Martin Woods scored his first goal for the Club.
Raffaele De Vita scored his first goal for the Club.
If ever a performance was required by Ross County, this was it. Motherwell were in town for this basement battle, with many predicting that the Fir Park side would be strong for the Staggies. Not so, as the home side put the steelmen to the sword following an excellent performance from Jim McIntyre’s men.
Stunning efforts from Martin Woods, Paul Quinn, and debut boy Raffaele De Vita laid the foundations for what was a superb victory.
Jim McIntyre’s side took the lead in the first half through Martin Woods before new-signing Conor Grant brought ‘Well level with a stunning free kick. Paul Quinn put County back in front before Raffaele De Vita made it 3-1. Fraser Kerr pulled one back but it wasn’t enough as the hosts held on for the three points.
‘Well made six changes to the side that drew with St Johnstone and the team in all white made a bright start to the game, Lee Erwin in particular, and he did well to cut in on the left flank only for his shot to be deflected wide for a corner. A minute later, the same player latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box but smashed his low shot narrowly wide of Mark Brown’s left hand post.
County hit back almost immediately and the Steelmen had ‘keeper Long to thank for two stunning saves, the first from Staggies’ Northern Irish frontman Liam Boyce and the other from Scott Boyd, who both fired stinging shots from distance.
However, the on-loan Sheffield United stopper was helpless to keep out the next attack as the hosts took the lead in dramatic fashion through Martin Woods. The midfielder played a one-two with Raffaele De Vita on the edge of the box, before smashing a left foot drive into the corner of the net with a superb left-foot volley.
The home side had a chance to double their lead a couple of minutes later when Boyce got on the end of a Woods free kick but failed to finish from a good position.
‘Well should have got themselves on level terms before the break when Fraser Kerr twice headed into the arms of Brown from set-pieces.
Motherwell did draw level and it was a cracker from midfielder Conor Grant. It was the Evertonian himself who won the free kick in a dangerous position when Jamie Reckord was adjudged to have impeded his progress on the edge of the area. The 19-year old took the kick himself and curled the ball in at Brown’s near post.
County were in no mood to lose this encounter, and deservedly restored their advantage six minutes later and it was former ‘Well man Paul Quinn who put his side ahead. Raffaele De Vita floated a free kick towards the far post and Quinn climbed between Kerr and Reid to send a quite superb looping header into the far corner.
Four minutes later County added a third, with a goal of real quality. Michael Gardyne flighted in a cross beyond the far post for Raffaele De Vita to smash home a superb volley for the third., leaving the “Well keeper George Long completely helpless.
To their credit, Motherwell refused to lie down and set-up a grandstand last twelve minutes when Fraser Kerr headed home Grant’s whipped corner.
However, County saw out the game, remaining resolute at the back and keeping possession deep in the ‘Well half to eventually see the game out and send a dejected visitors down the A9 pointless.