Lorsports' Home Page
Lorsports' Home Page
Cowdenbeath 0; Ross County 1 |
Manager Neale Cooper made several changes after reading the riot act to his players after last Saturday's home defeat to Queens Park. Derek Adams made his first start of the season as did Robbie Williamson.
Former Cowdenbeath striker Gary Wood grabbed the only goal of the game. It came in the 74th minute and was a tragedy for home 'keeper Russell. Mark Haro sent a through ball into the Cowdenbeath penalty area which the injured Russell collected, then dropped, at the feet of Wood to fire home.
Wood said, "The ball appeared to go through the 'keeper and I pounced on his mistake. Both sides had opportunities and I could have scored a couple more with headers."
Assistant Manager, Jim Kelly said, "We knew this game was going to be hard and we adjusted our tactict accordingly. We thoroughly deserved our win."
HMM 25 August 1997
Ross County 5; Cowdenbeath 0 |
County signalled their intentions as early as the first minute when Derek Adams forced the ball home. But it took the league leaders almost all of the first half before adding to their score through Billy Herd.
Ferguson added a third after a brilliant move between McBain and Gilbert.
An own goal by Humphreys brought County's fourth goal after the break when the defender headed past his own 'keeper. Haro rubbed salt into the wound when he guided a Gilbert cross into the net.
After the match Adams was taken to hospital after a clash of heads in the thirtieth minute. He was given the all-clear by the doctors and should be fit to face Queen's Park next week.
Cowdenbeath 0; Ross County 2 |
In a pre-match interview, manager Neale Cooper warned his side about complacency. He said, "The players have to understand that when they are on top of the league they are there to be knocked down. Other teams will raise their game when they play aginst us. The players have got to be a lot stronger in character."
Speaking about the Cowdenbeath game, Cooper said, "I know Craig (Levein) well and he has gone in there and shaken the team up. This is an important game for us as we have to start picking up the points and winning our games again."
County did get the much-needed win to boost their promotion campaign and it was ex-Cowdenbeath player Gary Wood who took the honours.
In the first half, the bottom-of-the-table side had County reeling when Mitchell struck the bar as Cowdenbeath harried their visitors.
In the second half Ross took command. The opening goal came in the 62nd minute when Wood raced between two defenders to slip the ball wide of the diving, ex-County goalkeeper Steve Hutchinson. County had chances to wrap up the points but it took them until the 89th minute to do so.
A move down the left flank saw Wood head in a cross, but defender Mitchell could only steer the ball goalwards past his own 'keeper.
HMM 29 December 1997
Ross County 1; Cowdenbeath 0 |
Ross County kept their slim promotion hopes alive thanks to this narrow, gutsy win at home against Cowdenbeath.
But the Blue Brazil were rarely completely out of it and fought right to the end with a late shot by Sneddon going just inches over Nicky Walker’s crossbar.
Just on the hour mark, Cowdenbeath’s Barnes hit the bar only for County to collect the rebound and race to the other end of the park. There Connor Campbell was fouled on the edge of the box, Alex Taylor’s perfectly flighted cross was met by Neil Tarrant who headed the ball past ex-County ‘keeper Steve Hutchinson.
Hutchinson had made some splendid saves to deny his former team mates but this time he was well-beaten by Tarrant’s powerful header.
Derek Adams had an excellent opportunity to seal the points in the 78th minute but he shot past the awaiting empty goal.
After the match, manager Neale Cooper expressed concern about the way that man-of-the-match Kenny Gilbert had been received by the crowd.
Cooper said, "I was a bit disappointed that a section of the crowd booed him. I know that it is only a small section but Kenny is quiet upset by it.
"I have never seen a player give more commitment to a club that Kenny Gilbert -- to any club -- and for him to be treated like that ..... well, I found it hard to believe."
HMM 26 April 1998
Lorsports' Home Page