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Arbroath 2; Ross County 2 |
The first half saw plenty chances but it took until the 50th minute before Gary Wood's header put Ross County ahead.
County's 20-year-old forward scored a delightful opening goal but his most telling contribution, and most likely the one he would most like to forget, was when he handled Scott Peters' goal-bound shot, allowing Colin Cooper to score a last-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.
Ross had worked hard to capitalise on Wood's opening goal when Bradshaw extended County's lead in the 71st minute when he headed home a Taylor corner.
A brave fight-back by Arbroath allowed Crawford to bring the score back to 1-2 before the last-minute drama. Ross County will be disappointed squandering two points and it would appear that they learned little from Albion Rovers fight back two weeks ago.
County keeper Kevin Morgan was philosophical after the match. "We couldn't find a single fault in Gary's game. He was a real hero. Every player in the dressing room said how well he played and we let him know that we don't blame him for the penalty."
HMM 16 September 1997
Ross County 0; Arbroath 0 |
A series of first half saves by Walker kept Ross County in the game. The 'keepers heroics kept a lively Arbroath attack at bay as County struggled early on.
In the second half, County had the best of the chances and the vistor's 'keeper, Hinchcliffe, did well to punch clear a header by Haro.
Both sides had chances to steal the points but County came closest when substitute Bradshaw struck the bar with a header in the dying minutes.
HMM
Arbroath 1; Ross County 1 |
Ross County escaped the blizzards of the Highlands to be met with an icy blast coming in off the North Sea. Yet the point earned against stuffy opponents on a day when football was a lottery may prove vital at the end of the season.
This was a game of one half. Both goals arrived in the opening 45 minutes, before the gale managed to wither all the players’ attempts at football.
Arbroath took the lead in the 12th minute. Ex-County striker Brian Grant was bundled off the ball by Willie Herd and Gallacher made sure from the spot.
County equalised in the 32nd minute when on-loan winger Charlie King pounced on a Mark Haro header that had rebounded off the bar.
This was the last of the action on the field but Neale Cooper provided plenty of off the field action with his many forays from the visitor’s dug-out.
HMM 8 March 1998
Ross County 1; Arbroath 0 |
If Ross County do overcome the odds to win promotion then 4.43pm last Saturday afternoon will be seen as a very important moment in their success.
Just as all seemed lost, tireless Alex Taylor popped up with a priceless winner, bringing County back from the dead.
After the match, the former Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Falkirk star said, "The season would have almost certainly been over for us if that one had not gone in. Now we’ve put the pressure back on Arbroath. I think that Ross County showed that we have the bottle to keep our hopes alive and it’s up to Arbroath to do the same."
Taylor, in the twilight of his playing days, displayed much stamina as younger players flagged in the midst of a ferocious mid-field battle. He was alert enough to position himself perfectly to receive Neil Tarrant’s knock-down and drill the ball past the visitor’s ‘keeper in the 85th minute.
This last-gasp victory leaves County two points behind Arbroath, but the Angus side still have a game in hand.
County have the easier run-in and manager Neale Cooper said after the match, "The important thing was to win today, but we didn’t half leave it late!
"We just have to keep winning in the final games and I am confident that we can do that."
A draw looked the most likely result as Arbroath revelled in their role as spoilers. County huffed and puffed through a poor first half and Arbroath looked the more composed side.
The second half produced half-chances galore, but little to suggest either side would come out on top.
Then, just as the man-of-the-match was awarded to Neil Tarrant over the PA system, Tarrant knocked the ball to Taylor after Arbroath failed to clear their lines. The veteran mid-fielder made no mistake from just inside the area.
HMM 19 April 1998
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