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| Date | Opponents (and link) | Home/Away | Result | Scorer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/9 | Lossiemouth | Home | Won 6-0 | S MacKay (4), Lees and Canning |
| 10/10 | Fraserburgh | Away | Won 3-2 (aet) | Kenny (2) and S MacKay |
| 3/11 | Morton | Home | Lost 0-5 | - - - |
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Ross County's Under-18 side turned in a superb display against Lossiemouth in the first round of the Scottish Youth Cup. An outstanding performance from Steve McKay was the corner-stone of County's win and McKay helped himself to four goals in the process.
County's opening goal was scored by McKay who met Ryan Witkowski's well-flighted corner to beat the visitor's defence. County's second followed soon after. A strong run out of defence by Gary Ewing. His effort broke to Allan Lees and he drilled the ball home from close range.
County turned round ahead by two goals to nil and they started the second half as they had finished the first in total control. Brian McLeod was prominent in the early exchanges and he came close on several occasions to increasing County's lead.
County's third was similar to their first except this time it was Martin Canning who powered home a Witkowski corner. Soon after Steve McKay scored his second again with a well-directed header.
In the last quarter of the game, McKay scored again when he competed well in a crowded box to score his third.
The best goal of the game was worth waiting for. A superb passing movement by several County players was finished off by McKay who met the ball first time and left the Lossie 'keeper well beaten.
Ross County: Gary Hamilton; Michael MacInnes, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Gary Ewing, Ryan Witkowski, Allan Lees, Brian Dlugonski, Steve McKay, Brian McLeod and Ryan Rutherford. Subs: Lee Williams, Martin Sanderson and Kevin Black.
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County's Under-18 side progressed to the third round of the Scottish Youth Cup but were made to fight every inch of the way by a spirited Fraserburgh team which led 2-1 until an injury time goal from County's Martin Kenny took the game into extra time.
County started the game positively and came close early on when Brian MacLeod shot just wide following a fine move involving Martin Kenny and Steven Mackay.
At the other end Fraserburgh showed they could pose a threat and County keeper Gonet did well to hold a well struck effort.
County took the lead in 15 minutes when a long throw in by Steven Edwards was headed on by Martin Canning for Steven Mackay to bring it down and drive it past the keeper from 15 yards.
Kenny was lively up front and twice had efforts saved while MacKay on the left was taking on the fullback and putting in some inviting crosses as County tried to press home their advantage.
But Fraserburgh were still very much in the game. Their tough tackling midfielders did not allow County to settle on the ball, and their hard working strikers made things uncomfortable for the County defence.
As the half wore on Fraserburgh grew in confidence and five minutes before half time they drew level when their centre half rose well to head home a corner kick.
The second half saw a similar pattern emerge - County looking good in spells, but Fraserburgh still very much in the game and getting encouragement from some slack passing in County’s defence.
This slackness proved costly after 75 minutes when County’s Edwards gave the ball away and this resulted in one the Fraserburgh strikers running through from a suspiciously offside position to put them 2-1 in front.
County hit back immediately and a Dlugonski shot was diverted over the crossbar.
County’s problems increased shortly after this when defender Gary Ewing was sent off for comments made to a linesman. To County’s credit they regrouped and took the game to Fraserburgh as time began to run out.
Allan Lees and Brian MacLeod were driving forces as County went searching for the equaliser. With the game into stoppage time, their efforts were rewarded when Martin Kenny blasted a loose ball home from just inside the box, to give County a lifeline. The full time whistle went amid cheers of relief on one side and scenes of frustration on the other.
County got off to the best possible start in the first minute of extra time when a free kick 25 yards out was taken by Steven MacKay and he whipped in a shot over the wall to beat the keeper at his near post.
This seemed to deflate Fraserburgh, and 10-man County looked the better and stronger team for the remainder of the game. In fact they had chances to add to their lead when both Makhouli and MacKay shot over the bar when well placed.
So a narrow escape for the County lads. They expected a hard game from Fraserburgh and they got it. They will look at some aspects of their game which they can improve on and these made the match harder than it should have been, but on the positive side there some good individual performances, and the team deserves credit for showing grit and determination in fighting back when things were not going well.
The goals they scored were all well taken. They are through to the next round now and await with anticipation to hear who their opponents will be.
Ross County: Stefan Gonet; Stewart Ross, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Gary Ewing, Allan Lees, Don Cowie, Brian Dlugonski, Steven MacKay, Brian MacLeod, Martin Kenny. Subs (all used): Ryan Witkowski, Mark Makhouli and Lee Williams.
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Ross County’s Under-18s’ run in the Scottish Youth Cup was brought to an end in by a powerful and impressive Morton side.
A four goal burst by the visitors with wind advantage in the first half set them up for a deserved win, although County will feel that some of the goals could been avoided.
Both teams had met recently on league business and it could well be that County’s excellent performance in that match alerted Morton and ensured that they travelled up to Dingwall with no thoughts of complacency.
The opening fifteen to twenty minutes of the first half saw action at both ends with both teams taking time to cope with a strongish wind in Morton’s favour.
County threatened the Morton goal twice in that time, firstly when defender Sam McLaughlin just failed to connect following a corner, and soon after that a Steven Mackay free kick drifted past the post.
Morton strikers Whelan and Reid looked dangerous up front, and keeper Gonet brought off two good saves in quick succession.
Don Cowie shot wide from just outside the box, but County were finding it difficult to settle down to a passing game, and it was Morton who were starting to gain more control with midfielder Tweedie very prominent.
In twenty minutes Morton took the lead with a penalty. A long throw into the County box ended with a header coming off the crossbar, and as a Morton forward shaped up to score he was brought down. Morton’s Whelan scored from the spot to make it 1-0.
Two minutes later it was 2-0, when a fine cross from the left by Tweedie by headed in at the back post by the diminutive forward.
Morton were now full of confidence, and continued to make some openings. For County, strikers MacKay and Kenny looked willing to work up front, the former coming close with a turn and shot, but too many County players seemed to find themselves rushed into playing hopeful balls when passing to feet was required.
In the space of five minutes before half time County gave themselves a mountain to climb when they lost two avoidable goals. The first one came when a ball which should have been cleared was left, and Morton’s Reid nipped in to score.
Just before half time Morton went four up when a County defender was caught in possession and Tweedie took full advantage to slam the ball past the keeper.
The second half saw County change their formation in an effort to try to retrieve the situation. The opening minutes saw Mackay played through on the left but he was flagged offside.
Lees then went down the right and put in an inviting cross but there were no takers.
At the other end, Morton’s Tweedie brought the best out of Gonet with a flashing free kick.
Brian Macleod was then brought down outside the Morton box, but County’s free kick was blocked. Morton’s defence were well organised and quick to push out, with Kenny just getting caught offside in a promising move.
Morton still looked in control of the game and keeper Gonet had a fine save close in following a mistake in County’s midfield.
County’s "Trialist" came on for Dlugonski and although his pace gave some hope the final pass was lacking.
In seventy five minutes Morton completed the scoring when substitute Stewart cut in from the left and hit a great shot into the far corner.
County almost grabbed a late consolation when Kenny shot past following good work by Lee Williams.
In the end Morton ran out convincing winners, but the County lads will feel that they did not play to their form of the previous match, and will be annoyed at the goals they lost.
It is probably no consolation, but this Morton side have been beating teams by a similar scoreline on a regular basis this season. They could go a long way in the Youth Cup.
Ross County: Stefan Gonet; Sam McLaughlin, Lee Williams, Martin Canning, Steven Edwards, Bryan Dlugonski, Brian MacLeod, Allan Lees, Martin Kenny, Don Cowie and Steven MacKay. Subs (all used): Trialist, Mark Makhouli and Michael McInnes.
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