Saints had to settle for a point in their final match of 2025 this afternoon as they battled out a goalless draw with Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.
The first half was a tight affair, with both sides creating chances to take the lead. The hosts came close on 36 minutes, but Toby Steward produced a fine save to deny Ryan Duncan. Then, in first-half stoppage time, Josh McPake saw his trademark effort tipped around the post by Trevor Carson.
McPake was denied again by Carson early in the second half as the on-loan Staggies goalkeeper tipped the winger’s effort over the bar for a corner. Carson then thwarted McPake once more with eight minutes remaining, producing a brilliant save to claw away a goal-bound shot from the Saints winger.
However, there was nothing Carson could do when Adama Sidibeh got on the end of a Morgan Boyes cross in the final minute of the match however, the Gambian saw his effort hit the post as Saints ended 2025 with a point in Dingwall.
Saints are back in action next Saturday as they welcome Arbroath to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints headed north for their final game of 2025 today as they travelled to Dingwall to take on Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium. Simo Valakari made one change to the side which defeated Greenock Morton 5-0 last weekend as Sam Stanton dropped to the bench and he was replaced by Jack Baird as the Saints head coach switched to a back three. There was also one change to the Ross County starting eleven which lost 2-0 at home to Arbroath last Saturday as caretaker manager John Robertson brought in Dylan Smith to replace Alex Iacovitti who missed out completely.
Ryan Duncan got the match underway for the Staggies, but it was Saints who created the first chance of the match after 3 minutes. Good pressing from Morgan Boyes saw the Saints defender win possession just past the halfway line and he then played the ball forward to Adama Sidibeh. The Saints forward switched the ball out wide to Liam Smith however, his delivery into the County box was turned behind for a corner by Len O’Sullivan.
The hosts made a strong start to the match and they got a sight of goal on 15 minutes as Jordan White was played in behind the Saints backline however, he couldn’t pick out a County player with his delivery into the danger area as Sidibeh turned the ball behind for a corner.
PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh and Connor Randall
Saints applied pressure to the County goal on 26 minutes as both Adam Forrester and Jamie Gullan had efforts blocked by the home defence. Then just before the half an hour mark Josh McPake won Saints a free kick in a promising position after he was fouled by Conner Randell, who was booked by referee Sean Murdoch. Gullan took the free kick as his effort went up and over the wall before going narrowly wide of Trevor Carson’s right-hand post.
With 9 minutes of the first half remaining Ross County breached the Saints backline again as Jamie Lindsay’s delivery across the box was met by Duncan but Toby Steward made a smart save to turn the ball behind for a corner.
In the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half McPake came close to the breakthrough as he did his trademark cut inside before seeing his strike turned behind for a corner by Trevor Carson.
PHOTO: Josh McPake battles with Dylan Smith
Saints made a strong start to the second half as on 47 minutes Gullan slipped the ball into the path of McPake, but Carson produced a strong hand to tip the wingers effort over for a corner. Then 4 minutes later a Gullan corner from the right was met by Jack Baird however, his couldn’t direct his header on target.
The pressure from Saints continued as on 55 minutes Jason Holt picked out Boyes on the edge of the box however, his curling effort went wide of the far post. More good build-up play by Saints on 66 minutes saw Holt pick out Gullan however, the forward put his effort over from the edge of the box.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan’s shot is blocked by Connor Randall
Saints then made their first change of the game as Sam Stanton replaced Reece McAlear.
Despite being under the cosh for much of the second half County came close to finding the breakthrough with 19 minutes remaining as Ronan Hale got on the end of a Jay Henderson cross however, the header from the Northern Irishman was well held by Steward.
Play quickly switched to the other end as two minutes later, patient build-up play from Saints saw Boyes thread a fine pass through to Forrester however, O’Sullivan came to County’s rescue, turning Forrester’s right-footed effort behind for a corner. Saints were awarded another free kick in a promising position on 78 minutes after Gullan was fouled by Ross Docherty. Gullan dusted himself down to take the free kick however, his effort from 25 yards didn’t trouble Carson.
That would prove to be Gullan’s final involvement in the match, as he was replaced by Stevie Mallan. Adam Forrester and Liam Smith also made way, with Matty Foulds and Kai Fotheringham introduced in their place.
PHOTO: Morgan Boyes and Jay Henderson
Saints continued to push forward in search of a breakthrough and, with 8 minutes remaining, McPake came agonisingly close to putting his side ahead. The Saints winger unleashed a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner, only for Carson to produce another fine save, to claw the ball away. McPake was again at the heart of the action on 84 minutes, driving into the box before seeing his shot deflect off a County defender, taking the sting out of the effort as Carson gathered comfortably.
With 4 minutes remaining, Stanton won Saints a free kick after being fouled by Staggies substitute Jack Wells-Morrison, who was shown a yellow card by Sean Murdoch. Mallan delivered the set piece into the box, where it broke to McPake, who in turn picked out Stanton however, the midfielder’s effort was diverted behind for another corner by Dylan Smith. Then shortly after Sidibeh was able to get on the end of a Boyes cross into the box however, his downward header was easily gathered by Carson.
PHOTO: Josh McPake’s shot is blocked
Saints came even closer to finding a breakthrough in the final minute as Boyes’ cross into the box was met by Sidibeh at the back post, with the Gambian seeing his effort come back off the woodwork as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Ross County: Carson, O’Sullivan, Randall, Henderson (Thomson 77’), Hale, Smith, Docherty, White, Duncan (Scott 90+2’), Gallagher (Wells-Morrison 62’), Lindsay
Unused Substitutes: Laidlaw (GK), Foster (GK), Mackay-Steven, Coyle, Ferguson
Booked: Smith, Randall, White, Lindsay, Wells-Morrison, Hale
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt, Sidibeh, Gullan (Mallan 80’), Baird, McPake, Smith (Fotheringham 80’), Forrester (Foulds 80’), McAlear (Stanton 66’)
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Griffith, Svedberg, Lloyd, Sprangler
Booked: Gullan, Boyes, Forrester, Baird
Referee: Sean Murdoch
Attendance: 3,427
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Trevor Carson punches clear from Morgan Boyes
