Ronan Hale scored a stoppage-time penalty as relegation-threatened Ross County salvaged a 1-1 draw away to Livingston within the first leg of the Premiership play-off remaining.
Championship promotion hopefuls Livi seemed on track to be taking a result in Dingwall for Monday’s second leg after Danny Wilson fired them forward on the finish of the primary half.
However the former Liverpool and Rangers defender’s evening ended on a bitter notice when he tugged the shirt of Jordan White, paving the way in which for County to stage the tie with a late penalty.
There have been ugly scenes at full-time across the guests’ technical space as a member of the Staggies backroom employees gave the impression to be confronted by a house supporter, with police getting concerned.
Ross County supervisor Don Cowie mentioned: “Feelings are excessive at that time, the house followers clearly disenchanted they’ve conceded a penalty so late on within the sport. Annoyed and having been a part of soccer for a very long time you may settle for individuals coming over and possibly saying a couple of issues.
“One of the Livingston fans overstepped the mark by spitting in one of the members of our staff’s faces. There is no place for that anywhere in life and to see it so close up, that’s why there was a lot of our staff really frustrated because you want to protect your own and stand up for our own people. That was a disappointing end to what happened.”
Monday twenty sixth Could 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Livingston supervisor David Martindale apologised to County on behalf of his membership.
“I’m not really too versed about what happened but from what I’ve heard, it’s disgusting, it’s vile,” he mentioned.
“It’s not a reflection on our full fanbase, it’s an individual but it’s really disappointing. I can just apologise on behalf of the club. I’m sure the powers that be at the club will deal with it promptly and efficiently.”
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Ronan Hale was the hero for Ross County as he transformed a late penalty
Martindale had chosen the identical XI that began each legs of the 4-0 mixture semi-final victory over Championship rivals Partick Thistle.
County, bidding to barter the play-offs for a 3rd yr in a row and extend their six-year keep within the Premiership, had been additionally unchanged from the group that halted a seven-game dropping streak by drawing 1-1 at dwelling to Motherwell on the ultimate day of the Premiership marketing campaign.
The Staggies virtually opened the scoring within the tenth minute however County defender Will Nightingale’s highly effective downward header from a Hale nook was brilliantly clawed out by ‘keeper Jerome Prior.
Livi midfielder Scott Pittman then examined Jordan Amissah with a low shot from simply outdoors the field.
The Lions began to get on high and Cristian Montano was denied by an Akil Wright problem within the field after getting on the tip of Lewis Smith’s cutback earlier than the Colombian drove a shot simply vast of the far submit after slicing in from the left.
Hale rescued a draw for Ross County
The hosts had two huge possibilities in fast succession simply after the half-hour, with Montano’s close-range shot charged down by Zac Ashworth earlier than Robbie Muirhead blazed over after Smith’s cross fell to him six yards out.
Livi made a deserved breakthrough within the final minute of the primary half when Wilson pounced to blast dwelling the unfastened ball from contained in the six-yard field after County did not clear their traces following a Stephen Kelly nook that was met by the pinnacle of Ryan McGowan.
The Lions went seeking a second after the break and Kelly was astray with an angled shot from simply contained in the field earlier than Muirhead fired over after being arrange by Pittman.
Montano then headed Smith’s cross over the bar from shut vary simply earlier than the hour.
County began to knock on the door, with Hale sending an overhead kick over the bar and sub Dylan Smith seeing a low shot pushed behind by Prior, and so they pressured an equaliser within the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hale fired dwelling from the spot after Wilson was penalised for pulling substitute White’s shirt.
