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The 1998-99 Index PageLORSPORTS' HOME PAGE
Dumbarton 1; Ross County 2 |
This was a dour contest between two of the top sides in the division. At the start of the game they were both on 15 points although County had the better goal difference.
After a nervy opening spell it was County who took the lead in the 9th minute when Billy Ferries, playing in his first match this season - having played only a meagre 30 minutes last season - opened up the home defence on the right and Roy McBain was on hand to knock the ball home from six yards.
That gave the visitors a lot of confidence and it came as no surprise when they extended their lead in the 21st minute when Ferries scored County's second finishing off a fine solo effort. This was vintage Ferries as he picked up the ball in his own half, burst past three defenders, wrong footed the central defender and crashed the ball home from the edge of the box.
Dumbarton scored their goal right on the stroke of half-time when Flannery scored with a spectacular over-head kick which flew past the helpless Walker.
In the second half, football was at a premium as both sides fought hard. The better chances did fall to County but they were unable to extend their lead and in the end were comfortable winners.
Kenny Gilbert had an outstanding game in the middle of the park. He tackled well and distributed wisely and accurately.
After the game Ferries said, "It's great to know that I can still play at this level. One swallow doesn't make a summer and I know that I've got to aim for consistency and turn in this type of performance every week."
He added, "At my age I thought my legs would not carry me that far up the park. I'd just enough energy to draw back my left peg and hit it home."
Ross County: Walker; den Bieman, McBain, Furphy (Herd, 30), Maxwell, Gilbert, Ferguson, Ferries, Hunter (Tarrant, 46), Taylor and Higgins (Campbell, 57).
Ross County 2; Dumbarton 0 |
Ross County did not have it all their own way against a strong, purposeful Dumbarton side. The visitors showed flair in attack and pushed County all the way.
County had started promisingly when Neil Tarrant took a pass in midfield and slipped a perfect pass to Roy McBain. Unfortunately the full back's resultant shot was wide of the target.
Tarrant continued to use the ball well laying the ball off from his forward position with accuracy.
However, in spite of his deft touches the vistors' defence was well marshalled and coped with the early County pressure. On the counter-attack they were posing problems of their own and Dumbarton had the better of the play in terms of scoring opportunities in the first half.
An early attack in the second half saw Mooney break through for Dumbarton but his attemted lob at goal went over the bar. Dumbarton had started the second half confidently.
Three minutes later County gained the break-through. Kenny Gilbert sent Roy McBain clear on the left and he beat the defence for pace before crossing the ball into the path of Alex Taylor who had the simplest of finishes.
Four minutes later County went two up when tarrant squared the ball to Steve Ferguson and he scored at his second attempt after Barnes in goal had parried his first attempt.
County could well have stretched their lead to three when Tarrant pressurised the defence into an error and his shot cannoned off the 'keeper to safety.
As the game came to a close, Walker could only stand and watch as a well struck free kick crashed against his right hand upright.
Ross County: Walker; Matheson, McBain, Haro, Maxwell, Gilbert, Ferries (Ross, 80), Ferguson (Campbell, 62), Tarrant, Taylor and Golabek. Unused Sub: MacKay.
Dumbarton 0; Ross County 0 |
Dumbarton passed up a glorious opportunity to improve their position in the title chase when they out-played Ross County for much of the game but the visitors - reduced to ten men in the first half - held on to escape with a point for the second time this week.
The first obstacle for both sides was the lamentable Boghead pitch - and County return here next week to play Clydebank in a re-arranged Tennent's Scottish Cup third round match. There were areas where the ball simply refused to bounce, but, to their credit, neither side resorted to "route one" football, opting instead to play passes on the few remaining patches of green grass.
County were first to threaten. A scramble in the Dumbarton box presented Steve Ferguson with a chance to score, but when the ball stuck at his feet Wilson stepped in to clear the danger.
This galvanised The Sons and they increased their offensive efforts. Almost immediately McKinnon had his shot parried by Walker and Mooney following up had his effort deflected for a corner. From the resulting kiick Davie Ross headed off his own line to prevent Mooney from making amends for his miss a few seconds earlier.
Throughout the opening exchanges, the most conspicuous man on the field was the referee. He appeared intent on preventing the natural flow of the game as the match became increasingly punctuated by his whistle. He took centre stage shortly before half time when he dismissed County's John McGlashan for a late and unnecessary tackle on Stewart.
Ross County took this body blow in their stride and almost nicked a goal on the stroke of half time. Bruce was robbed by Neil Tarrant who fed Ferguson on the right wing, he back-heeled to Kenny Gilbert who had a little space but Gilbert's effort was saved by Meechan.
The second half was tame by comparison. Play was scrappy as the field conditions deteriorated.
Yet the match burst into life towards the end. First an attack by County saw Tarrant miss a golden opportunity to "steal" the game when he headed wide of an open goal much to the embarrassment of a celebrating Neale Cooper.
Dumbarton threw everything at County from then on in and with a little luck they themselves might have won the three points. In the dying minutes Nicky Walker had to save County with two excellent stops.
Ross County: Walker; McKay, McBain, Haro, Maxwell, Gilbert, Ross (Wood, 84), Ferguson (Golabek, 46), Tarrant, McGlashan and Escalon (Ferries, 76).
Ross County 1; Dumbarton 2 |
Ross County manager Neale Cooper was surprisingly philosophical and calm after watching his team throw away the possibility of early promotion.
Cooper had steadfastly refused to talk about Second Division football all week, despite his team having a 17-point lead over their nearest rivals Stenhousemuir.
And his judgement proved to be spot on, as his hopes of stepping up were dashed by a Dumbarton team which was full of flair, with the outstanding ex-Morton man Martin Flannery proving to be a constant thorn in the home team's side.
Cooper said afterwards, "We were lucky to get away with a 2-1 defeat. Too many of my players underperformed. I have seen this happen many times before. Everyone was talking about promotion except me. They all said all we had to do was win."
Dumbarton gave an early indication that they were hungry when Flannery and John Bradford, the visitors' two best players, tested Nicky Walker on a couple of occasions.
County's best spell was at the end of the first half after Davie Ross raced in on goal and was tripped by John Robertson. The referee had little hesitation in awarding the penalty.
It was no surprise when Neil Tarrant cracked home his 24th goal of the season. Alex Taylor then should have made it two but he just failed to connect with a great Paul Kinnaird cross.
Tarrant then had the chance to wrap up the points when, in the dying minutes of the first half, he managed to beat Meechan to a long clearance only for his headed effort to bounce wide of the goal.
After the break, Dumbarton's pressure finally paid off. Flannery brought a fine save out of Walker before Robertson squared for Bradford to side-foot a far-post equaliser in the 55th minute. Two minutes later, Dumbarton took the lead when Tully fellede Flannery in the box and Robertson put the visitors into a deserved lead and eventually the three points.
Ross County: Walker; Tully, Golabek, Haro, Maxwell, Gilbert, Ross, McGlashan (S. McKay, 60), Tarrant, Taylor and Kinnaird (Wood, 60). Unused Sub: D. McKay
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