And that's why Ross County are champions!
WHILE the First Division title has effectively been in the bag for what seems like an age, this was the day Ross County’s runaway winners finally got their hands on the trophy – and settled some unfinished business.
A remarkable 4,737 people squeezed into Victoria Park to be part of an historic occasion and witness Derek Adams’ side set the seal on a campaign which has realised the dream of bringing top flight SPL football to Dingwall.
With the County town revelling in a carnival atmosphere and fans ready for the party of the year, you could be forgiven for thinking the match against Hamilton was just academic.
The visitors clapped the County side on to the pitch amidst a buzzing atmosphere. County’s up-for-it title winners then set about demolishing the Accies in a 5-1 rout which provided the perfect kick start for the party to follow.
Ironically Hamilton was the last team to defeat Ross County in the league – in a 5-1 victory at New Douglas Park back in August. That now seems an eternity ago. And the nature of the victory back in Dingwall will have expunged any lingering sense of shame.
Colin McMenamin set the tone as early as the fifth minute, although County were later pegged back through James McAlister after the break.
Goals by Kettlewell, Brittain and – who else? – Gardyne put it beyond all doubt and set the scene for the title presentation and triumphant open-top bus tour around Dingwall.
Gardyne – who marked his last home match for the club prior to leaving to join Dundee United next season – also paid his own tribute to the fans with a post-match tweet on Twitter: “Thanks for all the messages, guys, very much appreciated. Delighted to get a goal and man of the match on my last home appearance.”
Also on Twitter, another regular County goalscorer, Colin McMenamin admitted it had been a bittersweet day after his former club, Queen of the South, got relegated after going down to Raith Rovers.
Both chairman Roy MacGregor and manager Derek Adams paid tribute to the fans for the part played in bringing SPL football to Ross-shire.
Thirty-three games unbeaten. Twenty-four points clear at the top. And on cloud nine.
Full report and pictures in next week’s Ross-shire Journal – sure to be one you’ll want to keep as a souvenir of history in the making. Do you have a picture which sums up the day? Why not share it with others by emailing us at editor@rsjournal.co.uk