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Ayr United 2; ROSS COUNTY 1 |
A first league win lifted the gloom settling over Somerset Park in the early part of this season, but the warning signs remain for Ayr as they rebuild from last season. Close calls on promotion two season ago and wonderful runs in the cups last season meant that expectations on Gordon Dalziel's side were high. However, this performance by Ayr and Dalziel's caution after the win suggest that Ayr's targets for this season will be a little more modest.
To their credit, a spirited performance, supplemented by a little good fortune, brought Ross County back to earth, but the summer departures from the seaside town and the inexperience of the current Ayr side point to a long season ahead for their fans.
Ross County should have taken the lead as they created two clear cut chances in the first ten minutes. First when Don Cowie shot into the side netting after he had rounded Nelson in the home goal and Steven Ferguson also went very close with header. Those misses were to prove costly when Mark Perry inadvertently nodded Paul Lovering's cross into his own net.
Six minutes later, Ayr scored another fortuitous goal. James Grady swept in a testing ball from the right. Tony Bullock realised too late that the ball was net-bound and could only watch as it crept in.
The match raged from end to end and Eddie Annand almost secured the victory with a delightful curling shot that Bullock saved well. The Dingwall side were left to rue another glaring miss by Cowie after a great through ball from Steven McGarry.
County enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the second half but it looked as if Ayr would hold on to the three points with relative ease. Then, with five minutes remaining, Conor GETHINS popped up to head home a cross from Alex Bone leaving Ayr facing an anxious last five minutes as County pressed for the goal that would bring them a point at least.
Ross County: Bullock; McCulloch, Deas (McKay, 41), Perry, Irvine (Bone, 79), Gilbert, Canning, Ferguson, McGarry, Cowie (Gethins, 41) and Wood. Unused Subs: Fridge (gk) and Webb.
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ROSS COUNTY 1; Ayr United 0 |
To paraphrase that old Oscar Wilde quote: losing one manager in the Highlands could be viewed as misfortune, to lose three in as many weeks looks a little careless.
With Elgin City and Inverness Caledonian Thistle following Ross County into the market for a new manager, a strange anarchy prevails in the area after years of stability. Steve Paterson is off to Aberdeen and Alex Caldwell is vacating Elgin's hot seat after being denied fresh resources.
Alex Smith, County's recent choice to succeed Neale Cooper, has quickly administered a soothing influence at Victoria Park, with this hard-fought 1-0 win taking his points tally to seven from a possible nine.
Just how long the honeymoon will last rests squarely on the shoulders of the experienced Smith, who must have envisaged several years of jostling for local superiority with Paterson.
Smith spoke this week of carefully scrutinising every member of his squad not only for ability but for personality and character.
Yesterday, given their early impact and refusal to buckle later in the match, it certainly seemed that Smith is getting to know his players already.
County made a rousing, positive start as they attacked Ayr at pace, with Alex Bone firing just over and last week's hat-trick hero Graham Bayne smacking a header off the crossbar.
The first half fizzled out somewhat in terms of entertainment but it was easier to appreciate the endeavour on both sides, with Campbell Money, a member of Smith's St Mirren team that won the Scottish Cup in 1987, desperate to make his mark in his first few games in charge.
There was a touch of panic for the home side in 53 minutes, Martin Canning took a complete air-swipe in the County box and Paul Sheerin hit the side netting.
But this jolt was to precede the match-winning goal.
After 58 minutes, Alex BONE claimed his first goal in more than three months when he stole into the penalty area to head powewrfully past the visitors' 'keeper John Dodds from a Mark McCulloch cross.
Ayr's slack marking had certainly been a contributory factor.
County then launched a heavy assault, with McCulloch firing a great ball across the face of the goal without any takers, before substitute Steve Hislop headed over the bar.
Ayr piled on the pressure but County had a chance to kill the game five minutes from time when McCulloch set up Don Cowie in front of goal but the substitute midfielder's attempt was blocked by Dodds.
With plenty of time added on, it proved to be a tense closing spell as County desperately clung on for a victory that will go a long way towards encouraging the confidence that Smith feels is lacking in his squad.
Ross County: Bullock; Canning, Deas, Gilbert, Irvine, Webb, McGarry, McCullock (McKay, 86), Bayne (Hislop, 57), Bone (Cowie, 79) and Robertson. Unused Subs: Fridge (gk) and Ferguson.
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Ayr United ; ROSS COUNTY |
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ROSS COUNTY ; Ayr United |
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