Date	Wednesday, 11 May 2016
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:3 Motherwell
Venue	Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park
Attendance	2,976
Referee	John Beaton
Comments	Match Report Report by Martin Dowden for the BBC. Premiership Top Six Ross County 1 Motherwell 3 Motherwell secured fifth place in the Scottish Premiership with Stephen Pearson and Keith Lasley's goals defeating Ross County. Pearson was on hand to tap home after Louis Moult found the midfielder unmarked with County's defence posted missing. Lasley added a second soon after, the captain drilling a wonderful low strike inside Scott Fox's right-hand post. Liam Boyce gave County hope but Pearson settled it with a stoppage-time header. And Wednesday's results mean County, who will finish sixth, will end the season with fewer points than the side that takes seventh place after this weekend's closing fixtures, the league having spilt in two for the final five rounds of fixtures. Mark McGhee's visitors started with real intent and forced a couple of early corners before capitalising on a poor defensive header from Jackson Irvine. Irvine could have found touch but instead headed into a central area where Scott MacDonald gathered, fed Moult on the right and he calmly slotted across for Pearson to convert. Motherwell continued to be positive and Stevie Hammell's corner found Chris Cadden with a late run into the box. His shot was blocked but the ball rebounded outside the penalty area to Lasley, who showed great composure and technique to score despite Fox getting his hand to it. Home manager Jim McIntyre took action and sent on Raffaele De Vita for Stewart Murdoch just after the half-hour mark. That provided a spark with De Vita deliveries finding Alex Schalk, whose shot was blocked, then Michael Gardyne, who touched back across goal where David Goodwillie failed to convert from close range. Marvin Johnson might have sealed the points for Well when he showed great pace to race clear in on Fox but the goalkeeper did well to block. In a highly entertaining second half, County appeared to have more impetus, with Goodwillie having a great chance from close range before Craig Samson denied him when a goal seemed certain. As pressure built, substitute Brian Graham unlocked the Motherwell defence with a superb header into Schalk's path but his powerful volley unluckily flew wide. The breakthrough for the home side came when Gardyne danced across the box, unleashed a shot which Samson saved but only succeeded in diverting to Boyce, who netted only his second goal of 2016 from a yard. Johnson almost immediately replied with a fierce volley that arrowed wide before Moult shot straight at Fox on the break. County continued to press with Boyce, Graham and Richard Foster all going close to an equaliser but Motherwell clinched it on the counter when Fox saved Johnson's drive but the ball fell perfectly for Pearson to nod home. Manager Mark McGhee is frustrated to have missed out on fourth place but is content with Motherwell's season. Motherwell were 3-1 winners at Ross County but cannot catch St Johnstone after the Perth side beat Celtic. "We kind of hoped we might make fourth and we haven't so there's a little bit disappointment," said McGhee. "But we'll reflect in the end and we'll be satisfied that fifth is a decent show. Of course, we're overjoyed to make the top six." A dominant early display provided the platform for victory with Stephen Pearson and Keith Lasley putting Motherwell two up after just 16 minutes. The visitors threatened to run away with it in the first half but Ross County battled back with Liam Boyce reducing the deficit before Pearson nodded home his second deep into injury time. "It was a sunny night and we started with sunny football," enthused McGhee. "We played some good stuff, created chances, scored two goals and looked comfortable. "Any opportunity for us to run away with it was gone because they made changes but overall I think we did enough to win the game and deserved it." The club are in negotiations with a number of senior players who are nearing the end of their contracts and now know how much finance will be available. "We know the importance of these players," McGhee explained. "Stephen McManus, Stevie Hammell, Keith Lasley and Scott MacDonald have been terrific all season but we have to cut our cloth accordingly. Hopefully we will get it sorted." Ross County will have to settle for sixth place and manager Jim McIntyre is disappointed with the post-split form. "We wanted to make sure in the five games we tried to move up at least a place," he said. "Overall, in the context of the season we wanted to try and get top six, we managed that and we wanted a decent cup run and we managed to win the cup. "As disappointed as I am tonight, I'm sure we'll reflect in a few weeks time and be satisfied with our season's work." McIntyre bemoaned a sluggish start from his side but was happy with the response in the second half. "We were very sloppy, slow out the traps, made some very basic errors and that afforded Motherwell a good bit of pressure and they've scored and deservedly so," he said. "We created a host of chances but couldn't quite put the ball in the net. You're always going to be susceptible to the counter attack and we've been punished right at the death. "Motherwell showed better quality on the night when it came to putting the ball in the net. Liam Boyce netted just this second goal of 2016 with McIntyre hoping the striker can rediscover his early season form after a summer break. "It's been a frustrating time since Liam broke his hand," he explained. "It was great seeing him getting back on the scoresheet. I thought he did well and it was nice to see him hopefully get a goal that will help him get to the Euros with Northern Ireland."
Ross County
Manager	Jim McIntyre
Starting 11	1: Scott Fox, 6: Christopher Robertson, 7: Michael Gardyne, 12: Richard Foster, 17: Jonathan Franks, 18: Stewart Murdoch 1, 23: Alex Schalk, 25: David Goodwillie, 36: Jackson Irvine 1, 42: Martin Woods, 43: Paul Quinn 1
Bench	21: Gary Woods, 5: Scott Boyd, 8: Ian McShane, 9: Brian Graham, 10: Liam Boyce 1, 19: Tony Dingwall, 24: Raffaele De Vita
Motherwell
Manager	Mark McGhee
Starting 11	Craig Samson, Steven Hammell 1, Stephen McManus, Marvin Johnson, Ben Hall, Stephen Pearson 2, Keith Lasley 1, Morgaro Gomis, Chris Cadden, Louis Moult, Scott McDonald 1
Bench	Connor Ripley, Louis Laing, Lionel Ainsworth, Joe Chalmers, Jack Leitch, Dom Thomas, Allan Campbell