Ross County v Hibernian

Ross County 3

Kettlewell 9′ Vigurs 34′ McMenamin 83′

Hibernian 2

Griffiths 6′ McPake 45′

FT 90 +3
HT 2-2

Highlights - Ross County 3-2 Hibernian

By Charles Bannerman BBC Scotland

Ross County secured their first home Scottish Premier League win of the season after a goal-laden encounter with Hibernian at Victoria Park.

Leigh Griffiths gave the visitors an early lead before Stuart Kettlewell levelled for the Staggies from Richard Brittain's ninth-minute corner.

Iain Vigurs' acute finish then put County ahead, but James McPake's volley restored parity before the break.

Colin McMenamin was County's hero, netting Gary Glen's 83rd-minute flick.

County's win gave them their first points in their four outings since St Johnstone ended their 40-game unbeaten league run in September.

Hibs' breakthrough on eight minutes came after Griffiths slid the ball through keeper Michael Fraser's legs to the delight of a buoyant 500-strong travelling Hibs support.

However, their joy was short-lived since within a minute Brittain's free-kick was headed away for a corner which Hibs failed to defend properly, allowing Kettlewell to blast it home from close range.

By now County were getting the better of the game and just after the half hour they went ahead. A high ball over the top fell to man-of-the-match Vigurs who found the net from an incredibly tight angle outside the right post.

The first half still was not over and Hibs got a very late equaliser when a poor free-kick from Griffiths found McPake who manoeuvred in front of goal to fire in a fine left-footed volley.

The second half initially had little of the excitement or goalmouth action of the first and took all of 20 minutes to get going.

But with 69 minutes on the clock Paul Hanlon had a long shot stopped by Fraser and soon after at the other end Grant Munro headed closely over from a corner.

Next, Griffiths twice came close to what could have been a winner for Hibs when he first shot over and then grazed the top of the bar.

But the winner came for County when Gary Glen found substitute striker McMenamin poked it into the net from close in to give the SPL newcomers from Dingwall their second win in the top tier.

McMenamin might then have made it four while Hibs also pressed hard for the point which just eluded them.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Ross County

01 Fraser
03 Fitzpatrick
04 Munro
05 Boyd
22 Kovacevic
07 Kettlewell
10 Brittain
11 Vigurs
12 Quinn Booked
24 Ross (Glen - 77' )
29 Fotheringham (McMenamin - 66' )

Substitutes

25 Brown
06 Tokely
08 Lawson
09 McMenamin
20 Glen (Tokely - 89' )
26 Dingwall
27 Porritt

Hibernian

01 Williams
03 McGivern
04 Hanlon
06 McPake Booked
18 Maybury
08 Claros
11 Cairney (Caldwell - 87' )
14 Wotherspoon
20 Taiwo
09 Griffiths Booked
10 Doyle (Kuqi - 70' Booked )

Substitutes

31 Murdoch
16 Stevenson
17 Sproule
26 Stanton
24 Handling
29 Caldwell
32 Kuqi

Ref: Mclean

Att: 4,070

Match Stats

Possession 53 47

Shots

11 10

On target

6 4

Corners

7 9

Fouls

9 17

Live Text Commentary

88:00 Booking

Booking Shefki Kuqi goes into the book.

90:00 +2:58 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

88:00 Booking

Booking Shefki Kuqi (Hibernian) booked for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:11 Booking

Booking Leigh Griffiths (Hibernian) booked for dissent.

90:00 +2:03

Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Hibernian) on Richard Brittain (Ross County).

90:00 +1:09

Defending throw-in by Ryan McGivern (Hibernian).

90:00 +0:33

Foul by Ross Caldwell (Hibernian) on Mihael Kovacevic (Ross County). Free kick taken right-footed by Scott Boyd (Ross County) from right wing, resulting in open play.

89:30

Inswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by David Wotherspoon (Hibernian) to centre, clearance by Rocco Quinn (Ross County).

88:30 Booking

Booking James McPake (Hibernian) booked for unsporting behaviour.

88:10 Substitution

Substitution Ross County substitution: Gary Glen replaced by Ross Tokely (injury).

87:45

Inswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Leigh Griffiths (Hibernian) to centre,

87:14

Shot by Iain Vigurs (Ross County) right-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards),

86:37 Substitution

Substitution Hibernian substitution: Paul Cairney replaced by Ross Caldwell (tactical).