ROSS COUNTY FOOTBALL CLUB


Ross County Match Reports Season 1999-2000: Arbroath


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COUNTY FINISH STRONGLY
ROSS COUNTY 2; Arbroath 0

Two goals in the space of seven minutes saw Ross County gain a deserved and decisive victory at Victoria Park. And yet it could have been a much more emphatic success but for the heroics of Arbroath 'keeper Craig Hinchcliffe. He passed a late fitness test and denied the ever-threatening Ross County forwards on many occasions.

Arbroath defended with great determination, but after Steve Ferguson put the home side ahead in the 57th minute with a stunning 25 yard shot, the result was never in doubt against an injury-hit Arbroath side.

Just seven minutes later the game was effectively over when George Shaw engineered room for himself to volley home from six yards.

From the outset David Ross posed problems for the visitors on the flank and his crosses made life difficult for the visitor's defence. Arbroath's Andy Webster was forced to leave the field with blood pouring from a nasty head wound but bravely returned to battle on.

County continued to press and a after a succession of attacks, Ian Maxwell had a header cleared off the line by the determined Arbroath rearguard.

Arbroath then made a rare sortie into the Ross County half and after winning a free kick Webster found the side netting from a Craig Cooper free kick.

The second half continued to be one-way traffic with Ross in complete control.

Kevin Finlayson replaced the injured Gary Wood and was instrumental in setting up the first goal. He worked himself behind the Arbroath defence before pulling the ball back for Steve Ferguson to fire home.

Kenny Gilbert then found George Shaw whose clever control allowed him to volley home for the second goal.

County thought they had added a third after 76 minutes when Roy McBain fired home but the home side's celebrations were curtailed by the referee who awarded a free kick to Arbroath.

The Red Lichties' sad day was compounded just before the final whistle when their centre back Jim Thomson was ordered off after kicking Kenny Gilbert.

Ross County: Walker; Tully, Irvine, Maxwell, Ross (Campbell, 81), Ferguson, Gilbert, Escalon (Fraser, 75), McBain, Shaw and Wood (Finlayson, 43).

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COUNTY COMPLETE A DOUBLE
Arbroath 0; ROSS COUNTY

There were encouraging signs of what, hopefully, will prove to be a scoring habit from Derek Holmes as the former Hearts striker brought all three points back to Dingwall with the only goal of the game.

Holmes could have scored a hat-trick but there will be few complaints from the County faithful who made the journey to Arbroath to see County win after a few dismal performances.

County's whole attitude and quality of play was superior to Arbroath and one of the more pleasing aspects was the defensive solidity against a side capable of creating their fair share of chances.

David McKay, now a full time player, was in superb form alongside Ian Maxwell as they kept the division's top scorer, Colin McGlashan, at bay.

Maxwell came close to opening the scoring from a Paul Kinnaird corner early on and that set the pattern for the rest of the game.

County's main concern inthe first half was the number of bookings being accumulated. McBain, Gilbert and Ferguson were all booked within the first 30 minutes.

Both Holmes and John Fraser came close when both had shots cleared off the home side's line.

County had dominated the first half and concerns were rising that they would repeat their second half collapses of previous games. However, Holmes made the break-through five minutes after the interval. George Shaw created the opening with a shot from outside the area. As the shot rebounded the alert Holmes fired County into the lead.

Holmes almost scored his second after Maxwell released McBain but his shot was hit straight into the welcoming arms of Hinchcliff in the home goal.

Holmes had a chance to seal it when he found himself in a good position taking another rebounded shot, this time from Ferguson, and forcing it over the bar when it looked easier to score.

After the match manager Neale Cooper said: "There has been a lot of pressure on us over the last couple of games.

"If ever I needed a performance like that one it was today, and we have got to build on that. We worked hard and when we work hard we get a reward.

"Hopefully this is the start of our progression," Cooper concluded.

Ross County: Walker; Duthie, McBain, Maxwell, McKay, D, Gilbert, Shaw, Fraser, Holmes, Ferguson and Kinnaird (Ross, 90). Unused Subs: Campbell and Canning.

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COUNTY HOLD ON FOR A POINT
ROSS COUNTY 1; Arbroath 1

Supporting Ross County this week must have felt a wee bit like being a Rangers fan at the height of the Lisbon Lions' celebrations.

No matter how hard they tried to make the congratulations to Caley Thistle-supporting workmates seem sincere, the poorly masked grimaces would have given the game away.

Still, the Dingwall club's followers pain would have been numbed by the wintry chill which descended on Victoria Park with only a hearteningly fluent first half performance to warm their limbs.

The jury is still out on County's promotion credentials despite a much better display yesterday than even that which brought victory against Queen of the South last week.

Meanwhile, the kangaroo-court which is the Jail End enclosure continues to pass verdict on the club's record signing Derek Holmes, with abuse flowing from as early as the 15th minute towards the former Hearts player.

He has struggled to settle since leaving Tynecastle and, if there was one flaw in County's armour against their visitors Arbroath, it was their failure to convert the good chances they created.

Ultimately, though, the real villain of the piece was Ian Maxwell. A moment of madness from the former Queen's Park defender ended County's hopes of regaining the lead just a minute after they lost it.

County didn't take long to warm-up their act. They began stringing the ball about in a confident fashion not witnessed during the anxious moments late last year.

Roy McBain, currently transfer-listed and attracting interest from Morton and Arbroath, looked keen to impress and also had a left-foot strike spilled on to the post by goalkeeper Craig Wight.

County took the lead in the 24th minute when Derek Ferguson's shot was blocked, but his namesake Steve Ferguson was sprightly enough to fire the ball high into the net from four yards.

It was pretty much one-way traffic with Dave Baikie's side subdued by County's strong midfield presence with ex-Rangers and Hearts playmaker Derek Ferguson particularly impressive. Nicky Walker, returning to the County goal after injury, did have to block Dave Arbuckle at point-blank range after a long Barry Sellars cross in 35 minutes, but it was County who should have extended their narrow half-time lead.

A neat Holmes pass into the area supplied McBain but again the goalkeeper was equal to it. Just after the hour mark, County failed to clear their lines and a high ball fell to Colin McGlashan who set up Tosh's equaliser from 10 yards with a neat flick.

In 63 minutes, just a minute after the Arbroath goal, Maxwell went recklessly in from behind on Dave Arbuckle and the referee had no hesitation in flashing a second yellow card.

County maintained their dominance but were toiling with ten men and failed to create a clear-cut chance for a winner despite their late pressure.

Ross County: Walker; Duthie, Cormack, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert, McBain, S Ferguson, Holmes (Fraser, 68), D Ferguson and Kinnaird. Unused Subs: Escalon and Trialist.

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TEN MAN COUNTY TAKE THE POINTS
Arbroath 1; ROSS COUNTY 2

Craig Tully has brought down the curtain on his career at Ross County when he achieved his third red card of the season.

Thankfully, the former Dundee player - who would probably be one of the first names on the team sheet were it not for his on-the-field misdemeanours - did not cost County the match.

There were a few flutters late-on, but in spite of losing a goal in the dying minutes, ten-man County held on to clinch a well-deserved trhee points.

After the match manager Neale Cooper admitted that Tully had blown his big chance to reclaim a place in his plans after scything Arbroath's Brian Sellars in the 75th minute.

Cooper said: "This was Craig's big opportunity, but he was sent off agin and I and the County board will not tolerate this sort of repeated behaviour.

"In some ways he was unlucky. He said to me after the game that he didn't mean to catch the player, but I have to say that it looked bad.

"Fortunately, we kept defending well, but he did put the team in a dangerous position in a very important game."

Tully was first sent off in the opening match of the season against Forfar in the League Cup, before earning his second red card in early November in the defeat by Clyde.

Cooper, confirming County were stll attempting to sell the player, effectively ruled Tully out for the rest of the season. His five match ban means he is unlikely to feature until the campaign next season, if he is not sold before then.

On a more positive note, Cooper praised the County players for the way they went about their business.

He said: "I said before the match that Derek Holmes and George Shaw maybe hadn't scored as many goals as I would liked, and they reacted with a goal each. I hope they keep proving me wrong.

"The defence and midfield also worked tirelessly and I'm very pleased with the fighting spirit the players are showing. There is a great feeling of togetherness.

"We have to keep our consistency and just take each game as it comes. But the hunger is there for all to see."

County dominated the first half with Paul Kinnaird setting up the opener with a dangerous corner which found Ian Maxwell but the home 'keeper saved well. Derek Holmes, however, was at hand to fire home the rebound.

The second goal came from a typical George Shaw run with the ex-Dunfermline striker curling a high shot beyond the reach of Hinchcliffe from outside the area.

After Tully's dismissal, Arbroath put County under renewed pressure and McGlashan got his reward when he stroked home a free-kick by Sellars.

Ross County: Hamilton; Tully, Duthie, Maxwell, Irvine, D McKay, Shaw, Fraser (McGlashan ), Holmes, Taggart and Kinnaird (Boyle). Unused Sub: McBain.

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