East Kilbride

Chin stars as clinical County ease past East Kilbride in Dingwall. After a scrappy start to proceedings, the first chance came after 15 minutes. Randall spun his marker and hit the crossbar from a tight angle. Fifteen minutes later, it was Randall who came close for County again. Graham found the midfielder inside the EK box, but his low effort was saved by the foot of Kelly. With less than two minutes until the interval, Balde found Gray inside the area, who saw his shot come off the post. Into stoppage time, County hit the front. Chin found Lindsay, who played the ball across goal to Graham, who found the roof of the net to give the hosts a deserved lead. HT: Ross County 1-0 East Kilbride Into the second period, County doubled their lead. Emslie played the ball through to McCarvel, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Not long later, two became three. Chin did brilliantly to win the ball high up the pitch, before playing the ball down the line to McCarvel, who played a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which was eventually bundled in by Lindsay. With just under twenty minutes remaining, County made it four. Strapp played the ball into the County box, and it was the skipper Graham, in the right place, at the right time, to head home. East Kilbride came close to pulling a goal back when Balde found himself with the ball at the back post, but his deflected effort was cleared off the line. After two minutes of additional time, the referee drew the game to a close. A stellar showing form the Staggies as they maintain their perfect start to the campaign. On the other hand, East Kilbride will have to improve, as they face high-flying Hamilton in their next match. Ross County: Foster (7), Smith (7), Wright (7), Reid (7), Strapp (8), Randall (7), McCarvel (9), Chin (9), Lindsay (9), Emslie (7), Graham (9) Substitutes: Cornelius, Hamilton (6), Jamieson (6), MacLeod (6), Phillips (6), Reid, Turner (6), Wade, Williamson East Kilbride: Kelly (5), Fagan (4), O’Connor (4), Hamilton (6), Kyle (6), Armstrong (6), Zaid (6), Gray (6), Balde (7), McGrattan (5), Elliot (5) Substitutes: Calder (5), McGuffie (5), Dargie (5), McKendrick, Ross, Smith, Steele (5)

Ross County and East Kilbride meet for the first time. Ross County have enjoyed a stellar start to their campaign. The Dingwall outfit managed to finish top of their League Cup group, beating Premiership outfit Dundee on penalties along the way, before beating Championship side Dunfermline Athletic 2-1 away from home in the Last 16, to set up a Last 8 meeting with Hibernian in Dingwall. In terms of the league, County have been flawless, winning all three of their matches, with the most recent win coming away against Airdrieonians, who were also relegated from the Championship last campaign. East Kilbride have had a rapid rise to reach League One. The Kilby have earned back-to-back promotions to reach this division, and based on their start to their League One season, are showing no signs of slowing down. EK have picked up seven points from a possible twelve, which puts them in third, one place and two points behind their opponents on Saturday, albeit having played a game more. Both sides were in Challenge Cup action during the week and both got the job done in a professional manor. Ross County beat Highland League outfit Banks O’ Dee 4-0 in Dingwall, courtesy of an early strike from Jamieson, a brace from Phillips and a goal from Coyle. While East Kilbride beat Lowland League outfit Cowdenbeath 3-1 away from home, courtesy of a brace from McGrattan and a penalty from Elliot. This is a game that promises goals, based on their starts to the season. County have scored thirteen goals in their last five matches, while East Kilbride have found the net twelve times in their last five matches, here’s hoping for more of the same when these sides meet on Saturday for the first time.