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Ex-Dingwall kid MacIver sparks Well’s dramatic comeback win
ROSS MACIVER returned to haunt his boyhood club by sparking a dramatic comeback with a spectacular equaliser.
The 20-year-old came off the bench to net on his dream festive debut before Declan Gallagher grabbed a winner in stoppage time.
Seven minutes after coming on, Staggies youth product MacIver, released by County in the summer, sent the noisy travelling Motherwell support into raptures with a contender for goal of the season.
Before then, the Fir Park side were labouring at 1-0 down after Blair Spittal’s first-half header, despite County being reduced to 10 men after a red card for Lewis Spence.
Then with seconds ticking down, Liam Polworth’s corner found Gallagher rising to thump in Well’s winner with his head.
The only black spot for the Steelmen was the away fans’ behaviour, spilling on to the park after the winner and fighting with stewards at the end.
County went ahead in the 24th minute. After slick build-up, Richard Foster’s cross from the right was lofted only just too high for Billy Mckay’s head in front of goal.
But Sean Kelly was able to return the ball from the left and Spittal, making a towering leap eight yards out, bulleted a downward header in off the glove of keeper Mark Gillespie.
But either side could have been celebrating before the break.
A Spittal free-kick was poorly cleared by the head of Peter Hartley, gifting a free header to Ross Stewart that flew wide from 12 yards.
Well’s Jermaine Hylton then flashed a 25-yard attempt just off target, before slipping in Polworth with a disguised pass but again he screwed wide.
It stayed lively in the second half but neither side could gain the upper hand.
In the 62nd minute the darting Seedorf was tripped by Spence 25 yards out and Greg Aitken drew a red card for a player already booked.
Ten-man County piled on the pressure – but with nine minutes to go, MacIver made a Roy of the Rovers-style impact on his first-team debut from the bench.
From 25 yards out, MacIver controlled a high ball, turned and rocketed a shot that flew high beyond the reach of the previously faultless Nathan Baxter.
Then came Gallagher’s moment at the death – and County were left flat out on Boxing Day.