Ladbrokes Championship

ROSS COUNTY 3

AYR UNITED 2

By Iain Martin and Calum Campbell

ROSS County increased their lead at the top of the Championship with  a 3-2 win at home, despite a spirited fightback by Ayr in the second half.

There was not much between the two teams in the first half with Michael Moffat and  new recruit Calvin Miller both looking sharp, but Ross County having more of the attacking chances. Ayr’s defence were hard working dealing well with anything the Staggies could throw at them, but then they switched off. In 35 minutes Ross County threw a ball high in to the Ayr box and as Jamie Adams hesitated, Billy McKay sneaked in from behind him and hit home from 6 yards out.

Both teams upped the tempo in the second half and it was a real end-to-end game. Ayr struck back in  62 minutes as Lawrence Shankland eased round the Ross County defence and drilled the ball low in to the net. The scores were to remain even for only a matter of minutes as Billy McKay put the home team into the lead again on 70 minutes.

Ayr were not prepared to lie down however and pulled another goal back through Murdoch on 73 minutes – setting things up for a grandstand finish.

Ross County grabbed the winner on 75 minutes with McKay getting his hat-trick, but as he scored he collided with the post and had to be substituted with what looked like a serious injury to his arm.

AYR UNITED: Doohan, Harvie, Rose, Moffat, Crawford, Adams, Shankland, Murdoch, Docherty, Smith, Miller. Subs: Hare-Reid, Higgins, Kerr, McDaid, Bell, Cadden, Muirhead

ROSS COUNTY: Fox; Fraser, Gardyne, Lindsay, McKay, Mullin, Watson, Spence, Stewart, Van der Wegg, Grivosti. Subs: Munro, McManus, Semple, Graham, Paton, Cowie, Armstrong.

Star Men Jamie Adams 3

Ross Doohan 2

Andy Murdoch 1