Gutsy effort but no joy at County

ROSS COUNTY ............................................................... 3 STIRLING ALBION .......................................................... 0

Ross County set up a Betfred Cup last-16 tie away to holders Celtic as Albion’s first visit to Dingwall for almost 10 years ended in defeat despite a spirited display.

Arbroath beat Elgin City by the same score to qualify as one of the four best runners-up while Stirling finished in fourth spot in Group D, ahead of a Montrose side they beat last week.

Kevin Rutkiewicz’s team were well beaten in the end by their Premiership opponents but there wasn’t much between them in the first half. Albion were well organised, limited the home side to only a few chances and had a couple of decent opportunities of their own.

Stuart Kettlewell’s men led through an Oli Shaw goal at the interval but a carelessly conceded penalty shortly after the restart allowed Ross Stewart to put the tie out of reach and Regan Charles-cook added the third with 20 minutes left.

Stirling hadn’t played at the Global Energy Stadium since a 0-0 draw in a First Division match in February 2011 when Jocky Scott was manager while 12 months earlier Allan Moore’s side had been hammered 9-0 in a Scottish Cup last-16 clash.

The 300 or so home fans allowed in were no doubt hoping for another goal fest but there was a fairly quiet start to this encounter and Stirling frustrated their top-flight opponents.

There were three changes to the Stirling team that beat Montrose with James Creaney, Kurtis Roberts and Declan Byrne replacing Scott Roberts, Sean Heaver and Dylan Mackin. Defender Paul Mclean was again missing due to injury and the returning Byrne started up front on his own.

Dom Docherty had a shot deflected wide as the visitors began brightly and County hadn’t posed much threat before they took the lead 20 minutes in. A long ball from Iain Vigurs was nodded down by Stewart and Shaw’s shot from around 15 yards had too much power for Cammy Binnie.

Stewart then headed over when he should have done better but the Binos played some good stuff and were well in the game at the break, only to concede a poor goal early in the second period.

Goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw’s long clearance downfield saw Jermaine Hylton cut inside Jordan Mcgregor and he was caught by the defender for a clear penalty. Binnie guessed correctly and got a hand to the ball but Stewart’s spot-kick had enough pace on it to find the net.

David Wilson had a good chance to pull one back when he nodded a Ross Mcgeachie cross wide but as the game opened up the Staggies scored again in 71 minutes. Charles-cook, a summer signing from Gillingham, curled a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards for 3-0.

Binnie made some fine saves in the closing stages, notably from Josh Reid, and youngster Matthew Wright, on as a sub, hit the bar as the Highlanders finished strongly.

With the Betfred Cup campaign now over, the focus is firmly on League 2 as second-placed Stirling Albion prepare to host Elgin City at Forthbank on Saturday.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Shaw (Mckay 42), Vigurs, Grivosti, Hylton, Iacovitti (Williamson 81), Charlescook (Mackinnon 81), Tillson, Donaldson (Morris 74), Stewart (Wright 81), Reid. Subs not used: Munro (GK), Lakin, Kelly, Paton.

Stirling Albion: Binnie, Mcgeachie, Banner, El-zubaidi, Mcgregor, Creaney (Moore 68), K Roberts, Wilson (Magee 76), Byrne (Ryan 82), Leitch (Heaver 82), Docherty (Mackin 68). Subs not used: Law (GK), Thomson.

Referee: Alan Muir