ROSS COUNTY 2 MCKAY (23), MULLIN (34) AYR UNITED 1 SHANKLAND (49)
Ayr United were toppled from the Championship summit despite mounting a stirring revival.
Ross County leapt above the Honest Men on the strength of that dazzling first 45 minutes, with Billy Mckay’s eighth finish of the season and a wonder strike from Josh Mullin proving enough in the end for the Dingwall men.
But Lawrence Shankland’s 19th goal of the campaign came during a transformed second-half performance from the Somerset Park men.
It was thrilling stuff at the close of the Championship’s first quarter, with County co-manager Steve Ferguson effusive in his praise of his own team and the visitors.
“It was a tough second half all right!” he acknowledged.
“We started the game exactly as we wanted and scored a couple of really good goals.
“The second half was a different game altogether, and fair play to Ayr for that.”
The Honest Men were soon troubled by County’s early exuberance, as the hosts’ play was filled with ideas and intent.
Home skipper Liam Fontaine went off injured after 17 minutes, but six minutes later County were in front.
Left-back Sean Kelly swerved the ball across from the left and it took a nick off Jamie Lindsay’s head before spinning to Mckay who rocketed the ball high into the net from 12 yards.
It was 2-0 in the 34th minute after a wonderful finish. Former Livingston winger Josh Mullin shrugged off several challenges before unleashing a perfect, rising left-foot shot into the corner of the net.
Ayr needed something – and what a response they came up with in the second period.
County’s first-half air of comfort quickly evaporated and sheer power from Shankland took him away from Morris before lashing in his 19th goal of the campaign.
Morris became County’s second centrehalf of the day to hobble off injured straight after the goal, with 19-yearold Tom Grivosti coming on for his senior debut.
Ayr boss Mccall said: “I thought Ross County played very well in the first half and merited at least a two-goal lead, but we were really poor.”