Date	Saturday, 21 March 2015
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:1 Kilmarnock
Venue	Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park
Attendance	3,389
Referee	Bobby Madden
Comments	Match Report Report by Martin Dowden for the BBC. Ross County 2 Kilmarnock 1 Ross County made it five wins in six unbeaten games to move three points clear of the relegation play-off place. Michael Gardyne latched on to Liam Boyce's flick before smashing the opener past a stranded Craig Samson. Gardyne turned provider after the interval when he set up Craig Curran to confidently side-foot home. Kilmarnock rallied late on with Lee Ashcroft nodding home minutes after Greg Kiltie had struck the base of the post but County held firm. The visitors arrived in Dingwall unbeaten in seven games but created very little until the closing stages against the rejuvenated Highlanders. The in-form hosts played well in the first period but the final ball perhaps let them down. That changed when Boyce showed strength to hold off Manuel Pascali before nodding into the path of Gardyne on the right. The midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Rugby Park, arrived at pace but was composed as he struck the ball high across Samson into the corner. County controlled things but did not test Samson as often as they might have given the possession they enjoyed. Killie boss Gary Locke clearly left his side in no doubt that their first-half display was not adequate, his team back out on the pitch a few minutes before the re-start. But it was County who were the more fired up as they completely took a grip on proceedings. Paul Quinn volleyed over from Martin Woods' corner when he should have netted from close range. Rafa De Vita, Boyce, Curran and Gardyne all went close with a combination of good goalkeeping and slack finishing frustrating them. Curran has been an important figure in County's revival since his arrival from Nuneaton in January and proved so once again. Gardyne picked up on the right and fired across goal. Curran stole into the six yard box and calmly guided the ball home. The home side should have been out of sight with Jackson Irvine's header was tipped over by the busy Samson. Daryl Westlake then nodded Curran's header off the line, with Kilmarnock apparently wilting under the relentless pressure. However, the Ayrshire side suddenly sprung into life and Kiltie's curling effort across goal struck the post, with the ball eventually falling to Lee Miller who fired narrowly wide. Pascali then came within inches of netting as the defender's shot across goal marginally evaded the far post. The home fans' comfort was significantly disturbed when Paul Cairney floated in a free kick for the stooping Ashcroft to find the bottom corner from six yards. County really should have been out of sight given the chances they created but they saw the match out and claimed another vital win. Ross County manager Jim McIntyre saw his side go six games unbeaten with a 2-1 win over over Kilmarnock, but admitted the result should have been more emphatic. Michael Gardyne and Craig Curran scored to give their chances of avoiding the relegation play-off a boost, though Lee Ashcroft's late goal made it a nervy finish. "The game should have been out of sight," Mcintyre told BBC Scotland. "I thought we were fantastic for 80 minutes. "The last 10 minutes was a few grey hairs added to me personally so I know how the supporters feel." The result moved County three points clear of second-bottom Motherwell and, with St Mirren losing to St Johnstone, it creates a seven-point gap to last place. "The boys were excellent today," continued McIntyre. "If I was critical of anything it would be that we should have had more goals to show for the chances that we created and the good play. "Kilmarnock, you know they're going to have a period in the game and it was in that last ten minutes - they were effectively playing with four up so it made it difficult for us, but we've managed to get the result that we've thoroughly deserved. "We done a lot of things well and when you start on the front foot like we did and took the game to Kilmarnock then I would rather look upon it as what we done well rather than Kilmarnock being poor."
Ross County
Manager	Jim McIntyre
Starting 11	21: Mark Brown, 5: Scott Boyd 1, 10: Filip Kiss, 11: Craig Curran 1, 12: Jamie Reckord, 16: Liam Boyce 1, 24: Raffaele De Vita, 26: Martin Woods, 36: Jackson Irvine, 40: Michael Gardyne 1, 43: Paul Quinn
Bench	1: Antonio Reguero Chapinal, 7: Joseph Cardle, 9: Jake Jervis, 14: Abdoulaye Meite, 20: Darvydas Sernas, 22: Ruben Palazuelos Garcia, 23: Graham Carey
Kilmarnock
Manager	Allan Johnston
Starting 11	Craig Samson, Ross Barbour, Lee Ashcroft 1, Manuel Pascali 1, Darryl Westlake, Mark O'Hara, Tope Obadeyi, Craig Slater 1, Josh Magennis, Nathan Eccleston, Chris Johnston
Bench	Connor Brennan, Lee Miller, Paul Cairney, Greg Kiltie, David Syme, Aaron Splaine, Dean Hawkshaw