Arbroath 0 - 0 Ross County: Staggies need penalty to seal progress

Ross County's Tim Chow (centre) gets away from Danny Denholm. Picture: SNS/Sammy Turner

A goalless draw at Gayfield combined with Hibernian’s 3-0 victory over Alloa meant County had to settle for second spot.

The Staggies won 5-4 on penalties to move on to 10 points but would have qualified as one of the four best runners-up, even if they had lost the spot-kick battle.

The hosts started well and Danny Denholm saw his low drive gathered at the second attempt by goalkeeper Scott Fox.

At the other end, Ryan Dow’s goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Ricky Little.

It was a well-matched contest for the remainder of the first half. with Fox gathering another Denholm effort and Tim Chow seeing a header saved by David Hutton.

County should have gone 1-0 up just after the restart but Hutton got down well to save from Craig Curran, who was sent clear by Chow.

Jason Naismith then burst forward from defence for the visitors and his low drive was well-held by the busy Hutton.

Omar Kadar’s shot seemed to strike an arm in the 74th minute as Arbroath piled forward but referee Steven Kirkland waved away appeals.

Ross County substitute Thomas Mikkelsen had two late efforts kept out by Hutton, so it was on to the shoot-out to determine a winner.

Chow was the hero following two Fox saves to seal a 5-4 penalty shoot-out triumph for the home side.