Ross County 2 Forfar Athletic 0

Forfar Athletic lost in their third League Cup fixture on Wednesday evening as Ross County triumphed 2-0 to top Group B.

A Brian Graham double sealed the win for the Premiership side, leaving the Loons likely needing a win against St Johnstone on Saturday if they have any wishes of progressing to the second round.

 Jim Weir made five changes from the weekend win over Montrose with Darren Whyte, Murray Mackintosh, Ross Forbes, Andy Jackson and Ross Meechan coming in.

 There were early chances for both sides as Gardyne and Graham fired over for the hosts either side of Forbes’ low effort that was held by Laidlaw.

 The travelling support felt Andy Jackson should have had a free kick on the edge of the area in the 13th minute as he looked to have been hauled down.

 Willie Collum waved away claims and they were to rue this sixty seconds later when Graham diverted Gardyne’s off-target shot past McCallum.

 County had further chances to extend their lead but failed to find the target through Spittal and Gardyne.

 Murray Mackintosh saw his shot blocked in the 37th minute before Forbes blazed over the bar shortly after.

Spittal rifled a low effort inches past the post in the best chance before the break as the Staggies went in with the one-goal advantage.

Both sides failed to find the net in the opening quarter of the second half; Mackintosh having a close-range effort blocked by a last-ditch challenge while at the other end Spittal was denied by McCallum.

With fifteen minutes remaining the Staggies doubled their lead and it was Graham who found the net again, heading home at the back post.

Just sixty seconds later they thought they had added a third when McCallum parried a Stewart shot into the path of Power. He looked destined to score but for a last-ditch clearance by Ross Meechan who saved the day.

The double from Graham was enough to ensure the hosts finished top of the group with twelve points. Forfar, however, can still qualify as one of the best runners up if Saturday’s results work in their favour as well as their final group game against St Johnstone.

Match report by Lee Smith.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Fraser, Kelly, Fontaine, Morris, Gardyne, McKay (Stewart 61), Vigurs, Graham, Spittal (Power 61), Paton (Chalmers 71)

Subs not used: Grivosti, Mullin, Watson, Dixon-Hodge (gk)

Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Meechan, Bain, Docherty, Whyte, Robertson (Aitken 71), Coupe, Mackintosh (Irvine 52), Jackson, Tapping, Forbes (Kirkpatrick 73)

Subs not used: Burns, McGuff (gk)