Match Report | RCFC 1-1 DUTD

A goal with virtually the final kick of the game snatched a point for Ross County against Dundee United at the Global Energy Stadium this afternoon.

Adrian Sporle put United ahead shortly after half time before Jack Baldwin claimed a point for the Staggies in the dying embers of the match!

The visitors started the brighter of the sides and enjoyed a greater share of possession in the opening stages of the match. Yet despite all of Dundee United’s territorial superiority, Tam Courts’ side failed to create any clear-cut chances in the first half. They continued to keep the ball well and get shots on goal, but the Tangerines never really looked as though they could cut open County’s stern defence.

County looked like they had taken the lead on the half-hour mark when Jack Baldwin’s header from Blair Spittal’s cross struck the left post from the centre of the box. Bejamin Siegrist adjusted his feet in time to get across to Baldwin’s effort and tip the ball onto the post to deny the Staggies of an opener against the run of play.

Perhaps Baldwin’s header ignited a spark in confidence in the hosts as Malky Mackay’s side went on to finish the half the stronger of the teams.

A left-footed shot from Spittal to the left of the box was saved just minutes later before Harry Clarke and Spittal again went close to breaking the deadlock before half time.

The first half may have been bereft of chances but United treated their travelling support to an opening goal just minutes after the restart of play through Louis Appere. Finn Niskanen’s cross was returned to the winger by Baldwin’s clearance, but the Finn was able to knock the ball back into the feet of Louis Appere in the centre of the box. The forward done well to spin his marker before sliding the ball under Ashley Maynard-Brewer with his left foot and into the back of the net.

Now a goal down, the Staggies stepped up their pursuit of a goal in search of an equaliser. In the 74^th minute, Jack Baldwin was once again denied a goal by the woodwork when his header cannoned of the crossbar. The defender leapt well to get above his marker and reach Spittal’s cross, but his close-range attempt hammered off the crossbar to the fortune of the United defence.

Merely 1 minute after County were nearly level, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Harry Clarke was shown a second yellow card. Clarke jumped to win a header, without raising his arms, but his opponent made it to the ball first, and to the shock of both sets of players, Clarke was adjudged to have committed a second bookable offence.

With 11 minutes left to play, County had again thought they had scored, but were this time denied by an incredible reaction save from Benjamin Siegrist in goal. Substitute Dominic Samuel done well to chop inside of Scott McCann before laying the ball off for a left-footed driving effort from Blair Spittal. The midfielder’s strike was deflected at the last second by Charlie Mulgrew, but Siegrist reacted well to claw the ball away, spectacularly keeping his side in front.

With the final kick of the ball, Malky Mackay’s 10-men Staggies remarkably clinched an equaliser to run away with a point! A wicked left-footed deep free kick from the left of the box from Joseph Hungbo was glanced on at the front post by Dominic Samuel before Jack Baldwin’s lunging effort poked the ball into the roof of the net! They may have left it late, but County more than deserved the point and the outstanding Jack Baldwin more than deserved his goal after hitting the woodwork twice previously in the match. A huge point for the Staggies!