Well join top six with victory over Staggies

Scott McDonald and Louis Moult were on target as Motherwell moved into the Ladbrokes Premiership top six with a win over Ross County in Dingwall.

McDonald pounced on a Jay McEveley mistake to open the scoring in the 28th minute but the County defender redeemed himself by heading in an equaliser six minutes later.

The unmarked Moult headed home from Steven Hammell’s inswinging corner nine minutes after the interval and the visitors held on for a crucial win.

Moult had the ball in the County net in the 17th minute but he was flagged offside and Well’s Lee Lucas saw his effort blocked in front of goal.

Well took the lead when McEveley failed to cut out a through ball from Lucas and McDonald drove into the box and and fired past Scott Fox.

McDonald came close again a couple of minutes later when he cut inside and blasted a shot over.

McEveley was soon celebrating when Martin Woods’ corner found the defender on the edge of the six-yard box and he sent a looping header into the net as Motherwell goalkeeper Samson protested he had been impeded.

County were lifted and Samson saved from Woods’ header.

The Staggies made a double substitution at the start of the second half with Milan Lalkovic and Jason Naismith replacing Christopher Routis and McEveley.

Woods drifted a shot just wide but Motherwell restored their lead when Moult rose to nod home from close range.

A delicate chip into the box from Woods almost let Alex Schalk in on goal but Samson rushed off his line to make a timely intervention.

County were going all out for a leveller and Schalk stung the hands of Samson when he cut inside and let fly and Boyce was unable to knock in the rebound.

The chances kept coming and, after a Woods header was cleared behind, Michael Gardyne sliced a shot well wide of target.

County continued to dominate until the final whistle but could not find that elusive equaliser.