Lionel Ainsworth’s late strike earned 10-man Motherwell their first Scottish Premiership victory of 2015 as the bottom side upset Inverness 2-1 at Fir Park. The substitute struck a shot from 20 yards with the assistance of a slight deflection as Motherwell rediscovered their fighting spirit following a run of one point in eight games.
Motherwell opened the scoring four minutes after the break when Louis Laing headed home, but Caley Thistle hit the frame of the goal twice before Edward Ofere headed a debut goal in the 76th minute. Simon Ramsden was sent off for the home side three minutes from time.
St Mirren finally recorded their first home victory of the season as they edged out Hamilton 1-0 in a tense affair in Paisley. The Buddies had not tasted success on home turf since defeating Ross County by the same scoreline last May at the tailend of last season. Steven Thompson scored the all-important goal just after the hour and in the end they just about deserved the win over a disappointing Hamilton side.
St Johnstone and Kilmarnock played out a dull 0-0 draw at McDiarmid Park. The home side came closest to scoring in the first half when Michael O’Halloran and Steven MacLean were both kept out in quick succession. Killie thought they had won it 10 minutes from time but Nathan Eccleston saw his shot heroically blocked by Tam Scobbie in a dramatic goalmouth scramble. Clear chances were few and far between for much of the match and the sides remained seventh and eighth respectively in the table.
Partick Thistle shocked Dundee United with a well-deserved 2-0 win at Tannadice and are now seven points clear of the relegation places. Goals from Stephen O’Donnell and an own goal from Jaroslaw Fojut towards the end of the first half gave Partick victory.
Ross County recorded three consecutive wins for the first time in two years with a deserved 1-0 victory over Dundee at Victoria Park. County had three great chances to score before they got the vital goal, including an effort from Jackson Irvine which Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain touched on to the post. The winner came midway through the second half when Liam Boyce and Michael Gardyne combined on the right, and when Gardyne swung over the cross to the back post Jamie Reckord was free to steer the ball into the empty net.
