Woeful defending costs County
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St Mirren (1) 5, Ross County (2) 4
Attendance — 3,706
SO MUCH for “boring, boring” Ross County. Nine goals amid some ramshackle defending perhaps undid two myths at St Mirren Park.
Ross County proved they can score in the SPL but, also, readily concede.
There was frustration, though, for the Dingwall side as mistakes took a hefty toll after Derek Adams’ team enjoyed the better of the first half action.
After only 11 minutes, Iain Vigurs, in first class form, wove forwards and unleashed a beautiful strike into the left-hand side of the net from the edge of the penalty box.
Saints were second best for a lengthy spell but gained a foothold on the match after 39 minutes.
Jim Goodwin’s corner was met at the front post by the head of Steven Thompson with keeper Michael Fraser left flapping as the powerful effort tore off him into the net.
Fraser reacted well to palm away another Thompson header soon after and County restored their lead on half-time.
Again it was Vigurs who sent a curling free-kick from the left to the back-post where Grant Munro rose decisively to power in a close-range header.
Just nine minutes into the second half, Saints levelled for a second time.
A Thompson effort was hacked off the line by Scott Boyd but as Grant Munro challenged Lewis Guy for the rebound, the latter tumbled and a penalty was awarded.
Guy took the kick himself and scored with ease.
Saints then edged ahead five minutes later with the powerful Sam Parkin able to stride between the two central defenders to meet a David Van Zanten cross and send a free header past Fraser.
It took a great diving save from ex-County keeper Craig Samson to deny Iain Vigurs from another swerving dead ball attempt.
But Saints went 4-2 in front after 64 minutes in disappointing circumstances.
Kenny McLean struck a daisy-cutter from well outside the box and Fraser, perhaps unsighted, was too slow to get down to meet the strike before it found the corner of the net.
County have been among the toughest sides to beat in the SPL so far and showed why with two quick-fire replies from Rocco Quinn after 79 and 80 minutes.
Both were superb strikes, the first a second bite of the cherry after an initial attempt was blocked at the edge of the box, the second a wonderfully-placed shot from the right-hand angle of the penalty area.
But a poor defensive clearance by striker Gary Glen in the final minute undid the comeback although there were again questions about the defending.
Graham Carey was able to measure a curling cross and Thompson, County’s tormentor all day, angled a flying volley past Fraser for the winner.
ST MIRREN — Samson, Van Zanten, Dummett, Mair, McAusland, Goodwin, Robertson (McLean 56), Carey, Imrie (Teale 77), Thompson, Guy (Parkin 56). Subs: Smith, Barron, McGowan, McLean, Reilly. Booked: McAusland, Goodwin.
ROSS COUNTY — Fraser, Tokely, Munro, Boyd, Fitzpatrick, Kettlewell (McMenamin 66), Vigurs (Ross 87), Quinn, Scott, Fotheringham, Morrow (Glen 66). Subs: Brown, Kovacevic, Macphee, Dingwall. Booked: Kettlewell, Quinn.
Referee — McLean.
Fixtures, Friday, October 5, 7.45pm — Inverness CT v Ross County. Saturday, October 6, 3pm — Hibernian v Dundee; Kilmarnock v Aberdeen; Motherwell v Dundee Utd; St Johnstone v St Mirren. Sunday, October 7, 12.45pm — Celtic v Hearts.
