Ross County 3-2 Queen's Park

Feb 24 2008 Alasdair Fraser Reports

DELIGHTED County boss Derek Adams hailed match-winner Paul Lawson after his late thunderbolt sent his side nine points clear.

Lawson fired home from 35 yards just seven minutes from the end after the home side almost blew a two-goal lead.

Adams was delighted to watch his side grab their ninth win in a row and said: "It was an excellent way to win it but I've always said I enjoy the way Queens pass and play.

"It was looking like a draw but then Paul stuck one in the top corner.

"I can tell you he's signed a contract extension so it's happy days. The lads showed great togetherness as was shown in the celebrations.

"The only down sidewas some scrappy defending for their goals."

Michael Gardyne opened the scoring in the fifth minute after cutting across the box and firing past Alex Cowie.

County pressed and had a penalty claim rejected after 15 minutes when Michael Dunlop seemed to hold back Andy Dowie.

The Dingwall side went 2-0 up in 27 minutes. Cowie failed to hold Sean Higgins' 30-yard strike and Andy Barrowman flicked the loose ball over the keeper.

County's Alex Keddie was subbed after a sickening head clash with Queens' Stuart Kettlewell.

The Spiders gave themselves some hope when they grabbed a goal in first half injury-time. With the County defence dozing Stuart McGrady sent Mark Ferry clear and he made no mistake.

Alan Trouten then stunned the home crowd with the equaliser in 62 minutes.

Amid chaos in the County box Paul Cairney floated a cross over and Trouten stabbed the loose ball home.

Moments later Trouten's low effort was tipped away for a corner superbly by keeper Tony Bullock.

County seemed to be running low on ideas but Queens were rocked with a sucker punch seven minutes from time.

From a defensive clearance, the ball fell to Lawson 35 yards out and he cracked a first-time volley into the roof of the net.

Queens boss Gardner Speirs said: "Despite losing we played so well for 20 minutes in the second half."