Highlanders reel off two wins on the trot
HAMILTON ACCIES 0 ROSS COUNTY 1 (McKay 76)
Ross County have got their season off to a flier with a 100% record from their openings two league games.
The Highlanders’ hardearned win here might not have been the easiest on the eye, but it will make for a pleasant look at the league table in Dingwall this morning.
In a fairly evenly-balanced game, with both sides mostly cancelling one another out, it was a 76th-minute goal from Billy McKay that proved to be the difference between the sides – and leaves Accies without a point from their opening two games.
The win gives Ross County a 100% record ahead of their midweek visit from Kilmarnock and, having had the worst defensive record in the league last term, the significance of two successive clean sheets will not have been lost on boss Stuart Kettlewell.
It was County who had the first real chance of the game when Accies keeper Ryan Fulton was forced into a smart save to deny Lee Erwin giving the Highlanders an early lead.
Then Callum Smith tried to sneak in a low effort at the near post that County keeper Ross Laidlow got done smartly to smother.
The opening period came to a close with Accies forcing a series of corners but they brought little joy as the teams headed into the interval following a fairly staid first 45 minutes.
Accies manager Brian Rice took off debutant Callum Smith for Charlie Trafford, with the Canadian going into a holding role in the middle of the field as the hosts looked to try to take control of the game.
Alex Iacovitti took aim with a long-range effort that sailed wildly high and wide of the target as both teams offered up a compelling case for cancelling one another out.
Hakeem Odoffin put in a timely block on McKay that led to a corner which caused some consternation in Accies defence. But the best chance of the game came moments later.
Ross Stewart whacked an effort off the post on the hour mark after McKay had started the move with a burst down the left flank. He sent a ball with menace and pace across to Connor Randall who slipped in Stewart where the woodwork denied him the opening goal.
At the other end, Lewis Smith clipped an effort miles over the bar from the edge of the box as Accies struggled for any genuine penetration.
It was Ross County who looked the most likely to break the deadlock. A deep cross from second-half substitute Josh Mullin towards the back post was headed down by McKay. As Michael Gardyne bore down to connect Shaun Want got an important challenge in and Fulton was quick to retrieve the danger and prevent any damage.
Scott McMann tried his luck with a 25-yard free-kick but it was straight into the arms of Laidlaw.
It was McKay and Ross County who finally broke the deadlock and claimed the first goal of the game. Iain Vigurs whipped in a cross that was dropped by Fulton. The ball fell kindly for McKay but his initial effort was blocked by McMann who threw himself at the shot, but the rebound fell again to McKay who drilled the ball into the back of the net with Fulton still stranded.
Hamilton’s only retort before the whistle blew was a fairly tame header from David Moyo but there was a feeling that Rice’s side could have played all day without finding the net.