County’s Schalk strikes late to

ALEX SCHALK earned never-say-die Ross County a point they barely deserved as Caley Thistle clambered off bottom spot.

But County manager Jim McIntyre was convinced the Staggies were denied a stonewall penalty offence against the Dutch striker long before he cancelled out Greg Tansey’s deflected opener.

McIntyre said: “I think we deserved our point. We felt it was a definite penalty kick on Alex Schalk from the corner kick. Raven’s gone through the back of him.”

Ross Draper quickly put his mark on the midfield area, answering home manager Foran’s call for “a little bit of nastiness” with a couple of thumping challenges.

The Dingwall side suffered an early scare when, after only five minutes, Iain Vigurs’ dipping strike clipped the top of Aaron McCarey’s bar.

A tremendous bursting run from Carl Tremarco saw him ignite the battle after 25 minutes, but the move ended with a Vigurs strike deflected for a corner.

County responded, nine minutes before the break. Liam Boyce strung the ball wide to Jason Naismith on the right. The ex-St Mirren wing back’s low, cross veered across the six-yard box and only just evaded the reach of Dutch striker Alex Schalk.

Penalty claims from County after 40 minutes came to nothing after David Raven clashed with Schalk in the home penalty box.

Just three minutes into the second half, the hosts were ahead.

Christopher Routis was careless with a mis-hit clearance in his penalty area. Billy Mackay linked with Liam Polworth before the latter’s lay-back drew a thunderbolt strike from Greg Tansey.