Jordan gets party started for killer Queens
The striker hit his second hat-trick of the season against Morton as Ross County made it five wins in a row.
The Greenock side were no match for the leaders’ fluent movement and lethal finishing.
Co- boss Kettlewell said: “Bi l ly is brimming with confidence. Myself and Steven Ferguson had no doubts he could score goals here. That’s Gary Naysmith hailed a wonder strike from birthday boy Jordan Marshall as Queen of the South proved they are no one-man team.
Former Everton, Hearts and Scotland ace Naysmith saluted the defender after he marked turning 22 with a killer 54th-minute goal on a day when red-hot hitman Stephen Dobbie finally cooled.
The striker, who has hit 24 goals already this term, been proven right over the last number of weeks and we hope he kicks on from here.”
The home side went ahead in style after nine minutes from a pinpoint through pass by ex- Celt Jamie Lindsay.
Mckay controlled on the run then curled a shot round the outcoming Ryan Scully.
Ross Draper sent a header over the bar for County from close- in from Josh Mullin’s
QoS ...................... 2 Falkirk ................. 0
missed an early penalty and crashed the bar before Michael Doyle finally broke the deadlock in 52 minutes.
Naysmith said: “When we missed that penalty I was worried it would lift the other team. We created loads and corner but the Staggies grabbed a second three minutes before the interval.
Mullin wriggled into space and cut the ball across goal. Mckay, back to his predatory best, touched home his 10th goal of the season with ease.
Morton threw on Bob McHugh for the second half, bolstering their attack in place of midfielder Charlie Telfer.
But Mckay completed his hat-trick within three minutes of the restart. Mckay’s clever pass found Mullin who tried a chip, and while keeper Scully loads of chances and on another day Dobs’ would’ve got another hat-trick.
“It’s good to see us winning without him scoring. We deserved the win with all those chances.”
Queens were handed a perfect chance to open the scoring in 20 minutes after Prince Bauben tripped Dobbie in the box.
Dobbie saw his spot-kick turned on to the left post by diverted the ball away with a flailing hand, Mckay swooped to score with a left-foot finish.
After 57 minutes Davis Keillor-Dunn glided around several challenges in a tight space in the box and flicked a finish past Scully.
Late on Lee Kilday’s trip on sub Declan McManus allowed Brian Graham to hit the fifth from the penalty spot.
Dejected Morton manager Jonatan Johansson said: “Coming to a place like this, if you don’t play well you can’t expect to get much.” keeper David Mitchell and his follow-up strike was ruled out for a foul.
Queens kept plugging away and were rewarded when Doyle nodded home Andy Stirling’s cross and Marshall sealed it soon after with a thunderbolt.
Gutted Bairns gaffer Ray McKinnon said: “In the second half we shot ourselves in the foot, it was very frustrating.”