Skipper strikes late to secure a point for struggling Staggies
ross County 2 Lindsay 23, Davies 75 HAMILTON 2 Imrie pen49, Ogkmpoe 51
Andrew Davies marked his hurried injury comeback with a vital equaliser as imperilled Ross County moved a point closer to relegation rivals Partick Thistle.
But co-caretaker manager Steven Ferguson felt the whole Staggies’ side mirrored their captain courageous in a pulsating Dingwall contest.
The big English defender’s header levelled things late on after County had tossed away a first half lead, created by Jamie Lindsay’s calm finish, early in the second half.
Ferguson stressed: “To say we’re frustrated is an understatement. When you put as much into the game as we did you expect to come away with all three points.
“We’ve only taken one, but the way we played merited three points. Things don’t always go your way with little halfdecisions and choices around the box going against us, but we need to brush ourselves down and go again.
“The biggest gauge for me and Stuart is the reaction of the boys in the dressing room after the game.
“We’ve got good professionals and they are hurting. They know they did enough, barring a five minute spell where the game turned completely on its head.
“We showed character, determination and togetherness to turn it around again and anyone here could see we were the ones trying to win the game with the substitutions we made.
“We wanted to win the game and unfortunately we had to settle for a point.
“It is a positive to have gained a point considering the way we went about our business and how we reacted.
“We realise we need to pick up points but we firmly believe we can get out of the situation we are in and we get the same vibe from the players.
“Everyone can see the group of players gave everything they had to win a game. It was huge having Andrew Davies back in defence. He’s a leader of men but, just like him, everyone stood up to be counted.”
County’s need was greatest and the aggression and urgency was apparent from the off.
With less than four minutes gone, Tim Chow powered into the right side of Accies’ penalty area and clearly seemed to be knocked down by ex-county defender Kenny van der Weg. Referee Kevin Clancy dismissed home appeals.
The hosts made the crucial breakthrough in 23 minutes.
A long Davies ball was deftly controlled by striker Mckay and, as a Naismith attempt was blocked, Lindsay raced onto it before neatly slotting low past Gary Woods.
County’s early penalty appeal was balanced out by referee Clancy four minutes before the break when Ross Draper seemed to catch David Templeton late inside the box.
Martin Canning brought on Dougie Imrie for the second half and within eight minutes the Accies veteran and Marios Ogkmpoe had turned the match on its head.
Imrie casually levelled from the penalty spot, sending keeper Aaron Mccarey the wrong way after Chris Routis had brought down Lewis Ferguson.
Then, just three minutes later, Ogkmpoe took a Ross Jenkins pass struck a fierce left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
However, County kept plugging away and pressure told after 75 minutes.
The tireless Schalk swept in a terrific ball from the extreme right and Davies headed home from close range.