WE have finally come to the end of a long and arduous season.

The sun lotion is looked out, the socks and sandals have been neatly packed away in the suitcase. Even this correspondent had become bold enough to shed down to just the five layers for the penultimate game of the campaign.

It was therefore not in keeping with the spirit of things that Ross County and Motherwell would serve up an end-to-end rip-roarer of a contest as if their duty free depended on it.

In front of a modest crowd at the Global Energy Stadium, a four-goal thriller eventually resulted in the lights going out on County’s hopes of catching their visitors, who confirmed they will finish the Ladbrokes Premiership in fifth place with a 3-1 win.

Ahead after just four minutes as Stephen Pearson opened things up, An unusual goal hero in captain Keith Lasley doubled the Steelmen’s advantage before the break.

County substitute Liam Boyce got the goal midway through the second half their play deserved, but Mark McGhee’s Motherwell – or their 90 travelling fans – would not be denied.

“If we look at it from when we started it’s a fantastic achievement to get to fifth,” said the Motherwell manager.

“We have ourselves to blame for not being fourth but we are still happy to be where we are.”

There were three changes to the Motherwell team that lost to St Johnstone at the weekend with Craig Samson, Stevie Hammell and Morgaro Gomis coming in to the starting line-up in place of Connor Ripley, Kieran Kennedy and Lionel Ainsworth.

Knowing fourth place was technically still up for grabs if Celtic beat St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, but the small handful of Motherwell supporters basking in the Dingwall sunshine could not have predicted the rapid response from their team that looked as if they had run their race weeks ago.

Within four minutes they were ahead. A through ball from Scott McDonald to Louis Moult opened up the Ross County defence with keeper Scott Fox being dragged out of position to cover. This allowed Moult to square to the unmarked Pearson who calmly rolled the ball into the net.

On 16 minutes it was two. A short corner into the box saw Chris Cadden’s shot blocked. The hosts managed to scramble it clear but only as far as Lasley, who slammed a low shot under a ruck of bodies to claim his first goal in 84 games.

“What does that mean, he’ll be 56 until his next goal?” laughed McGhee. “I thought he was terrific tonight.”

Pearson almost turned provider as well before the break to play in Marvin Johnson who saw his shot blocked when one-on-one by Fox, while at the other end County missed their first of a glut of chances following a great cross from Rafael De Vita.

After the break both teams had plenty of opportunities, particularly County. A Michael Gardyne cross bounced through to David Goodwillie who couldn’t react, Alex Schalk blasted wide and Samson did superbly to block from Goodwillie.

However, Jim McIntyre’s men were turning the screw and the goal eventually came on 69 minutes. It was substitute Boyce who got it as he reacted quickly to a Gardyne shot that had been expertly saved by Samson and his short effort set up an exciting finish.

Motherwell were not to be outdone, though. As County pushed for a leveller deep into extra-time, the visitors managed to spring an attack. Johnson, who had previously spurned two or three great chances, saw another effort saved by Fox, but Pearson was on hand to head the ball home.