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| 31/7 | vs Fofar Athletic(H) | Won 2-1 |
| 18/8 | vs Dundee United(A) | Lost 1-3 |
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George Shaw's late penalty clinched a trip to Tannadice for Ross County to set up a repeat of last season's League Cup run with a tie against Dundee United.
County and Forfar were tied at 1-1 at the end of normal time and only a goal two minutes from the end of extra time settled things. John McGlashan tumbled in the box amid a scramble to get the ball clear and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
County's Craig Tully was red carded while Andy Cargill and Paul McIlvary for Forfar were booked. Shaw, making his debut for County, struck the penalty confidently into the roof of the net.
While County had dominated the opening twenty minutes it was Forfar who opened the scoring to stun the 1200 crowd. Innes MacDonald met a Barry McLean cross to head the ball past Nicky Walker. However, County's equaliser was not far behind when Brian Irvine met a Paul Kinnaird cross to tie the scores at half time.
The second half saw County enjoy the lion's share of possession but they were unable to convert their chances. Roy McBain almost found the top corner of the net and Shaw scraped the cross bar, but it still went to extra time.
Ross County: Walker; Tully, McBain, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert, Escalon (Gerraghty, 90), McGlashan, Shaw, Ferguson (Finlayson, 69) and Kinnaird (Fraser, 111).
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Steve Thompson's first strike of the season gave Dundee United a hard won CIS Cup victory in extra time.
The striker, sent on for earlier scorer, Joaquim Ferraz just 10 minutes earlier, sent the home fans celebrating with his timely finishing - and repeated it for good measure to end the valiant Ross County effort.
Holding off a Roy McBain penalty box challenge to hook home his effort from an angle, Thompson did it again with a simple finish in the last minute of extra time, side-footing home a Jim Patterson cross.
United, boosted by their weekend victory over Celtic, had gone in full of confidence against their second Division visitors. But any thoughts of the home side taking things easy were dispelled after only 11 minutes when the Tangerines' rearguard was caught in a panic by a long thow from the right.
Skipper Jason de Vos saw his clearing header rebound off the back of his team-mate Dave Partridge and fly into the hands of 'keeper Alan Combe.
But the main threat came from the Premier League side and it took a last-gasp interception by Frank Escalon to prevent Patterson from opening the scoring.
When the opening goal did come it was United's Portuguese purchase Ferraz who struck, taking advantage of a glaring weakness in the County defence.
David Hannah's ball from his own half eluded the twin central defenders and Ferraz raced on unchallenged to power home a 12-yard drive. The visitors' response first saw Brian Irvine nod just over the top and Steve Ferguson's headed attempt from an Escalon cross was help by Combe.
But just when United thought they had survived to the break, Ross County equalised.
Escalon took a touch from McBain, cut inside his marker and beat Combe at the near post.
United resumed after the interval in a positive mood and Ferraz came close with a header.
Then came a minute in which referee Clark denied United a penalty when it looked as if Ferguson had handled the ball in the box.
County immediately raced away to the other end to mimic the home side's penalty claims when Partridge appeared to arm the ball to saferty close to his own goal line.
County's top man Craig Tully powered a vicious 30-yard free kick through the defensive wall only to see his effort parried to safety by Combe.
Ferraz came close with a couple of headers in the latter stages of the game but it was de Vos who hung his head in shame with a glaring miss in the dying minutes.
Ross County: Walker; Tully, McBain, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert, Shaw, McGlashan, Finlayson (Geraghty, 55), Escalon and Ferguson. Unused Subs: Wood and Fraser.
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| ||
| 10/8 | vs Clyde (A) | Won 4-0 |
| 24/8 | vs Morton (H) | Won 3-0 |
| 14/9 | vs Alloa Athletic (H) | Lost 1-2 After extra time |
Four of Ross County's summer signingings scored in a comfortable win over Clyde at Broadwood.
However, there were a couple of early scares for County as Craig Tully was guilty of a short pass back in the opening minute and Carrigan was through with only Nicky Walker to beat. Fortunately, the home striker lifted the ball over the bar. Two minutes later another defensive blunder let in Convery, but again the home player could not take advantage.
County recovered quickly from these early set-backs and came storming back after 17 minutes. Midfielder John Fraser opened County's account when he nipped in between defenders to latch on to a Roy McBain cross and he beat the Clyde goalkeeper with a confident finish.
Michael Geraghty scored another in the 33rd minute when Brian Irvine headed another McBain cross across the face of the goal and the striker headed home at the far post.
In the second half, Geraghty had the opportunity to stretch County's lead after some brilliant work by Frank Escalon.
Brian Irvine scored County's third in the 64th minute when the in-form McBain lashed over a cross and Irvine headed home to maintain his record of scoring a goal in each of his side's three competitive games this season.
George Shaw completed the rout when he punished a poor clearance by Wylie and County comfortably move into the second round of the cup.
Ross County:
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If Ross County are wondering if they need a Mark Hateley figure - all they have to do is hand the striker's role to Brian Irvine.
The towering former Aberdeen defender continued his scoring streak with his fourth of the season against Morton before a penalty from George Shaw and a Gary Wood header secured victory for the Dingwall men.
County are considering a move for the veteran former England striker, but it was Irvine who provided all the inspiration they needed to deflate the Greenock side before Harry Curran's red card killed off their chances.
The Third Division champions looked at ease against their First Division opponents and deservedly took the lead after 22 minutes when Irvine forced the ball home from close range straight from a Roy McBain's low, powerful corner from the right.
There was a bad-tempered start to the second half with Curran being sent off after clipping the heels of Kenny Gilbert in an off-the-ball incident.
Gary Wood was then booked after accidentally kicking John Anderson in the face with a high foot, but the referee resisted any temptation to "even things out".
County shot into a two-goal lead in 68 minutes after George Shaw finally beat the Morton off-side trap and, as he was about to round the 'keeper, Andy Millen caught him just inside the area.
Shaw converted the penalty although 'keeper Andrew Carlin did get a hand to the ball.
County dominated the closing stages with Shaw hitting the post and forcing Carlin to make an excellent save at his feet after Shaw had found himself clean through on goal.
Wood wrapped up an easy victory for County with a cool header from Mike Geraghty's cross with two minutes to go.
After the match, County manager Neale Cooper said: "We were well organised and disciplined and young Martin Canning made a fantastic debut. We picked up the 17-year-old from Clydebank and he's come in and looked the part."
Cooper revealed that Irvine's first half goal came straight off the training ground. He joked: "We worked on that move this morning and gave up on it because Roy McBain kept mucking it up, but tonight it worked brilliantly."
Ross County: Walker; Canning, McBain, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert, Shaw, Fraser (Geraghty, 72), Wood, Ferguson, Ross. Unused Subs:
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Ross County's quest for Bell's League Challenge Cup silverware came to an end last night as they fell to Second Division rivals Alloa in Dingwall.
An extra time own goal by Brian Irvine in 112 minutes proved rough justice on County, who had dominated the opening proceedings.
Despite going a goal in front through George Shaw it was the Wasps who went into the semi-finals thanks to a late strike from Mark Donaghy in normal time and Irvine's late own goal sealed the game.
The Recreation Park side had beaten County in the league on Saturday, but it was the home side who felt a grievance last night.
County manager Neale Cooper's decision to release ex-England striker Mark Hateley after only two games proved a fruitful one with both Gary Wood and Shaw playing their part.
And it was the ex-Dunfermline striker Shaw who gave County the opener after 41 minutes.
Paul Kinnaird's corner bounced about in the box and Wood's flick-on was met by Shaw, who pounced from close in.
County should have been ahead after only six minutes when Steve Ferguson's 25-yard drive hit the bar but Wood was unable to capitalise from close in.
Alloa were reduced to long-range shots and they were overrun in the first half, offering only sporadic resistance.
Franck Escalon should have opened the scoring for County when he met an Ian Maxwell knockdown in 38 minutes but his shot was blocked by keeper Mark Cairns.
Alloa started the second half brighter but they could have been 2-0 down after Shaw fell in the box after a collision with Mark Nelson, but referee Simpson waved aside his penalty claims.
Bell's young player of the month Martin Cameron should have pulled the Wasps level after 65 minutes but he sliced his left- foot volley well past the post.
Alloa's persistence and pressure in the second half finally paid when, with only eight minutes remaining, ex-Celtic midfielder Donaghy fired a glorious drive into home keeper Nicky Walker's top right hand corner from 25 yards.
It was County who came the closest to scoring in the extra time which followed with Roy McBain's 25-yard drive going narrowly wide.
Just when it looked set for penalties Cameron's clever through ball was met by Willie Irvine and, as he was challenged by his County namesake Brian, the ball landed in the net.
County's Steve Ferguson, Kenny Gilbert, John Fraser and George Shaw were yellow-carded as were Alloa's Donaghy and Derek Clark in a battling encounter.
Ross County: Walker; Canning, Fraser, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert, Shaw, Escalon, Wood (Ross, 84), Ferguson (Finlayson, 32), Kinnaird (McBain, 70).
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| 27/10 | vs Forres Mechanics (H) | Lost 0-2 |
Goals from Steve MacDonald and Charlie Brown gave Mechanics a well deserved victory over a disappointing Ross County outfit in the Inverness Cup at Victoria Park last night.
Brown's second-half goal was the bright spot in a game played in a continual downpour.
Former Dundee United midfielder Tonny Mols was expected to line up for County, but he was unwilling to sign a month's contract which would have allowed him to play against Forres and County have decided not to pursue their interest in him.
In the 11th minute Forres keeper Mark McRitchie made a brilliant flying leap to hold on to a 25-yard Paul Kinnaird effort.
The game badly needed a goal and it came in the 36th minute when Forres won a free kick on the right and Roy Main's inch-perfect cross was headed home by Steve Macdonald.
Two minutes later only County keeper Hamilton's legs stopped Connelly from making it 2-0.
Just on half-time Charlie Brown finished a great piercing run with a superb drive which went inches past the upright.
However, within 60 seconds of the restart Forres increased their lead. Charlie Brown raced through the home defence before crashing a beauty into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
Ross County: Hamilton; Ross, S. Mackay (Dlugonski 60), D. Mackay, Canning, Gilbert, Finlayson, Fraser, Geraghty, Ferguson (MacLeod 56), Kinnaird.
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