Ross County can't find winner in classic Highland derby
Ross County 2
Inverness: Oakley (19) Rooney (29) County: Lindsay (17) Mckay (43 og)
ROSS County fell further behind Ayr United in the race for pole position in the Scottish Championship as they could only take a point from Inverness in the Highland derby.
Ross County made just one change to the team that drew 1-1 with Falkirk as Marcus Fraser came back into the squad in favour of Stelios Demetriou.
Inverness made three changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Dunfermline Athletic. Joe Chalmers, Aaron Doran and George Oakley all came into the first team ahead of Daniel Mackay, Charlie Trafford and Jordan White.
Ross County created the first chance at goal when Josh Mullin‘s powerful shot 25 yards from goal took a deflection off Ricky Calder towards the bottom right hand corner which forced Mark Ridgers to dive to prevent the ball going into the net.
The Staggies took the lead after 17 minutes when Iain Vigurs’ pass found Don Cowie in midfield. His low pass sent through Jamie Lindsay who from 20 yards fired a low drive which beat Mark Ridgers into the bottom left corner.
But the lead lasted only two minutes when Aaron Doran’s cross found the head of Tom Walsh who nodded the ball down in the six yard box who found George Oakley to bang it into the net from close range.
Liam Polworth took the initiative minutes later and charged towards goal unleashing a strike from 25 yards but hit well over the bar.
But Inverness deservedly went in front on the stroke of the half hour mark when a great ball from Sean Welsh found Polworth down the left wing and his cross into the box found Shaun Rooney whose powerful low drive from eight yards was hammered into the net.
Ridgers pulled off a sensational save to deny Ross County an equaliser. Josh Mullin's cross into the box found the head of Billy McKay whose nod looked destined for the net. But the Inverness number one pulled off a fingertip save to deny the striker pulling the game level.
However both teams went in level at half time when Brad McKay unfortunately put Billy McKay’s cross from the left wing past his own goalkeeper in the six yard box.
County started off brighter early in the second half and could have taken the lead when Sean Kelly almost got a diving header on Vigurs’ cross and was inches from connecting.
ICT passed up on a glorious chance to take the lead midway through the second half when Polworth was unchallenged 12 yards in front of goal to connect with a Doran cross but his shot smacked against the left hand post.
Inverness looked more likely to get a third with Ricky Calder beating his marker down the left wing and his cross found Jordan White in the six yard box who nodded the ball inches wide of the right hand post.
Ross County threatened to win the match in the closing stages when Mullin’s ball into the box found Sean Kelly but failed to find the target from eight yards as his shot went inches past the right hand post.
In a frantic finish, Polworth found Doran in the six yard box but the Irishman could not guide the ball on the target.
While at the other end, Ridgers produced a full stretched save to stop Brian Graham's header finding the net after he connected with a Vigurs cross.
ICT: Ridgers, Rooney (McCart 57), Chalmers, Donaldson, Polworth, Doran , Walsh (Mackay 74), Oakley (White 62), Welsh, Calder, McKay
Subs (Unused) Hoban, Austin, Trafford, McGregor.
Ross County: Fox, Fraser, Kelly, Draper, Lindsay, McKay, Vigurs, Mullin (Stewart 84) Watson, Keillor-Dunn (McManus 64), Cowie (Graham 75).
Subs (Unused) Munro, Fontaine, Demetriou, Dingwall.
Referee: Kevin Clancy
