COOL CLARK FIRES DOUBLE AS UNITED FINISH FOURTH

NICKY CLARK’S second-half double secured fourth spot for Dundee United on an afternoon when the Global Energy Stadium was lit up with a volley of menacing orange flares.

Clark struck from the penalty spot to cancel out Blair Spittal’s opener for the Staggies and then tapped in an 89th-minute match-winner to earn the Tannadice club their highest finish for eight years.

But United’s success was overshadowed to a degree by the antics of a minority of their 2,000 or so fans, who also staged two pitch invasions and hurled a staggering number of toilet rolls that suggested there may be a current shortage of the product in local supermarkets.

The inflatable beach balls and water rings made more sense, given United will be playing in Europe next season, but the flares were downright dangerous, forcing security staff to risk injury as they attempted to clear the pitch

of the missiles. Why those responsible felt a need to spoil what should have been an occasion of celebration for both clubs, only they know.

But their unacceptable behaviour is almost certain to be probed by Premiership officials and may even lead to their club being penalised.

Although effectively a dead rubber, the match was not without its highlights.

Spittal, in particular, displayed an eagerness to try to ensure that County ended their remarkable campaign on a high. The midfielder twice sent decent efforts just wide of the target and he also tested Benjamin Siegrist’s goalkeeping skills on another occasion in the first half, while Archie Meekison threatened the home goal after Ross Graham had fed him with a defence-splitting through ball.

Joseph Hungbo, very likely making his farewell appearance for County, only just failed to apply a scoring touch to Declan Drysdale’s cross to the far post close to half-time.

The goal opened up for Dylan Levitt three minutes after the restart when the defence failed to deal with Clark’s pass, but he lost his composure and screwed wide of the far post.

Spittal continued to trouble United and had the home fans on their feet in the 65th minute when he broke the stalemate with a finish of quality.

Hungbo had teased and tormented the opposition at times without managing to add a cutting edge to his repertoire, but Spittal preferred to take a more direct route when Ben Paton slipped the ball to him 25 yards out, giving the goalkeeper no chance with his shot into the top corner.

United were back level five minutes later when Harry Paton was adjudged to have fouled fellow substitute Ilmari Niskanen. Nick Walsh’s award was soft, but that made no difference to Clark, who sent Ross Munro the wrong way.

And it was Clark who struck again in the 89th minute, tapping in a cross from Kieran Freeman to deny County.

That didn’t prevent the home players taking a well-deserved bow in the form of a lap of honour, and manager Malky Mackay said: ‘It was good to get the appreciation from the fans.

‘I told the players to have their 10 seconds of disappointment and get back out there, as it was important they go and thank the supporters.’