Ross County all but secured a return to the Ladbrokes Premiership at the first attempt after a comeback against Ayr United last night all but confirmed their championship status.
A perfect hat-trick from Brian Graham cancelled out Calvin Miller’s 12th minute opening goal and while formally the Highlanders require one more point from their remaining two league games, their current goal difference of 20 realistically makes that an irrelevance.
Ironically, Ross County’s rivals, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, host Dundee United on Saturday afternoon. Should Inverness take anything from that game against second-placed Robbie Nielson’s side then a glass will be raised from the other side of the Highland divide.
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“Myself and Steven [Ferguson] will go along to the game as we always do,” said joint Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell. “ One of the first messages I came into tonight was from John Robertson saying fantastic and well done. It is a touch of class and we did the same to them when they played Hearts in the Scottish Cup because we are trying to push Highland football. We want the two teams back in the Premiership. From a play-off, I’d want Inverness to go up. Yes, there are rivalries and fights along the way but it is a friendly rivalry.”
It was an impressive start from Ross County yet it was Ayr who took them by surprise when they took first blood in the game. The visitors had carved open Ian McCall’s side three times inside the opening five minutes and there was a suspicion that Graham could have claimed his treble in those early stages.
Instead, however, it was Ayr who took the lead after a fine piece of play between Liam Smith and Nicky Cadden saw Miller, on-loan at Somerset Park from Celtic, turn the ball into the net at the back post.
However, with the interval looming, Inverness drew level when a Robbie Crawford slip allowed Josh Mullin to bolt away before whipping a cross into the box. Doohan dived to punch the ball away but only into the path of Graham who drilled a low shot into the net.
It got better again for the visitors after the break. Mullin’s initial free-kick had come back, but at the second attempt he floated a high ball into the box for Graham to bullet a header into the net as Ross County sensed the end in sight.
As Ayr tired, there was a feeling that Ross County would add to their lead. It came when Michael Gardyne teed up Graham for his third of the night.
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There was a melee at the final whistle as Ross County celebrated; Ayr substitute Ross Docherty will face a suspension after being red-carded in the tunnel for throwing the ball into Daniel Armstrong’s face from close range while the County player took a booking for his part in the altercation.
But overall for the Highlanders, it could be the beginning of a glorious weekend.
AYR: Doohan; Geggan (Kerr 74), Harvie, Muirhead, Smith; McDaid, Murdoch, Crawford, Cadden (Docherty 74); Moffat (Forrest 66), Miller. Subs: Hare-Reid, Ecrenpont, McCowan.
ROSS COUNTY: Fox; Fraser, Boyle, Grivosti, Kelly; Lindsay (Spence 88), Graham (McManus 84), Gardyne, Millin (Armstrong 87), Cowie; Stewart. Subs: Fontaine, Vigurs, Munro, Paton.
Referee: Euan Anderson
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