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Ross County 5; Albion Rovers 3 |
County took the lead when Derek Adams netted from the penalty spot after Wood was fouled in the box. Wood scored himself just before half-time to give Ross a 2-0 lead at the break.
Adams scored his second and County's third shortly after the interval. Albion reduced the lead when Gardner scored from the spot but County hit back quickly when substitute Sandy Ross hit home the home side's fourth.
Dickson and Bruce reduced the County lead to 4-3 as Albion made a strong come-back. However, Adams completed his hat-trick close to the end of the match.
HMM 1 September 1997
Albion Rovers 2; Ross County 0 |
Ross County, who have appeared invincible in recent weeks, were completely out-played and indeed out-smarted by a well-organised Albion Rovers side at Cliftonhill.
Although defeat was misery enough for County, their problems were compounded by the sendings off of key strikers Derek Adams and Gary wood. With suspensions following County will face stern tests in the coming weeks without their first-choice strike force.
County manager Neale Cooper reflected, "I'm not prepared to comment about our two red cards. However, I'll talk to both players this weekend before deciding whether disciplinary action will be taken.
Albion scored goals in the sixth and eighteenth minutes through Martin and Mitchell and they had a firm control on the match thereafter.
HMM
Ross County 6; Albion Rovers 2 |
Ross County surged to second place in the league with a crushing defeat of Albion Rovers.
Manager Neale Cooper made a timely recovery from illness to watch his side pull the visitors apart.
A four-goal spree in an eleven minute spell knocked the stuffing out of the Coatbridge team who had started in a determined fashion. County made it five just before half-time to give Cooper a superb "get well" message.
Gerry Farrell opened the scoring when he collected a poor clearance by ex-County player Sandy Ross. In 20 minutes Connor Campbell made it 2-0 after being sent clear by Kenny Gilbert
Rovers were in disarray now and three minutes later Roy McBain netted a 25-yard lob. 60 seconds later, Ronnie Coyle put through his own goal. Derek Adams completed the first half rout when he scored in the 43rd minute to make the half-time score 5-0.
In the second half, County could not maintain their free-scoring form. It was Albion who pulled two goals back through Ross, from the penalty spot, and Bruce. On the stroke of full time Mark Haro had a simple tap-in to complete the County win.
HMM 19 March 1998
Albion Rovers 1; Ross County 3 |
Ross County’s manager Neale Cooper can look back on seven honours from the Scottish game, but the most important one of all still eludes him - success as a manager.
Last season, Ross County lost out on promotion on goal difference and this season it looks as if County will again be the unlucky ones in the three-way fight for promotion.
An impressive performance against Albion Rovers kept the slim hopes alive and County thoroughly deserved this crucial victory.
Goals from Steve Ferguson in the first half and Derek Adams and Alex Taylor in the second saw County cruising to a comfortable victory. A late penalty goal by Albion’s Dickson was merely a consolation in the one-sided contest.
After the match, Cooper said, "We have to win all our matches to give ourselves a chance. But, even if we win our match against Arbroath next Saturday, we will still be relying on them to make one other slip-up in their run-in. Next Saturday is crucial to us.
Cooper added, "I was really pleased with the attitude and workrate displayed by my players. It shows the battling qualities we have and that we will not give up in the remaining matches."
HMM 13 April 1998
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