Match Report | RCFC 3-1 Motherwell

10-man Ross County valiantly defeated top-half Motherwell 3-1 at the Global Energy Stadium this evening in the cinch Premiership.

A fortunate own goal from Sondre Soldholm Johansen gave the Staggies the lead on the stroke of half time but Jordan Roberts’ spectacular half-volley strike provided an equaliser for the visitors just 10 minutes after the restart.

County were reduced to 10 men after Jordan Tillson was sent off but Regan Charles-Cook found 2 big goals, including a late penalty, to fire Malky Mackay’s side well ahead of the Steelmen.

It is evident there were some winter break cobwebs to dust off in the opening exchanges of the match as both sides struggled to create any clear early sights of goal.

Malky Mackay’s side were the first to breach their opposition’s shape when debutant Declan Drysdale picked out the run of early substitute Dominic Samuel beyond the Motherwell back line. However, Scotland international Stephen O’Donnell done well to recover and block Samuel’s goal bound left-footed effort.

Besides a mid-range freekick that dropped just wide of Ashley Maynard Brewer’s left post from Kevin van Veen, Motherwell were largely reduced to unthreatening possession and corner kicks.

After a fairly uninspiring first 45 minutes of football, the Staggies took the lead with the final kick of the first half. Regan Charles-Cook picked the ball up on the left flank before dancing inside of Bevis Mugabi and giving the Ugandan international the slip. As Mugabi tumbled to the floor, Charles-Cook delivered a low right-footed cross into the danger area which was then accidentally deflected into Liam Kelly’s net by his teammate Sondre Soldholm Johansen.

However, just 10 minutes into the second period, the visitors were level. Kevin van Veen collected the ball on the left-hand side from a quick Motherwell counterattack and cut the ball back to Jordan Roberts on the edge of County’s box. Roberts took one touch to set the ball about a foot off the ground before unleashing a driven left-footed half volley into the top right corner.

Just 3 minutes later, it went from bad to worse for the Staggies as they were reduced to 10 men when Jordan Tillson saw red for a dangerous challenge on Liam Donnelly.

The odds were stacked against the hosts, but Regan Charles-Cook soon propelled his side into the lead in the 72^nd minute. Dominic Samuel done well to pinch the ball in the opposition half before fizzing the ball across the face of goal. Jordan White could not get onto the end of Samuel’s cross, but Motherwell’s partial clearance fell to Regan Charles-Cook who was able to send the bouncing ball beyond Liam Kelly from the centre of the box.

With just 10 minutes left to play, County were able to extend their lead to 2 goals from the penalty spot. Charles-Cook was once again at the heart of it as his attempted cross from the right of the box struck Bevis Mugabi’s arm inside the penalty area. The Grenada international calmy stepped up to roll the ball past Kelly into the bottom left corner and seal the victory for the Staggies.

The victory now opens up a 5 point gap between County and the dreaded 11^th place relegation play-off spot as well as a 7 point cushion from St Johnstone at the foot of the table.