Ladbrokes Championship

AYR UNITED 1

ROSS COUNTY 3

By Stewart McConnell

JADED United suffered a third defeat out of four to the Highlanders who all but sealed the title with this victory.

Fatigue looked to have caught up with Ian McCall’s side following a hectic schedule of four games in 11 days before Friday.

And to rub salt in their wounds, club captain Ross Docherty was sent off after the final whistle for violent conduct.

Ross County came close in two minutes when a 16-yard shot from Brian Graham was deflected wide. Then a rifling drive from 20 yards by Nicky Cadden was well saved by Scott fox in five minutes. United came so close in 22 minutes when Miller teed up Declan McDaid to shoot inches over the bar from 20 yards.

County had their best chance so far in 31 minutes when a Brian Graham header from a Michael Gardyne cross was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Ross Doohan. The visitors levelled in 41 minutes when Josh Mullin set up Graham to thunder the ball home from six yards.

County seized the lead a minute after the break when Graham powerfully headed home an Andrew Boyle cross from eight yards. Andy Geggan sent a header from six yards just over the bar following a Cadden corner in 68 minutes. However a minute later Graham thundered the ball home from six yards. United were so unlucky in 81 minutes when an Alan Forrest rocket from 16 yards crashed off the post.

AYR UNITED: Doohan; Harvie, Geggan (Docherty 72) Moffat (Forrest 66) Crawford, Murdoch, Smith, Cadden (Kerr 72) Miller, Muirhead. Subs not used: Hare-Reid, Ecrepont, McCowan.