Dundee 1 - 1 Ross County: Kettlewell boils over penalty

Published on Sunday 26 February 2012 02:58

HE NETTED one, was booked for a late tackle and escaped a red card for a dubious penalty award. Ross County’s Stuart Kettlewell certainly knows how to get his name up in lights on a Saturday afternoon.

Ross County’s Stuart Kettlewell certainly knows how to get his name up in lights on a Saturday afternoon.

His goal had set the Highlanders up for another crucial win before a foul on Carl Finnigan handed Dundee a penalty and a lifeline.

And, while Kettlewell is still baffled by referee Mike Tumilty’s award of a spot-kick, he stayed on the park to help his side make it 20 games unbeaten.

“You get days like that where it is eventful for an individual and I was at the heart of everything today,” said the Staggies midfielder. “I got a goal and was happy with that but I didn’t feel like it was a penalty. I felt I stood my ground and their player ran into me.

“Getting sent off never crossed my mind because as soon as their player went down the referee was shaking his head as if to say it wasn’t a penalty. I don’t know who awarded it. Maybe it was the assistant referee who gave it. There was a big crowd here and the atmosphere was great but when certain decisions are made they are sometimes swayed.”

With March just around the corner, the true mettle of Ross County’s First Division title challenge is being put to the test. Yesterday’s trip to Dundee was the first of a series of games that will make or break the Dingwall side’s attempts to win promotion.

And the early signs were good as the Highlanders started with the sort of guile and craft you’d expect from a team who has been a leading light in the promotion race for most of the season.

Their high-pressing game saw them snarl away at the heels of Dundee players every time they wanted the ball back. When they had it, County attacked with pace and purpose and deservedly took an 11th-minute lead.

The goal itself may have had a suspicion of offside about it but it was superbly well-worked in any case. Scott Morrison’s flighted cross was stabbed back across goal by Richard Brittain and Kettlewell blasted in from close range.

The flag stayed down and County seemed in total command.

They would have backed up their dominance with another goal two minutes later but for some superb goalkeeping from Rab Douglas. Brittain’s free-kick was headed back by one-time Dundee star Colin McMenamin and Scott Boyd’s low drive was blocked by the legs of Michael Fraser.

Kettlewell then turned from goal hero to villain as Derek Adams’ side pressed the self-destruct button. Firstly, he picked up a deserved yellow card for chopping down Jamie McCluskey outside the box. That set up Conroy for a crack at goal but his low free-kick cannoned off the wall and the visitors survived.

However, Kettlewell then landed his side in even deeper trouble on 32 minutes when his challenge brought Carl Finnigan crashing to the deck.

Referee Mike Tumilty hesitated and consulted assistant referee Derek Rose before awarding the spot kick. Conroy stepped up to bury the penalty well beyond Michael Fraser.Kettlewell evaded any further punishment but was walking a red-card tightrope in the second period.

County tried to restore their lead after the break and came close on the hour mark. Iain Vigurs’ corner was met by McMenamin and his deflected header crashed off the crossbar to ensure the game ended all square.

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