Oli Shaw leaves it late to earn Hibs a draw

Posted Sunday, April 08, 2018 by PA

Hibernian snatched a late but well-deserved equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw with Ross County at Dingwall.

Billy McKay had put the Staggies ahead against the run of play in the 28th minute.

But in the last minute of normal time, Oli Shaw reacted first to a loose ball in the Ross County area to salvage a point for the visitors.

Hibs pressed the home side high up the pitch as they controlled the match. John McGinn’s range of passing early on was exceptional, first finding Martin Boyle in space as he approached the right side of the box, but Boyle’s first touch was non-existent, wasting what should have been a good sight on goal.

Another McGinn’s cross from wide on the left found Paul Hanlon, who had come up the pitch for a corner, but the defender’s header was deflected behind for a corner.

The Scottish international would not just be making chances for his team-mates though. Just before the half-hour mark the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he hit it sweetly on the half volley – but his rising effort was straight at Scott Fox in the County goal.

The home side took the lead in the 28th minute when Alex Schalk made a good run down the left wing and picked out his strike partner Billy McKay. McKay got the ball trapped under his feet, but he managed to steady himself and pick out the bottom corner to break the deadlock.

In the second half County were happy to sit back, and let Hibs come on to them and try to break forward on the counter.

That nearly worked a treat for the Staggies 10 minutes after the interval, when a long clearance found Schalk in space on the left wing, and his speculative effort from distance had Marciano scrambling before it eventually dribbled wide.

The Dingwall side suffered a setback when goalscorer McKay pulled up when chasing the ball and had to be replaced as he favoured his hamstring.

And Hibs added insult to injury in the 90th minute as Shaw pounced on a loose ball to tuck home a late equaliser.