Alloa1–5Inverness CT

It was “heads you win” in this convincing victory over relegation-threatened Alloa. The highlight was Paul Ritchie’s second hat-trick of the season at Recreation Park. Alloa tried hard but their only reward was a goal from a penalty awarded by referee Eric Martindale in his last game before retiral. Stuart McCaffrey celebrated his hundredth appearance for Caley Thistle. Bobby Mann opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a well placed header following a Barry Robson corner from the left. Nine minutes later Ross Tokely crossed from the right and Ritchie netted with a glancing header to make it 2-0. In 34 minutes Stuart Golabek crossed from the left but Derek Soutar did well to save Robson’s flick. Soutar again saved from Robson just after half-time before Ritchie scored again to make it 3-0 in 50 minutes. He took a pass from Russell Duncan on the left side of the box, evaded a defender then hit low into the far corner. Alloa gained a lifeline on the hour mark when Robert Soutar scored from the penalty spot after Gareth Hutchison was pushed by Mann. This spurred them on and two minutes later Mark Brown saved a Ross Hamilton header at point blank range. The fightback ended in 71 minutes when Ritchie completed his hat-trick – a diving header after a Robson cross from the right. Six minutes from time Golabek ran through the middle, passed to Robson on the left, raced up in support and when the cross came he dived to head only his second career goal. Seconds later Brown pushed a Scott Crabbe header over the bar then Soutar denied Robson after a good run and pass from Tony Low. Ross County’s home victory over Arbroath puts them three points ahead of Alloa and with better goal difference – with two games left Alloa look doomed.