QUEEN of the South won the battle of the Alba Challenge Cup finalists to plunge Ross County into play-off territory near the foot of the table.David Weatherston struck a first-half winner to seal Jimmy Calderwood's first defeat in six games in charge at County.
It was tit-for-tat in the opening 20 minutes with the better chances falling to Queens. County strode ahead in the 21st minute when a Queens throw-in was touched into Andrew Barrowman's path at the edge of the box. The County striker wasted no time in sending a fine lob high past keeper Roddy McKenzie for his ninth of the campaign.
Soon after, Steven Milne went agonisingly close to claiming County's second with a dipping strike just over the bar. But Queens were level after 24 minutes after home defender Scott Boyd caught David Carmichael in the box. Bob Harris tucked the spot-kick beyond Michael McGovern's reach.
It was tit-for-tat in the opening 20 minutes with the better chances falling to Queens. County strode ahead in the 21st minute when a Queens throw-in was touched into Andrew Barrowman's path at the edge of the box. The County striker wasted no time in sending a fine lob high past keeper Roddy McKenzie for his ninth of the campaign.
Soon after, Steven Milne went agonisingly close to claiming County's second with a dipping strike just over the bar. But Queens were level after 24 minutes after home defender Scott Boyd caught David Carmichael in the box. Bob Harris tucked the spot-kick beyond Michael McGovern's reach.
County fell behind a minute before the break. Derek Holmes struck the post, McGovern saved from Colin McMenamin before Weatherston made it third-time lucky as he bundled the loose ball over the line.
Travel Club Man of the Match - Daniel Carmichael