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County's Under-18 side continued their good run of results with a narrow win at home to Stirling Albion in the Under-18 League. Two well taken goals by Mark Makhouli gave County a comfortable half time lead against a Stirling side which competed for every ball.
The County lads level of performance dropped a bit in the second half and Stirling took full advantage of slack defending to pull a goal back. It was then a case of County relying on their determination as they found it difficult to get any fluency into their passing. A late goal from substitute Sam MacLaughlin appeared to seal the game, but in the next minute some more poor defending allowed Stirling to peg it back to 3-2.
In the end it was a hard earned win, without quite reaching the standard of performance they have set for themselves. A learning experience and good victory nonetheless - the effort shown was commendable. Amongst those to catch the eye was keeper Stefan Gonet who made good saves at vital times and impressed with his general handling.
Ross County U-18: Stefan Gonet; Michael McInnes, Steve Edwards, Gary Ewing, Lee Williams, Ryan Witkowski, Allan Lees, Brian Dlugonski, Steven MacKay, Brian MacLeod and Mark Makhouli. Subs (all used): Colin MacLean and Sam MacLaughlin.
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Ross County's Under 18 side won this game much more convincingly than the scoreline suggests. Had it not been for a host of near misses and some controversial decisions from a referee who was a late replacement, County would have won by a much more comfortable margin.
After only ten minutes Stirling were awarded a debatable penalty when the referee appeared to indicate pushing inside the County box. Stirling's Williams scored from the spot.
This brought an immediate response from County with shots from Martin Canning and Martin Sanderson going just wide.
County made most of the running for the remainder of the first half but lacked the cutting edge needed to cash in on their superiority. Steven Edwards headed over a free kick by Trialist, and then Don Cowie looked certain to score but shot against the keeper.
Stirling were rarely seen as an attacking force, and County's Trialist on the right wing was seeing plenty of the ball but his crossing was a bit erratic. Half time came with County decidedly unfortunate to be behind.
The introduction of Steven Mackay up front early in the second half made an immediate difference and within two minutes he was brought down inside the box. However his penalty was saved by the Stirling keeper.
Lees then headed over from a corner as County continued to dominate.
They were dealt a further blow in 65 minutes when they were reduced to ten men, Edwards collecting a second yellow card from a somewhat over enthusiastic referee.
County substitute Scott Wilde then came on and within minutes burst through but was brought down at the edge of the box and this resulted in a red card for a Stirling defender. Cowie's free kick however went over the bar.
It was still one way traffic towards the Stirling goal, and a great strike from 25 yards by County's Mackay was well saved by the keeper.
An equaliser for County finally arrived in 83 minutes when a fine cross from County's Trialist was met by Steven Mackay and he hammered it into the net.
The game was far from physical but the referee saw fit to show a flurry of yellow cards to players from both sides. This proved costly to County and they were shocked to be reduced to nine men in 85 minutes when MacLaughlan was clearly fouled but was given a second yellow card for a reason only known to the referee. To their credit, the County lads kept their discipline and their efforts were rewarded two minutes from time when Wilde was brought down inside the box and Martin Canning calmly stepped up to slot home the penalty.
This was a well deserved win for County - an early goal would have set them up for a more convincing win. They had a lot to contend with but should be commended for not letting the frustrations of the game get to them.
Ross County: Gary Hamilton; Sam MacLaughlin, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Trialist, Allan Lees, Don Cowie, Martin Sanderson, Lee Williams, Martin Kenny and Mark Makhouli. Subs (all used): Steven Mackay and Scott Wilde.
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Two penalties from Martin Canning gave County Under-18s a hard earned home win over Stirling Albion.
In a first half County found it hard to get their passing game going, and play was a bit scrappy at times. Stirling's Williams was causing problems to the County defence and put an early chance over the bar.
County' reply was a move involving Brian MacLeod and Craig Campbell which ended in Steven Mackay having a shot smothered by the keeper.
Gary Ewing then shot over the bar from close range as County started to create a few openings.
At the other end Stirling started putting together some good passing moves, and keeper Stefan Gonet was called into action after hesitancy in defence allowed a shooting opportunity.
County changed their formation in the second half and it led to an improved performance. Alan Lees came on to provide some steel and stability to the midfield and Ryan Witkowski provided some pace at right back.
Two minutes into the second half County made the breakthrough when Craig Campbell ran across a defender and was brought down in the box. Martin Canning made a good job of converting the penalty.
County were now more in control in midfield - Lees' tackling, Don Cowie's passing, and Steven Mackay's ability to break from midfield and take players on posed problems for the Stirling defence.
Brian MacLeod then twice came close, shooting narrowly wide each time - first following a cross from Witkowski, and then following a fine run down the left by MacKay.
In 85 minutes, substitute Bryan Dlugonski, who had replaced Campbell minutes earlier, played a pass through for Martin Kenny whose run into the box was halted by a clumsy challenge. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty, and again Martin Canning stepped up to beat the keeper, giving County a 2-0 victory which on their second half performance they deserved.
Ross County: Stefan Gonet; Sam MacLaughlin, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Stewart Ross, Don Cowie, Brian MacLeod, Steven Mackay, Gary Ewing, Martin Kenny and Craig Campbell. Subs (all used: Ryan Witkowski, Alan Lees, Bryan Dlugonski
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