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Date | Opponents | Venue | Score |
10 July | Huntly | Away | Won 1-0 |
13 July | Dunfermline | Home | Lost 0-1 |
16 July | Scalloway | Away | Won 8-2 |
17 July | Shetland Islands XI | Away | Drew 2-2 |
21 July | Deveronvale | Away | Won 1-0 |
24 July | Livingston | Home | Won 2-0 |
28 July | Elgin City | Away | Won 3-1 |
Brian Irvine may have dropped two divisions to join Ross County but he couls swear that he is still in Premier League surroundings.
The former Scotland internationalist rates County's training regime and facilities "as good as anything I have come across in football".
Irvine, who knocked back offers from Aberdeen, Hibs and Dunfermline to sign for County, played twelve seasons at Pittodrie before joining Dundee, collecting nine Scottish caps in the process.
But, despite his extensive experience of football travels, the defender lavished genuine praise on the County set-up after making his debut in the low-key surroundings of Huntly.
Irvine stressed: "I've really enjoyed my pre-season so far. It's all about getting to know the club and the players, and taking time to settle into the new surroundings.
"A lot has been said about me stepping down a level, but that was never an issue for me. I didn't have a problem with it because I knew that there were good things happening at Victoria Park.
"I may have dropped two divisions, but I believe that there is a lot of potential here.
"And I've found things here even better than I expected. The manager Neale Cooper and his assistant Gordon Chisolm are doing a fantastic job.
"To me, the training facilities and the training routines are as good as at any Premier League side. There is no difference."
Irvine added: "I believe there is a lot of talent in the County squad. It is my task to fuel a belief in those players that they could go all the way to the top.
"What I am doing is not about Brian Irvine any more. Brian Irvine has made a name fro himself. My taks is to help these young boys make a name for themselves."
County have been working hard over the past fortnight on their physical fitness and it was clear that the players enjoyed their first taste of on-the-field action at Huntly.
Irvine looked commanding on the rain-soaked surface, but was not severely tested by a weak Huntly attack.
The first opportunity of the game fell to Marco de Barros but County soon bounce back with a goal from Roy McBain.
Steve Ferguson released Paul Kinnaird wide on the right and his early cross found McBain free at the far post and his header went home sweetly.
This early goal was all that separated the teams at the end, but new keeper Gary Hamilton did have a few "moments" with the greasy ball. However, the young 'keeper showed enough to suggest that he will make a good understaudy to Nicky Walker.
Ross County: Hamilton; McKay, Triallist, Tully, Irvine, McBain, Finlayson, McGlashan, Geraghty, Ferguson and Kinnaird. Subs: Escalon, Campbell, Wood and Nicol.
Former Celtic and Dundee United striker Owen Coyle snatched a late winner for Dunfermline after Ross County had provided the Pars with the sternest of football tests.
County gave relegated Dunfermline food for thought in a fast-flowing friendly and could have stolen a first half lead had new-signing Brian Irvine's aerial threat borne fruit.
County fielded four new signing right from the start and they confined the visitors to one solitary strike on goal during the first half. Stand-in centre half Gary Wood shepherded danger man Andy Smith superbly.
In the first half, Irvine who had turned down a move to the Pars in the summer, came close twice from set-piece headers.
Dunfermline's first on-target attempt came with a Scott Thompson effort which new 'keeper Gary Hamilton held easily.
Dunfermline had undergone a strenuous pre-match training session and were given another torrid run-out from County in the second half.
Smith almost broke the deadlock after 60 minutes but his angled drive was well held by Hamilton.
In the closing minute, the Pars experience finally told and Thompson set up the previously subdued Coyle to tap in the winner.
After the match several County players were awarded credit marks for their performances.
Gary Wood again showed that he is a versatile player with a superb marking job on Andy Smith. Frank Escalon showed his flair and poise in an unaccustomed wing-back position.
County's defence looked water-tight despite the absence of Ian Maxwell with Irvine and former Dens Park team-mate Craig Tully bonding well with Wood.
Paul Kinnaird also had a good match while substitute Kecin Finlayson showed promise on the wing.
Ross County: Hamilton; Escalon, McBain, Wood, Irvine, Tully, Fraser, McGlashan, Geraghty, Ferguson and Kinnaird. Subs: Finlayson, Nicol, McKay, McLeod and Ewing.
A late goal from County midfielder John McGlashan earned the Dingwall side a win over a spirited Deveronvale outfit last night.
But Vale performed well after playing their second game in the space of 24 hours after losing out 4-2 to Livingston on Tuesday night.
In the 16th minute a dipping lob from Vale's Charlie Rowley dropped agonisingly over the crossbar.
At the other end Roy McBain's ball across the face of goal found no takers.
Deveronvale's James Milne then did brilliantly in the 38th minute to clear a net-bound effort from County trialist Derek McGill off the line with his head.
On the stroke of half-time Michael Geraghty's downward header bounced up on to the face of the crossbar with Jim Will in the Vale goal beaten.
An almighty scramble in the home goalmouth after 66 minutes again ended with Milne clearing the ball off his own line.
Jim Will then did well to tip a McGlashan header over the top as County went in search of that elusive opener.
And in the 81st minute County did find the net after a strong run from McGlashan.
He set up Gary Nicol and his shot rebounded off the base of the post to former Dundee midfielder McGlashan who stroked the ball into the empty net.
ROSS COUNTY: Walker, Tully, MacKay, Maxwell, Irvine, McGlashan, Escalon, Geraghty (Nicol 57), McGill, McBain, Kinnaird (Finlayson 52).
Scottish League infants Ross County gave further evidence that they are ready to join the big boys before too long when the side, newly promoted to Division Two, took apart Livingston, themselves a young ambitious club looking further than their current status as First Division newcomers.
Goals from new signing Kevin Finlayson and Frenchman Frank Escalon secored a 2-0 victory for the Dingwall men.
As early as the second minute, former Dundee and Dunfermline striker George Shaw - playing as a "triallist" today - burst into the box and flicked in a dangerous cross ball which was scrambled clear by Livvy's 'keeper McAldon.
David Bingham carved out a chance for the visitors in the ninth minute, but his shot was easily held by Nicky Walker.
Finlayson, a winger snapped up from Queen's Park, came on in the 55th minute and netted the opener ten minutes later. He latched onto a short passback by McManus and rounded McAldon to net his first goal in County colours.
With ten minutes to go, County were rewarded for their dominance. McAlden was at fault when he spilled a Roy McBain cross and Escalon gratefully received the simple header into the empty goal.
ROSS COUNTY: Walker; Tully, McBain, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert (Gerraghty, 70), Escalon, McGlashan, Shaw (Nicol, 89), Fraser (Finlayson, 55) and McGill (Kinnaird, 62). Unused Subs: McKay, S, McKay, D and Hamilton(gk).
Ross County had to rely on two late goals to secure victory over Elgin City.
Striker Michael Geraghty pushed his claim for a first team place with a neatly taken goal after 14 minutes. However, Neil white equalised for Elgin with ten minutes remaining and it looked as if a draw was going to be the likely outcome.
However, County scored two late goals through Graham Munro in 86 minutes and triallist Derek McGill - on trial from raith Rovers - scrambled the ball home in the dying minutes.