| Date | Saturday, 20 October 2001 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 3:2 Ayr United |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 1,991 |
| Referee | Steve Conroy |
| Comments | Match Report Report by John McLeod for the Press & Journal. Ross County 3 Ayr United 2 Ross County moved off the bottom of Division 1 with a battling display against Ayr in atrocious conditions at Victoria Park. Steve Hislop took his tally for the season to seven with two goals and substitute Martin Prest, scored the decider to give County a deserved win in a topsy-turvy contest. County boss Neale Cooper was full of praise for his players after the final whistle. He said: "I couldn't have asked for more from them today. It was vital for us to get the result after a disappointing display at Arbroath last week. "All credit to Ayr who kept coming back at us. They caused us all sorts of problems, but my players gave their full commitment today, and I don't think anyone could fault their attitude." County led in the 19th minute after Hugh Robertson sent Alex Bone through. Ayr keeper Craig Nelson made a fine initial save from him but Hislop was on hand to side-foot the rebound home. But a rasping free kick from Karim Boukraa a couple minutes from the break was the nearest County went to extending their lead in the first half. Ayr made the more positive start to the second half and they equalised in 55 minutes when good work from Lee Sharp and Gary Teale on the left created an opening for Paul Sheerin. The former Caley Thistle player took his chance and rifled the ball home from 15yd. County restored their lead within three minutes. Bone sent the ball out to Boukraa on the right and the Frenchman's cross was met at the near post by Hislop with a diving header which flashed into the net. But County's 2-1 lead only lasted until James Grady connected with a Teale flick-on to score from close range a minute later. But Cooper's prompt and inspired introduction of Prest from the subs' bench proved crucial. Robertson swung in an 80th minute from the right, the Argentinian was first to react when Ian Maxwell's header cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar. Disappointed Ayr manager Gordon Dalziel said: "I thought we played very well in the second half. In fact, it's the best we've played away from home, all season. "I can't fault the players for their effort and I though we deserved a draw at least." |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Anthony (Tony) Bullock, 2: Sean Webb, 3: Mark Perry, 4: Hugh Robertson, 5: Ian Maxwell, 6: Brian Irvine, 7: Don (JNR) Cowie, 8: Steven Ferguson, 9: Karim Boukraa, 10: Alexander Bone, 11: Steven Hislop 2 |
| Bench | 0: Stefan Gonet, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: John Fraser, 0: Conor Gethins, 0: Martin Prest 1 |
| Ayr United | |
| Manager | Gordon Dalziel |
| Starting 11 | Neil Duffy, Craig Nelson, John Robertson, Lee Sharp, John Hughes, Marvyn Wilson 1, Paul Sheerin 1, Gary Teale, Brian McLaughlin, Eddie Annand, James Grady 1 |
| Bench | John Dodds, Marc Smyth, Scott Chaplain, John Bradford, Stewart Kean |