2007-03-13 Ross County

Accies suffered their second heavy defeat in 4 days when they lost 4-1 to County at Dingwall on Tuesday night. The damage was done in the first quarter of an hour, with the home side scoring three goals in that time. Accies pulled one back in the second half through Richard Offiong, but County quickly grabbed another to complete the scoring.

Ross County 4 Hamilton Accies 1

Victoria Park, Dingwall

Tuesday, 13th March 2007

Bottom of the table Ross County destroyed Accies with three goals inside the first 16 minutes for probably their easiest three points of the season. It truly was a shocking first half display in Dingwall by the Hoops – with the exception of goalkeeper Murdoch who pulled off a couple of superb saves during waves of County pressure. Accies could easily have been five goals down at the break and it wouldn’t have flattered a determined home side that looked like scoring every time they surged forward.

County were clearly well motivated for a match vital to their First Division future and swamped Accies in midfield, pinning them back in their own half, and winning a series of early corners. The warning signs were flashing up time and again with Accies’ defence allowing their opponents numerous free headers. However the first goal arrived the tenth minute when Murdoch’s clearing punch fell to the unmarked Don Cowie who unleashed a fine low drive into the left hand corner.

County appeared to have an extra man at times and their front men were enjoying the freedom of Victoria Park courtesy of the visitors’ porous defence. It was no surprise when in the 14th minute Sean Higgins tapped into an empty net to finish off a quick break after Accies lost possession in midfield. Two minutes later Cowie grabbed his second following another corner.

Shell-shocked Accies eventually forced a save from keeper Tomie in the 20th minute followed by their first corner of the match. In the 25th minute, Offiong’s run and shot nearly put Accies on the score sheet. However County looked more dangerous and Murdoch brilliantly saved an overhead kick, and then again from a Shields volley. Man of the match Cowie drove fiercely over just before half time.

Accies could only improve and with McCarthy’s added quality in the second half they certainly did. They began the final 45 fairly purposefully and mounted a series of attacks that should have brought a goal earlier than Offiong’s consolation header in the 70th minute. Most notably, when they forced County into a goal line clearance in the 67th minute and minutes later McCarthy’s excellent low drive forced a great diving save from Tomie.

However, it was game, set and match in the 78th minute when Moore battered a free kick off the bar only for substitute Gunn to blast the rebound into the empty net. At the other end, Offiong strolled through the heart of County’s defence but his placed shot slipped just past the post.

A second goal then would merely have applied some gloss at the finish but County ran out easy winners in the end.

Ross County: Tomie, McCulloch, Moore, Dowie, Keddie, Adams (O'Carroll 80), Scott, Higgins (Gunn 67), Shields (Gardyne 87), Cowie, Robertson.

Subs Not Used: Samson, Webb.

Booked: Robertson, Higgins, Keddie.

Hamilton: Murdoch, Wilson (McLeod 61), Fleming (Gibson 61), McClen (McCarthy 46), Elebert, Easton, Winters, McArthur, Offiong, Neil, Gilhaney.

Subs Not Used: Wake, Jellema.

Booked: Elebert, Easton.

Att: 1,475

Ref: B Winter

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