Ross County gear up for the Premiership kick-off and complete Premier Sports Cup section with impressive 4-1 win against League One Montrose
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Ross County (2) 4
Montrose (0) 1
(Scorers: Ross Co - Spittal 5, 56, Iacovitti 35, White 53; Montrose - Johnston 61)
Ross County enjoyed an hour of dominance to brush aside Montrose but had to resist a late rally from the League One visitors.
The Premiership side were far more ruthless in front of goal than in Wednesday night’s narrow win away to Brora Rangers and struck in the first half through Blair Spittal and Alex Iacovitti.
Malky Mackay’s men then doubled the lead in incisive fashion through Jordan White and Spittal again, but the Gable Endies mustered a Craig Johnston reply just after the hour.
Back in October, the Angus club had held the visiting Staggies to a 3-3 draw at home in the same competition.
Ex-County striker Stewart Petrie was looking for his men to make it tough for the top-flight side all over again, but they were behind inside five minutes.
A neat passing move sliced through the visitors all too easily, with Ross Callachan playing a low ball into the area before Blair Spittal netted close-in from Dom Samuel’s lay-off.
Montrose passed up a superb opportunity after 17 minutes when Johnston powered the ball low across goal and Lewis Milne only failed to connect close in.
Jordan White header crashed off the Montrose post, but it was 2-0 after 35 minutes.
Spittal worked a one-two with Jake Vokins from a corner and then whipped in a brilliant ball for Iacovitti to net with a lovely reverse flick of his head - his second in as many games.
A blinding move eight minutes after the break saw County again slice Montrose open with Vokins, Callachan and Spittal all linking at high pace before White swept in a left foot finish from 10 yards.
Spittal then struck the fourth with a tremendous hit from 20 yards after good work by Jordan Tillson.
Montrose, though, suddenly rallied, punishing home slackness after the hour with Johnston hammering home at close-range.
Johnston then saw keeper Ross Laidlaw push another attempt onto the post.
The Gable Endies finished strongly, but couldn’t find a way back.
Ross County (3-5-2): Laidlaw; Donaldson, Watson, Iacovitti; Spittal, Callachan (Shaw 54), Tillson, Robertson (Randall 46), Vokins (Williamson 84); Samuel (McLeman 84), White (Wright 61). Subs: Munro.
Booked: Steeves 75
Montrose (4-1-4-1) : Lennox; Webster, Waddell, Allan (Dillon 57), Steeves; Watson (Antoniazzi 61); Brown, Callaghan (Masson 61), Milne (Whatley 81), Lyons (Rennie 57); Johnston. Subs: Fleming, Garnham.
Referee: Craig Napier
