot was weak and straight at Scott Fox.
The on-loan Aberdeen man would give Dunfermline the lead before half time though.
Dunfermline were always dangerous on the counter attack, and on one such occasion five minutes before the break Faissal El Bakhtaoui played Anderson in, and he managed to pick his spot to fire the hosts in front.
County made two changes at half time, with Andy Boyle coming on to make his debut in place of Semple and Michael Gardyne replacing Declan McManus, and both men would have key parts to play.
Boyle looked comfortable, making some key interceptions.
And that would be all the more important considering the Staggies levelled soon after the break.
Ross Draper's volley outside the box was deflected into the path of Billy Mckay - who the Pars squad were adamant was offside en masse - and the Northern Irish international finds the net.
Mckay would later have a goal disallowed for offside, after being played in by Jamie Lindsay and finding the net again.
It was a generally scrappy second half, but the Staggies would get their noses in front through a brilliant bit of play from Gardyne.
Another defensive mistake saw Kenny van der Weg pick the ball up just outside the Dunfermline box, and the Dutchman gave it to Gardyne.
County’s record goalscorer showed quick feet to find a yard of space, which was all he needed to pick out the top corner and take all three points back to Dingwall.
