St. Johnstone 1 Ross County 1

Last updated : 10 September 2005 By Footymad Previewer


Ross County stayed top of the league as they clung on for a point in a match that Saints should have sewn up by half-time.

A combination of the woodwork and poor finishing by the home side kept the score level.

A pulsating first half saw County go ahead in under 90 seconds. Saints had just missed a chance at the County end and when the ball was cleared. It fell to County striker Steven McGarry out on the left. His cross was met by Maciej Nuckowsk, whose first attempt was driven down by Paul Sheerin, but the Polish hit man hammered in the rebound.

From then on the first half was heavily dominated by the home side.

Steve Milne's seventh minute strike hit the side netting. Then Ryan McCann came close with a shot nine minutes later.

With 20 minutes gone Darren Sheridan's forward pass found Steve Milne at the left post. The former Dundee striker's header across the goal-line was missed inches from goal by front line partner Peter McDonald.

Ten minutes from the interval a McDonald header hit the bar.

St Johnstone finally gained a deserved equaliser when McDonald won a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Sheerin tapped the ball to McDonald, who slammed it home with a majestic strike.

Although the visitors tightened things up in the second half, Saint's continued to dominate until the final whistle but failed to inflict a killer blow.