| Date | Saturday, 29 July 2023 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 3:3 Kelty Hearts |
| Venue | Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 1,052 |
| Referee | Steven McLean |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Will Clark for the Ross-shire Journal Ross County 3 Kelty Hearts 3 Loss Bonus Point 5-3 on Pens. Ross County are through to the last 16 of the Viaplay Cup after winning the group but will be unseeded after losing the penalty shoot-out to Kelty Hearts. The Staggies will be unseeded for tomorrow's draw which takes place after Dundee v Caley Thistle and could face Aberdeen, Airdrie, Ayr United, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell or Rangers in the next round. Ross County took the lead after 13 minutes when a cross from the right wing from Yan Dhanda found Josh Sims in the box, who unchallenged fired a thunderous effort into the net from 12 yards. Ross County doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark. Dhanda's long ball found Jordan White in the centre of midfield. His flick on found Simon Murray who beat the offside trap and was one on one with the goalkeeper before firing a low drive past goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay. But Kelty responded almost immediately and pulled one back when Stefan McCluskey charged into the box unchallenged and unleashed a powerful drive from 12 yards out which Ross Laidlaw had no chance of stopping. The Fifers equalised in the 58th minute when Biotti Biabi beat the County defence in the air to a corner kick and nod home from four yards out. They nearly took the lead on the hour mark when Biabi set up Ross Cunningham who only had the goalkeeper to beat but fired wide from 12 yards. Kelty had another chance to take the lead with 10 minutes left when Tiwi Daramola beat Yan Dhanda for pace down the right wing and his cross found an unchallenged Ross Cunningham eight yards from goal, but he blasted over the bar. Ross County thought they grabbed victory with five minutes remaining as James Brown connected with a cross on the edge of the six yard box. But Kelty were awarded a penalty in injury time when Jack Baldwin was guilty of bringing down Biabi. Cunningham kept his cool to fire his shot past the hand of Laidlaw to force a penalty shoot-out. Yan Dhanda, Kyle Turner and Eamonn Brophy score Ross County's opening penalties with Ross Cunningham, Lewis Moore and Reece Lyon scoring Kelty's first three penalties. With the shoot-out at 3-3 both Scott Allardice and Tiwi Daramola missed their club's fourth penalties. Josh Sims then saw his penalty saved allowing Biatti to score the winner and give Kelty the bonus points. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Malcolm (Malky) Mackay |
| Starting 11 | 1: Ross Laidlaw, 2: Connor Randall, 4: James Brown 1 1, 5: Jack Baldwin, 10: Yan Dhanda, 11: Joshua Sims 1, 14: Victor Loturi, 15: Simon Murray 1, 16: George Harmon, 26: Jordan White, 35: Will Nightingale |
| Bench | 21: Ross Munro, 6: Scott Allardice, 7: Kyle Turner, 12: Max Sheaf, 17: Jay Henderson, 26: Alexander Samuel, 27: Eamonn Brophy, 30: Dylan Smith, 43: Josh Reid |
| Kelty Hearts | |
| Manager | Michael Tidser |
| Starting 11 | Kyle Gourlay, Adam Corbett, Jason Thomson, Michael Tidser, Billy Owens, Tiwi Daramola, Reece Lyon, Ross Cunningham 1, Lewis Moore, Craig Johnston, Stefan McCluskey 1 |
| Bench | Botti Biabi 1, Lewis Owens, Liam Campbell, Scott Cameron |