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Ross County's Under-18 side kept up their winning ways with a deserved home win over Dumbarton. All the matches in this league have a really competitive edge to them and this one was no different.
The first half saw the County youngsters at their best. They started the game well and impressive features of their play were their pressurising of their opponents and the driving runs of midfielders Allan Lees and Brian Dlugonski, the latter hitting the post in ten minutes after a typical break from midfield.
Shortly after this, County took the lead and it was all down to striker Brian Macleod's persistence - he robbed a defender, then drove into the box beating a couple more before setting up Mark Makhouli with a simple chance to put County one up.
County continued to press and a great burst forward from Lees saw the keeper save his shot only for the rebound to hit MacLeod and go past. Then a Steven MacKay free kick saw Steven Edwards slide the ball wide.
Dumbarton's few attacks were being dealt with quite capably by the County defence, but at the other end County went two ahead with a superb goal - Dlugonski drove forward and took an inch perfect through ball from MacKay to smash the ball past the keeper. A minute later MacKay again set up Dlugonski but this time he was off target.
Half time perhaps came at the wrong time for County as they were dominating the game. They did not quite reach the same heights in the second and Dumbarton came more into the game. The midfield dominance was not quite so much in evidence, although early in the half County came close when the Dumbarton keeper saved a Dlugonski header from a Gary Ewing cross, then followed this up with saves from Makhouli and Witkowski.
Dumbarton were competing better now, and midway through the second half they equalised when hesitancy in the County defence allowed them in to score. County were looking slightly ragged for a while, but their substitutions paid dividends late in the game when, following a cross from Lee Williams, Allan Lees' header was cleared only as far as Martin Kenny and he scored with a spectacular overhead kick.
So a hard earned but deserved win for County. Three wins and a draw is an excellent start to their league campaign.
Ross County U-18 (4-4-2): Stefan Gonet; Steven Edwards, Colin MacLean, Gary Ewing, Ryan Witkowski, Allan Lees, Michael McInnes, Brian Dlugonski, Steve MacKay, Brian MacLeod and Mark Makhouli. Subs (all used): Lee Williams, Martin MacAllister and Martin Kenney.
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County's Under-18 side travelled to Boghead and won as convincingly as the scoreline suggests. County were able to rest some of their more established players and bring them on later in the game, allowing some younger ones to gain experience at this level by starting the match.
An encouraging feature was the performance of both Scott Wilde and Craig Campbell who were given a chance at this level and made a big impact by sharing all five goals. The two 16 year olds from Invergordon are part of the U-16 Development Squad and gave Dumbarton no end of problems with their pace and direct running.
Only over enthusiasm which led to numerous offside decisions prevented the winning margin being even greater.
County looked dangerous early on, and they came close to scoring when Ryan Rutherford hit a post and then Bryan Dlugonski beat the offside trap only for the keeper to win the race for the ball.
County's opening goal came in the 13th minute when a fine long pass from Martin Canning found Wilde in space and he finished clinically.
Dumbarton hit back and a header went close from a corner kick. County went 2-0 up in 24 minutes when Campbell showed real pace, leaving his opponent for dead on the halfway line, shrugged off another challenge and slammed the ball past the keeper.
Dumbarton tried to respond and O'Malley had a shot cleared off the line by Canning. Then their number 10 Brookes hit the side netting.
However County continued to threaten the Dumbarton defence which seemed incapable of dealing with the pace up front.
A third goal looked on the cards for County and it arrived in 40 minutes when the hard working Rutherford forced his way through and then laid the ball for Wilde to make it 3-0.
Then Brian Macleod broke through into the box from midfield but was tackled as he was about to shoot.
Just on half time Campbell raced past his opponent on the right and delivered an inviting cross which was scrambled away.
A rare moment of slackness in the County defence let Dumbarton pull an unexpected goal back early in the second half. However this stung County back into action and within five minutes they went 4-1 up when Lee Williams made progress down the left and his pass was finished by Wilde to complete a fine hat-trick.
A minute later it was 5-1 when the impressive Campbell again showed the defence a clean pair of heels when he raced through to beat the keeper.
County had further chances to add to their tally after this. Steven MacKay on the left played a fine pass in to Rutherford, and he lobbed the ball just over the crossbar.
Then Dlugonski drove through from midfield only for his shot to go inches past. Dumbarton's response was a free kick which was confidently saved by Gonet.
Just before full time, County's Mackay ran through from the halfway line but was crowded out as he prepared to shoot.
This was an emphatic win for County with the performance of the younger members of the team an added bonus. An encouraging pointer to the future is that nine of the players are eligible to play for the U-18s next season.
Ross County: Stefan Gonet; Sam MacLaughlin, Martin Canning, Gary Ewing, Ryan Witkowski, Brian MacLeod, Bryan Dlugonski, Lee Williams, Ryan Rutherford, Craig Campbell, Scott Wilde, Steven Edwards, Steven Mackay and Allan Lees.
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