Ross County 1-2 Motherwell: Match Report

31 January 2017 22:34

Louis Moult winner against Ross County takes Motherwell into top six

Scott McDonald and Louis Moult were on target as Motherwell moved into the Ladbrokes Premiership top six with a 2-1 victory over Ross County in Dingwall.

McDonald pounced on a Jay McEveley mistake to open the scoring in the 28th minute but the County defender redeemed himself by heading an equaliser six minutes later.

The unmarked Moult headed home from Steven Hammell's inswinging corner nine minutes after the interval and the visitors held on for a crucial win.

Moult had the ball in the County net in the 17th minute but he was flagged offside and the home defence were guilty of giving the ball away too easily as Lee Lucas picked up a loose ball, but his effort was blocked in front of goal.

County first threatened in a breakaway move but Craig Samson tipped the overlapping Marcus Fraser's ball over the bar.

Well took the lead three minutes later when McEveley failed to cut out a through ball from Lucas and McDonald drove into the box and and fired past Scott Fox.

McDonald came close again a couple of minutes later when he cut inside and blasted a shot over.

McEveley was soon celebrating when Martin Woods' corner found the defender on the edge of the six-yard box and he sent looping header over Samson's head and into the net as the Motherwell goalkeeper protested in vain, claiming he had been impeded.

County were lifted and Samson saved well from Woods' header.

County made a double substitution at the start of the second half with Milan Lalkovic and Jason Naismith replacing Christopher Routis and McEveley respectively.

Woods drifted a left-foot just wide but it was Motherwell who restored their lead when Moult rose highest to nod the ball home from close range.

A delicate chip into the box from Woods almost let Alex Schalk in on goal but Samson rushed off his line to make a timely intervention.

County were going all out for a leveller and Schalk stung the hands of Samson when he cut inside and let fly and Boyce was unable to knock in the rebound.

The chances kept coming and, after a Woods header was cleared behind, Michael Gardyne sliced a shot well wide of target.

County continued to dominate until the final whistle but they just could not find that elusive equaliser.


Source: PA