Quinn gifts Aberdeen the win
A spectacular own-goal from Paul Quinn handed Aberdeen their first win at Global Energy Stadium as they beat Ross County 1-0.
Aberdeen dominated for long spells and it took some desperate defending from County to keep them at bay.
The only goal of the match arrived in the 56th minute when Niall McGinn crossed into the box and Quinn, under pressure from Adam Rooney, sliced the ball into his own net.
County forced a corner in the first minute and when the ball came back to Graham Carey his cross into the box was back heeled away by Dons' defender Mark Reynolds.
Michael Gardyne then went on a rampaging run at the Dons' defence before he run out of space and support.
At the other end a near post header from Rooney was touched behind by County goalkeeper Mark Brown.
Gardyne was looking lively and he made room for a shot but his effort finished well over the crossbar.
It was end to end stuff and the visitors came close in the 22nd minute when Brown failed to hold a Rooney knock down from a McGinn free kick but Quinn stepped in to clear the danger.
The visitors were seeing more of the ball as the half wore on and Shay Logan cut in and let fly with a vicious shot which just cleared the crossbar.
In rare County attack in the 39th minute Gardyne swung over a cross into the box but Quinn's glancing header dropped wide of the far post.
But the Dons finished the half on top and a McGinn delivery into the box was headed past Brown's right hand post by Rooney.
The pace moved up a gear at the start of the second half and Johnny Hayes got behind the County defence to send over an inviting ball but Darren Barr was on hand to head clear.
County went straight up the park and forced a corner which came to nothing.
But the Dons took the lead in their next attack in the 56th minute. Scott Boyd gave the ball away and when McGinn whipped the ball into the box Quinn steered the ball into his own net while attempting to clear.
The visitors piled forward and Paul Pawlett was unlucky with a shot which rebounded off the junction of the post and bar.
It was one-way traffic and Boyd did well to stop a goal-bound effort from Rooney as the Dons turned the screw.
Liam Boyce almost made an instant impact when he replaced Gardyne in the 67th minute when he ballooned his first touch high and wide.
But it was mostly Aberdeen and Boyd twice threw himself in front of shots to block.
It was an all-out assault on the County goal Boyd came to the rescue again as Hayes dinked into the box.
Willo Flood had the chance to kill it off in the dying seconds but he blazed his shot over the bar.
Source: PA
