Ross County see off Ayr United to reach third round of Scottish League Cup
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ROSS County saw off spirited Scottish League One visitors Ayr United 2-0 in the second round of the Scottish League Cup tonight (Tuesday).
Goals from Liam Boyce and Michael Gardyne guided the Staggies to a comfortable win and into Thursday afternoon's draw.
The Dingwall side could not have come into this tie in better shape, having dismantled Kilmarnock 4-0 at the weekend in the Scottish Premiership.
It was a sizzling display that got fans talking (and Killie fans furious) throughout the country.
Manager Jim McIntyre gave keeper Daniel Bachman a start, resting main pick Scott Fox, while Brian Graham came in for Craig Curran, who suffered a head knock at the weekend.
Defender Scott Boyd made his milestone 288 appearance for County tonight, breaking the record held by legend Mark McCulloch.
Raffaele De Vita and Ian McShane, who sat out the game on Saturday, were handed starts, with Chris Robertson and Rocco Quinn dropping on to the bench.
Right-back Richard Foster, who sat out the Rugby Park show due to a hamstring strain, made it on to the bench.
Ayr have started their season reasonably well, winning four of their six games, including their 2-0 win against Brechin City in the previous round.
Ian McCall's Honest Men, who are aiming to gain promotion to the Scottish Championship next year, were 2-1 weekend winners at Stranraer and were determined to show up well against their top-flight hosts.
Ayr also made five changes from Saturday, with Craig McCracken, Brian Gilmour, Ross Caldwell, Alan Trouten and Michael Donald promoted to the starting 11.
County got off to a flying start with two goals within the opening four minutes against Killie and they began swiftly again here by taking the lead in the third minute.
And it was Boyce, a double scorer on Saturday, who found the net again when his deflected shot from a Jackson Irvine flick on beat keeper Greg Fleming and flew into the net.
There were no nerves to be settled, but the early goal will have been a big boost to the Staggies.
Ayr's first venture forward of note came in 13 minutes and Boyd slid in to halt the advancing Nicky Devlin who looked to deliver a telling cross.
Then Trouten found space 25 yards out and he flashed a swerving shot over the crossbar as Ayr settled into the match.
On 22 minutes, Ayr had to make a substitution when Trouten suffered a knock. He was replaced by Alan Forrest.
Craig McCracken then shot over the bar for Ayr after Jamie Adams knocked the ball into his path. Ayr had certainly responded well to losing the early goal.
Graham is always a threat with his height in the box and he was unlucky with a close range header which finished over the top when he met a Reckord cross.
On the stroke of half-time, De Vita crashed a volley over Fleming's crossbar when he connected with a sweeping cross from Marcus Fraser.
Five minutes into the second half, County grabbed a vital second goal as Boyce burst forward and played the ball to Michael Gardyne and he guided a swerving shot from the edge of the box past Fleming into the net.
A few minutes later, Gardyne almost set Boyce up for another as he swept the ball into the box and the Northern Irishman headed wide.
De Vita was next to have a go and he drove an angled shot past the far post after Marcus Fraser sent the ball into the box.
A slack back pass from Ayr defender Ross Docherty meant for his keeper was intercepted by Graham and he knocked it just wide of goal with De Vita rushing in.
Full-back Fraser was making a good contribution going forward and another low delivery almost found the boot of Boyce.
County sub Tony Dingwall tried to repeat Gardyne's goal effort but his curling drive was saved by Fleming.
Graham came close to adding a third goal but his strike from eight yards was swiped off the line by Paddy Boyle.
County now go into Thursday's third round draw as one of the seeds and will be in upbeat mood for the league visit of Dundee United.
Ross County:Bachmann, Boyd, Davies, Boyce (Quinn 82), McShane, Gardyne (Holden 77), Reckord, De Vita (Dingwall 62), Irvine, Fraser, Graham. Subs not used: Fox (GK), Robertson, Foster, Murdoch.
Ayr United: Fleming, Devlin, Boyle, Docherty, McLaughlin, McCracken, Gilmour, Adams (Moore 58), Caldwell (Preston 46), Trouten (Forrest 22), Donald. Subs not used: Newman (GK), Crawford, Nisbet, Muir.
Referee: Craig Charleston.
