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The 1998-99 Index PageLORSPORTS' HOME PAGE
| 1/8 | vs Montrose (H) | Won 4-1 |
| 8/8 | vs Greenock Morton (A) | Won 1-0 |
| 19/8 | vs Dundee United (H) | Won 2-0 (aet) |
| 9/9 | vs Heart of Midlothian (A) | Drew 1-1 (aet) Lost 0-3 on pens |
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Montrose defended well in an awful first half before a hat-trick from Derek Adams booked a trip to Greenock for Ross County.
The highlight of the first half was the display of County mid-field duo Alex Taylor and Frank Escalon who linked superbly but this display was a flicker of light in the general gloom.
In a tight first half County held the sway in the middle of the park, but mostly fired blanks up front until in the 40th minute Adams sprinted through on to an Escalon pass and clipped the ball over the advancing 'keeper from 15 yards.
escalon was showing flair in midfield and he set up Adams immediately after the break only for the striker to have his angled drive desperately hacked off the line.
In the 57th minute Roy McBain sprinted into space and fired in a perfect cross for Neil Tarrant, who beat the 'keeper with a perfectly placed header. Only seconds later, County went 3-0 up with the goal of the game from Adams who beat the hapless Murray in Montrose's goal with a precision lob.
McGlashan tested Walker on a rare Montrose excursion into the County half, but in 68 minutes Andrew gave the visitors a slim chance of saving the game when he shot home from a corner.
The joy was short-lived as Adams completed his hat-trick two minutes later. Given acres of space on the right as Ross County broke out of defence, he still had work to do, but unleashed an unstoppable strike from about 25 yards.
Ross County: Walker; McKay, McBain, Furphy, Maxwell, Gilbert, Escalon (Herd, 83), Adams, Tarrant, Taylor (Hunter, 80) and Ross (Ferries, 73).
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This was the "new" County playing exciting, entertaining football. The quality of the play will certainly give Premier Division Dundee United plenty to contemplate in the next round.
Never resorting to kick and rush tactics, County played flowing open football and dominated the game from start to finish. On another day the scoreline might have read 3-0.
County got off to the best possible start when a 25-yard drive from Alex Taylor was tipped over the bar in the 2nd minute.
In the 10th minute County came close again when a mix up in the home defence left Escalon in the clear but the midfielder failed to take the opportunity.
County were well on top and Escalon came close again direct from a corner kick. A shot from Derek Adams went just over the bar as County, playing with great confidence, continued to take the game to their more illustrious opponents.
County continued in the same vein in the second half. Neil Tarrant was next to trouble the home defence when he headed wide from a Taylor free kick in the 62nd minute. Three minutes later, Adams came close again with a clever lob which was scrambled off the line. In the 70th minute the home 'keeper turned a shot away after a powerful header by Steve Ferguson had been blocked on the line. It was all County in this spell.
A goal was well overdue and it eventually came in the 83rd minute. Adams and Ross had worked well on the right and the latter's cross ball was met perfectly by Neil Tarrant who head past a statuesque defence for a magnificent goal.
County were worthy winners and can look forward with some optimism to their encounter with Premier opposition next Wednesday.
The County Team: Walker; McKay, McBain, Furphy (Hunter, 85), Maxwell, Gilbert, Escalon (Ferguson, 66), Adams, Tarrant, Taylor and Ross.
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Ross County's leading goal scorer Derek Adams helped Ross County re-write their history books with an important victory against Premier League side Dundee United in the Scottish League Cup.
It took until half time in extra time for Adams to score a wonder goal from a free kick. From there on in the 3,000 plus crwod knew that only one team was going to win.
Every County player was a hero in the eyes of boss Neale Cooper but the performances of goalkeeper Nicky Walker and central defender Ian Maxwell do stand out.
Walker had to make two fine saves from McSweggan and Easton in extra time before Adams' goal settled County.
Ross County started with the same team as had played and defeated Albion Rovers so emphatically last Saturday. Goal hero Adams found himself on the bench in spite of him being County's leading scorer in league and cup competitions last season.
The home side thought that they had taken the lead in the 20th minute when Steve Ferguson headed a Roy McBain cross past Dykstra. The referee awarded the goal but changed his mind after a brief consultation with his linesman and the goal was disallowed for off-side.
County matched Dundee United in every department in the first half and ex-Dundee United man Alex Taylor and Frank Escalon dominated midfield.
In the 57th minute Nicky Walker made an excellent save. Firstly he blocked a header from Boli and then recovered quickly to block a Miller shot.
In the 70th minute County made a double substitution. Billy Herd replaced the injured Willie Furphy and Derek Adams replaced Alex Taylor.
County continued to dictate and Adams should have given County the lead with his first touch but he headed wide from 6 yards.
In extra time Dundee United pulled out all the stops. Two excellent saves by Walker preceded Adams 30yard free kick right on the stroke of half time in extra time. With two minutes to go Adams got his side's second with a controlled piece of finishing. He ran through the split United defence to round Dykstra and place the ball fimly into the net.
Ross County: Walker; McKay, McBain, Furphy (Herd, 70), Maxwell, Gilbert, Escalon (Hunter, 110), Ferguson, Tarrant, Taylor (Adams, 70) and Ross.
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Ross County staged a wonderful display of fighting cup football to go close to matching Berwick Rangers' remarkable Scottish Cup win over Rangers in a highly charged contest at Tynecastle last night which saw the Third Division leaders bow out of the Scottish League Cup on penalties.
The Dingwall men, who had already taken out Dundee United, pushed Hearts all the way to a penalty shoot-out but their nerve cracked as one after the other -- Derek Adams, Billy Herd and Davie Ross -- all missed, while Derek Holmes, Steve Fulton and Lee Makel hit the net for the Edinburgh side.
But the Dingwall side made history in front of 1,700 travelling fans who made themselves heard while the Easter Ross club gave Hearts a huge fright before they eventually claimed their place in the semi-final draw.
Before the kick-off all eyes were on County hot property Adams with a posse of scouts representing Reading, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Motherwell, Hibs, Morton, Raith Rovers, Preston, Sunderland and Norwich all tracking County's £150,000-rated striker.
Adams did not disappoint, setting up French teammake Franck Escalon for a chance which came back off the bar early in the first half, taking a part in County's 40th minute opener and then hitting the woodwork himself in the second half when County looked like pulling off a shock.
Manager Neale Cooper promised his side would show character and it did, making just one defensive slip which allowed Derek Holmes to drag the Edinburgh side, by then down to 10 men, back on terms.
But County's nerve cracked in disappointing fashion at the shoot-out stage after a memorable performance which had them on the verge of a place in the last four with Rangers, St Johnstone and Airdrie.
For most of what went before the Third Division leaders looked anything but three divisions below the Scottish Cup holders in quality, matching Hearts at every turn after they made a blistering start which saw Frenchman Escalon turn in an 18 yard left foot shot which beat Gilles Rousset and cannoned back off the crossbar after Adams set him up.
That triggered a 15 minute spell of pressure from Hearts which saw Hamilton head wide, County sweeper Billy Herd clear a header from Weir off the line and Neil McCann whip the ball across the face of the County goal which Paul Ritchie and Stephane Adam were both inches away from turning past Walker.
But five minutes before the interval County went in front, Roy McBain steeling in on the blind side of defender Steven Pressley to slot a right foot shot past the helpless Rousset after Adams flicked on an Escalon cross.
County's composure stood them in good stead after the interval as Hearts came out bent on avoiding their first defeat in a Tynecastle cup tie for four years.
Ten minutes into the second half County almost went 2-0 up, a right foot curling shot from Adams was touched onto the post by the diving Rousset and then away to safety after Adams ran onto Escalon's clever feed.
But in 71 minutes County cracked and Hearts substitute Holmes took full advantage to crash the ball past the helpless Walker after a McCann corner rattled around in the County box without being cleared.
Two minutes later Hearts were down to 10 men in controversial circumstances when defender Ritchie was sent off after referee Kenny Clark consulted standside linesman Stuart McGeoch and the assistant referee pointed out Ritchie as the culprit for raising his hands to Adams.
Ritchie was sent off but Fulton, who was clearly the perpetrator, played on.
County held on despite yet another Hearts onslaught to take the tie into extra time and even then they gave as good as they got, McBain setting up Escalon who drilled the ball just wide from 18 yards.
Five minutes from the end of the extra half hour McBain used Escalon and Adams as decoys to drive forward and let fly from the edge of the box, but his shot flew over the bar.
ROSS COUNTY: Walker, Golabek (Campbell, 92), McBain, Herd, Maxwell, Gilbert, Ferguson, Adams, Tarrant (Woods, 53), Taylor (Ross, 67), Escalon.
Attendance: 11,902.
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| 22/9 | vs Forres Mechanics (A) | Won 3-1 |
| 3/11 | vs Nairn County (H) | Won 7-1 |
| 10/11 | vs Brora Rangers (H) | Won 4-3 |
| 26/3 | vs Inverness CT (At ICT Stadium) | Lost 0-1 |
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Iwo den Bieman made his début for Ross County in this Inverness Cup preliminary round match against Highland League Forres Mechanics.
Neale Cooper had said that he would fileld a strong side for this match and seven of the squad who had lost to Stenhousemuir last Saturday featured in this match.
Throughout the match Forres played with a great deal of spirit and as early as the eigth minute they troubled their senior opponents. Nicky Walker mis-cued a clearance straight to Gary Watt who beat the stranded 'keeper from 35 yards.
However, County did have the better chances thereafter, and Forres 'keeper Gary Watt - yes there are two Gary Watts in the side - had to look lively to touch a great drive by Murray Hunter on to the post.
In the 15th minute, Murray Hunter opened the scoring for Ross County when he hammered the ball home from 10 yards off the underside of the bar.
Ten minutes later, County took the lead when Steve Ferguson ran on to a Connor Campbell pass to beat the diving Watt with a well placed shot.
Ross County had to wait until the 50th minute before they put the tie beyond doubt. Again it was Steve Ferguson who crashed the ball into the net from close range to send County into a first round tie against the Wee County - Nairn County - in Dingwall.
Ross County: Walker; den Bieman, Golabek (McKay, 71), Williamson, Furphy, Escalon (McLeod, 84), Ferries, Ferguson, Tarrant, Hunter and Campbell.
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Ross County romped into the semi-finals of the Inverness Cup with this demolition of Nairn at sodden Victoria Park last night.
Boss Neale Cooper took the opportunity to give comeback men Willie Furphy, Billy Herd and David Ross a game and Ross hit two goals to stake a claim for a first-team recall.
But it was Nairn who made the better start, Gary Ross curling a free kick wide of Michael Rae to put the Highland League side ahead.
But County turned up the heat and put the visitors under ferocious pressure, equalising five minutes later. Roy McBain's corner was cleared to Stuart Golabek and he hit a rasping 22-yard shot which canonned back off the woodwork to Steve Ferguson, who tapped home from six yards.
Two minutes later County went in front, McBain setting up Ross who hammered a 12-yard shot into the roof of the net with Nairn keeper Billy Neilson helpless.
But the Nairn keeper pulled off a superb save on the half-hour when Matheson's cross from the right was headed powerfully towards the top corner by Ross, Neilson responding magnificently to touch the ball over the bar -- and he did just as well in 39 minutes to block a piledriver from McBain.
Ferguson hit the Nairn woodwork just before the interval -- which saw County 3-1 in front after Ross steered home a simple header when McBain chipped the Nairn defence.
In the early period of the second half Nairn, looking better-organised, frustrated County until the 72nd minute when Golabek drilled a 20-yard shot low past Nairn substitute keeper Harold Annand's right hand into the bottom corner.
And County's higher fitness level told in the closing 10 minutes, Ferguson scoring with a point-blank header to make it 5-1. Neil Tarrant made it 6-1 with a clever chip from the edge of the penalty area and substitute Steve McKay rattled home No. 7 from the edge of the box two minutes from time to set Ross County up for a derby semi-final against Brora Rangers at Victoria Park next Tuesday night.
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Ross County entertained a Brora Rangers side containing a host of ex-County players in this Inverness Cup semi-final. Brora Rangers had the better of County in previous competitions and the current crop of Brora players were out to prove that County had made an error when they were released.
County fielded a "mixed" side of first team regulars and some fringe players but they were set back on their heels whenTuach opened the scoring for Brora.
County went two down in the 14th minute when Michael Rae let the ball slip through his hands and the grateful MacMillan turned the ball into the net.
Five minutes before the interval, County struck back when Steve Ferguson crashed a twenty-five metre drive into the net.
Nine minutes into the second half, MacMillan scored his second goal of the evening for Brora when he beat two defenders on the edge of the box before turning the ball past the helpless Rae.
County fought back determinedly and in the 73rd and 76th minutes Higgins had levelled the scores to show the striker's potential at this level.
The winning goal came close to the end of normal time when substitute Brian MacLeod was presented with a golden chance by Stuart Golabek and the young skillseeker slipped the ball home from 15 metres.
Ross County: Rae; MacKay, Golabek, Furphy, Williamson, Tarrant, Ross Ferguson, Higgins, Hunter (MacLeod) and Murray.
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A Ross Tokely goal on the hour helped Caley Thistle retain the Inverness Cup in a keenly contested final at Caledonian Stadium last night.
Caley manager Steve Paterson was delighted to win his fourth Inverness Cup in a row.
He said: "I'm really pleased. It was like a new side and the two 18-year-olds from Celtic - Gary Nicol and Scot Kellacher - did really well.
"Ross Tokely took his goal well and redeemed himself for his earlier error. I always felt that we'd get a couple of chances and I'm glad we were able to take one."
Ross County boss Neale Cooper said: "There wasn't much to choose between the teams and if we do go up to the Second Division I'm sure we can handle ourselves with the addition of a few players."
Ross County had their chances, especially a Neil Tarrant drive that was brilliantly parried by Jim Calder in the Jags goal.
The first chance of the night fell to Caley Thistle's Barry Wilson, who blasted a 30-yard free kick wide of the target.
Gary Nicol, on trial from Celtic, sent in a 25-yard half-volley which was confidently held by County keeper Nicky Walker.
It took a fabulous block by Calder, in the home goal, to stop Aston Villa-bound County striker Tarrant's drive.
On the half hour mark County thought they had taken the lead when Davie Ross attacked a deep Tarrant cross to head the ball back across Calder's body into the far corner of the net.
County's joy was short-lived, however, and Portlethen referee Elmslie awarded a free kick against the former Jags wide man for a push on Bobby Mann.
Two minutes later a net-bound Duncan Shearer effort was deflected off Stuart Golabek for a corner.
Seconds later Shearer just failed to get on the end of a tempting Mark McCulloch cross.
County responded with a Steve Ferguson header that looped over the crossbar.
Five minutes after the break a moment of madness in the Jags box almost gave Ross County the lead.
Calder took a short goal kick to Tokely and the big defender, trying to turn the ball back to his keeper, fired it inches wide.
The home defence survived a bigger scare a minute later when Tarrant's close range effort came back off the outside of the post.
However, against the run of play, Caley Thistle took the lead when Barry Robson's deep cross found Tokely at the back post and the big defender took a touch before hammering the ball under Nicky Walker.
A Robson flick hit woodwork with Walker beaten as the Jags tried to kill off the game.
Ross County: Walker; McKay, McBain, Tully, Maxwell, Ferguson, Ross, Golabek, Tarrant, Escalon (Ferries 74), Kinnaird (Wood 78).
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