Reserves v Ross County

SPFL Reserve League: Lewis McCann (18) 0-1: Lewis McCann (35) 0-2; Ross McIvor (36 pen.) 1-2: Gregor Jordan red card (47): Ben Johnstone (73) 2-2: Joel McBeath (84) 3-2.

Ross County Reserves 3 Dunfermline Reserves 2

County came back from two goals down to win against the ten men Pars. It was a hard shift in the second half after going a man down.

Dunfermline Reserves travelled north on Tuesday seeking their first away win in the league. At the Highland Football Academy, they took on a Ross County side that has won six of their seven league matches.

The young squad was bolstered with the addition of Myles Hippolyte, Louis Longridge and Robbie Muirhead and it was the Pars who started the better, dominating the opening ten minutes with Muirhead providing two crosses and a delivery from a Lewis McCann won free kick.

On ten minutes Hippolyte did well to get a cross in from the left which County clear, and then Callum Smith saw his shot blocked. Hippolyte won a free kick that Stuart Morrison took 10 yards inside his own half but the Staggies defence cleared.

The home side`s first chance came quarter of an hour into the game when a tame James Wallace effort went wide. Three minutes later the Fifers opened the scoring. It came from a Longridge ball to McCANN on the left and despite the attentions of his marker bore in on goal to slot past keeper Tommy-Dixon Hodge. 0-1

There was some really good football from the Pars before they increased their lead thirteen minutes later. A 20th minute free kick was driven into County`s wall by Paul Allan and Hippolyte tested the keeper when receiving the ball back. Next Hippolyte and McCann combined on the left to force a corner taken by Longridge but headed clear by Callum Semple.

When Allan conceded a 24th minute free kick midway into his own half County were able to direct the ball towards Ben Johnstone in the box but his header went straight into the hands of Pars keeper Cammy Gill.

Back to the other end and Longridge picked out Muirhead with a good pass but the cross into the box was cleared. A great dummy by Longridge for Hippolyte then set up Muirhead for a pop at goal but his attempt went over the bar.

It was from a Kieran Swanson throw in on the left that McCANN drove into the County box, bullying his way past two defenders to fire low into the bottom left. 0-2

The home side responded with Mark Gallagher sending a high ball into the Pars box, there were claims for a 35th minute County penalty that were dismissed before Gill held a shot. Next minute however referee Harry Bruce was pointing to the spot as he penalised Gregor Jordan for fouling Gallagher and Ross McIVOR converted the penalty. 1-2

It was at this stage that Jordan collected his first yellow card that was to prove significant early into the second half.

The visitors tried hard to score again before the interval with a Longridge free kick in 42 minutes, followed by his dangerous cross two minutes later and and Muirhead shot set up through Smith.

Half time: Ross County Reserves 1 Dunfermline Reserves 2

Brandon Luke replaced Louis Longridge at half time.

After two fine goals and a good first half from the Pars the balance was transformed just two minutes after the restart when Jordan collected a second yellow card for tugging a County man and for the remainder of the game it was to be eleven v ten. Allan dropped back into central defence to fulfill the role vacated by Jordan.

There followed a couple of Pars efforts from Smith that went wide and Muirhead won found the keeper but the Staggies began to get closer. McBeath fired over a cross from the right, Wallace shot over the crossbar and Gill saved a McIvor header from a Gallagher corner on the hour mark.

The home side were beginning to enjoy spells of possession and despite playing into an increasingly strong wind they were to draw the scores level from a 72nd minute corner. It was JOHNSTONE who netted from close range to make it 2-2.

Just prior to the second County goal Lewis Crosbie and Lewis Sawers had replaced strikers Callum Smith and Lewis McCann. After Gill tipped over a 75th minute McIvor header, it was then Sawers who cleared another attempt from County.

Next Muirhead had his shot blocked and Sawers was offside as Luke tried to send him away. County kept up the pressure with Morrison heading away a Kelly cross and then Gill making another save.

The ten men were not to hold out however and with six minutes remaining Joel McBEATH slotted in what turned out to be the winner. 3-2

For the rest of the 90 plus three added minutes Dunfermline tried valiantly for an equaliser. Swanson won a 85th minute free kick on the edge of the opposition box and Muirhead curled his attempt round the defensive wall but also around the post.

Next minute Sawers was really unlucky when a loose ball to the keeper allowed him to stick out his foot and lob the keeper but the ball goes just wide.

In the second minute of time added, Sawers won another free kick. Hippolyte took it but although Muirhead got his head to it neither Morrison or Swanson could snap up the loose ball. The ball went behind for a bye kick and that was that.

Good to see Louis Longridge back on the pitch, his first match since 27th October.

Related Stories

• Hospitality versus Partick Thistle
• Supporters` Information v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
• Reserves v St Mirren
• Ryan Blair welcomed to DAFC