Match ends, Ross County 2, Hamilton Academical 1.
Ross CountyRoss County2HamiltonHamilton Academical1
Ian McShane's wonderful free-kick gave 10-man Ross County a crucial win against Hamilton Academical.
Dutch striker Alex Schalk's first league goal for the club gave the Staggies an interval lead.
Within seconds of the restart Jamie Reckord was sent off for denying Dougie Imrie a clear goalscroring opportunity.
Imrie himself equalised with his sixth goal of the season but Accies were caught chasing the win and McShane showed real skill to get the winner.
The win moves fourth-placed Ross County eight points clear of second-bottom Kilmarnock while Accies - just a point above Killie - next face Celtic at home on Friday.
County do it the hard way
Sleet and a driving wind hardly helped the players produce silky soccer on a pitch that cut up badly as a result of the battering it has taken from the elements this winter.
It was perspiration rather than inspiration for the first half-hour before a flurry of activity at either end of the field.
Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern produced a top drawer save when Liam Boyce thought he has scored after being set up by Schalk.
Almost immediately Ali Crawford fizzed a shot just wide of the home goal.
Scott Fox had to tip a Darren Lyon cross over the bar before Gramoz Kurtaj caused problems for the Staggies keeper with a near-post drive.
Fox injured himself in the process of dealing with that but Crawford did not spot him on the deck and failed to hit target from the edge of the area.
Jim McIntyre's side made the most of that let-off by taking the lead as the first half spilled into added time.
Richard Foster played in a free-kick from deep, Andrew Davies headed it across the danger area and Schalk nodded home for his first goal since scoring against Celtic in the League Cup semi-final.
However, the Staggies' lead always looked fragile from the start of the second half after Reckord picked up a straight red card for a professional foul on Imrie.
Hamilton laid siege to the Ross County goal and only a block on the line by Paul Quinn prevented Lucas Tagliapietra heading in a quick leveller.
Fox also made two great saves to deny Accies, the first from Crawford's free-kick and the second dealing with Imrie's net-bound effort.
Imrie finally got the goal his industry and determination deserved when he headed in a Kurtaj cross.
Accies pushed for a winner but were caught out on the counter attack as Ross County won a free-kick 22 yards from goal, left of centre field.
McShane showed sublime skill to curl the ball round the defensive wall into the top left-hand corner of the net, giving McGovern no chance.
And it proved to be a massive blow for Hamilton, who have taken just seven points from their last 11 league matches.
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Fox
- 12Foster
- 15DaviesBooked at 73mins
- 43QuinnBooked at 84mins
- 3ReckordBooked at 47mins
- 8McShane
- 36Irvine
- 26Woods
- 7GardyneSubstituted forMurdochat 51'minutes
- 10BoyceSubstituted forGoodwillieat 86'minutes
- 23SchalkSubstituted forRobertsonat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Robertson
- 9Graham
- 17Franks
- 18Murdoch
- 21Woods
- 24De Vita
- 25Goodwillie
Hamilton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1McGovern
- 2Gordon
- 24TenaBooked at 13mins
- 44De Lima Tagliapietra
- 3KurakinsBooked at 45mins
- 7Imrie
- 18MacKinnon
- 12KurtajSubstituted forDochertyat 86'minutes
- 22LyonSubstituted forD'Acolat 58'minutes
- 11Crawford
- 14MorrisSubstituted forDiabyat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Gillespie
- 8Diaby
- 9D'Acol
- 20Brophy
- 21Docherty
- 26Martin
- 28Mandiangu
- Referee:
- Greg Aitken
- Attendance:
- 3,059
Match Stats
Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamHamilton
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away21
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 2, Hamilton Academical 1.
Post update
Jackson Irvine (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Darian MacKinnon (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Attempt missed. David Goodwillie (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Oumar Diaby (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Oumar Diaby (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Chris Robertson (Ross County).
Post update
David Goodwillie (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lucas (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Paul Quinn (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Oumar Diaby (Hamilton Academical).
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Andrew Davies (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Alejandro D'Acol (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Foul by David Goodwillie (Ross County).
Post update
Darian MacKinnon (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Davies (Ross County).
Post update
Oumar Diaby (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. David Goodwillie replaces Liam Boyce.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Greg Docherty replaces Gramoz Kurtaj.
