County's Keddie goes from hero to zero

Published on Saturday 21 March 2009 19:02

Ross County 1 (Keddie 44) Morton 1 (Russell 90)

A MOMENT of calamity in injury time cost Ross County two valuable points in the relegation battle as Alex Keddie went from hero to villain. The Dingwall defender's late mix-up with keeper Joe Malin gifted substitute Iain Russell the leveller after County passed up a clutch of second-half chances.

Just before the break, Keddie had headed County into the lead and Morton, after impressing early on, had seemed short of ideas before the late blunder stretched their unbeaten run to six.

Without a goal in their last four games, County struggled to create much at all in the first 25 minutes. Morton were quickly on the front foot, with Kevin Finlayson's mis-hit cross almost skimming the post after six minutes. After 17 minutes, a Finlayson cross from the right found James Grady at the far-side of the six-yard box but his shot was deflected for a corner. From Finlayson's delivery, Peter Weatherson knocked a header over the bar.

County were denied a penalty despite strong appeals after 19 minutes when Allan Jenkins appeared to handle a Richard Brittain cross. Referee Chris Boyle awarded Morton a free-kick for a shove.

As the half progressed, County gained momentum and finally ended their 427-minute wait for a goal just before the break. From Paul Lawson's corner, Alex Keddie towered over everyone to fire an eight-yard header past Kevin Cuthbert.

After a Morton penalty claim, Steven Craig missed a glorious chance to double the lead after 71 minutes. Richard Brittain's tenacity on the far right saw him cut inside and chip a cross to Craig who could only drop his free header onto the top of the bar.

But disaster struck for County in the closing seconds. From a big punt forward, Keddie's defensive header was missed by keeper Malin allowing Iain Russell to gleefully find the empty net.