Ross County 3-0 Partick Thistle: Clinical County open up a nine-point gap

A RUTHLESS Ross County swept aside Partick Thistle to carve a mighty nine-point advantage at the First Division summit.

The SPL promotion favourites, who still hold one game in hand on rivals Falkirk, underlined their title credentials with a 23rd game unbeaten to match Dundee’s record best run of recent times in the division.

With expectation levels soaring among the Highland support, this was one of two remaining games in hand with which the hosts knew they could turn the screw and stretch the advantage. It proved a faultless display from Derek Adams’ side.

With a fierce breeze behind them, the hosts got the opener on the half hour as Gary Miller’s measured cross from the left found Colin McMenamin un-marked to expertly angle a header into the corner of the net.

Six minutes later, the lead was doubled with Iain Vigurs striking a fine free-kick with his left foot from the far right. The 25-yard effort was caught sweetly in the breeze and smacked in off the inside of the post.

With the wind in their faces, County wasted little time after the re-start extending the lead. Vigurs threaded a long pass through to McMenamin on the left. He squared perfectly into the stride of strike partner Gardyne to crack past goalkeeperScott Fox from ten yards.