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| 8/8 | vs Albion Rovers(H) | Won 1-0 |
| 22/8 | vs St Mirren(H) | Lost 1-3 (after extra time) |
Former Hearts striker Derek Holmes turned in arguably his best performance to date to bail out the Dingwall men in the first round of the CIS Insurance (League) Cup.
Holmes scored the only goal of the gaim against a gritty Albion side, but more encourangingly looked hungry and potent in attack after a difficult settling-in spell last season.
Although the club's record signing's display was a welcome boost to manager Neale Cooper, he claimed afterwards there was little else to be taken from the match, as the First Division new-comers struggled to finish off unfancied Albion Rovers.
County were generally on top, but Cooper felt his men failed to impose themselves and expose the gulf in class which should have existed.
He said: "It was a result for us, but that was a bad night. The players will have to do a lot better or they are going to get turned over in the First Division.
"I was disappointed with the way the majority of the players performed. Too many were well below their best.
"Derek Holmes did very well and scored a good goal, as well as working hard and posing a real threat.
"The other plus is that we are into the next round and have a chance to improve in the competition."
Holmes' 64th minute winner did little to ease the apprehension amongst the County followers, although it is unfair to compare this performance to the nine-man defeat at Ayr.
Like Cooper's men the visitors had also lost 0-1 on the opening day of their league campaign and they too were anxious to return to winning form. But despite County's first half dominance, Rovers made it hard with a fighting, backs-to-the-wall display.
County came close on five minutes when Darren Henderson's header from a few yards out flew over the bar after a well-worked move and pin-point paul Kinnaird cross.
Saturday's red-card villain Brian Irvine then sent a long ball over the Albion defence but Alex Bone's cross ball was cleared by the visitors' 'keeper.
Rovers had their first chance after 25 minutes with a drive by McKenzie which skidded in front of Nicky walker's goal before being cleared to safety by Kenny Gilbert.
There was further frustration for County when another Kinnaird cross and Bone headerset up Henderson for a second near-miss just before half time.
Holmes replaced Henderson at half time and the £50,000 striker came close to opening the scoring in 50 minutes when Albion 'keeper Fahey had to plam the ball away after the tall striker had met another Kinnaird cross.
County's Craig Taggart then shot over from 20 yards out and defender Gilbert was lucky to escape with a yellow card after a "last-man" tackle on Begue.
After a couple of close calls for Bone, Holmes broke the deadlock on 64 minutes.
A foul on Frank Escalon 10 yards inside the Albion half allowed a quickly taken free kick and george Shaw hit the ball goalwards. From the resulting scramble, Holmes was in position to lash in a six-yard shot.
Ross County: Walker; Gilbert, Cunnington, Maxwell, Irvine, Taggart, Shaw, Henderson, Bone, Millar and Kinnaird. Substitutes: Escalon, D McKay, Holmes, Ross and Hamilton (gk).
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Ross County's CIS League Cup hopes were cruelly dashed in extra time by goals from St Mirren's Scott Walker and Tom Brown.
County had looked like pulling off a shock result when George Shaw put them ahead in the 82nd minute, but Hugh Murray equalised with the aid of a cruel deflection two minutes later.
Neale Cooper's side proved more than a match for its Premier League opponents over the 120 minutes, but a hotly-disputed headed goal from Walker and a late strike from Brown gave St Mirren a flattering victory.
The best chance of the first half fell to County. Craig Taggart fed George Shaw and his piercing ball from the middle of the park beat the Saints offside trap and put Alex Bone clear, but he was thwarted by Ludovic Roy.
Eddie Cunnington fouled Iain Nicolson on the edge of the County box and then the new 10-yard rule was used by referee Willie Young after a show of dissent from County full back Cunnington.
Jens Paeslack's effort from inside the box was blocked.
The Premier League side should have gone in ahead at half-time, but in the final minute Ricky Gillies somehow managed to head Colin Drew's cross over the bar from six yards.
Nicky Walker was forced into another fine save when substitute Mark Yardley set up Steven McGarry but the County No. 1 made a fine low block diving to his right before Kenny Gilbert cleared for a corner.
From the resulting Gillies corner, Saints came even closer when McGarry flicked a Scott MacKenzie header off the bar before Brian Irvine mopped up the danger.
St Mirren continued to press forward and they came close again when Gillies' free-kick from the edge of the box was tipped over by Nicky Walker.
At the other end, Derek Holmes set up Shaw but Roy got down well to save his close-range effort.
In the 82nd minute Victoria Park erupted when Holmes cashed in on a Saints defensive blunder before chipping over Roy to give Shaw the easiest of tasks to fire home from six yards.
Two minutes later Saints levelled with more than a touch of fortune. Hugh Murray's 25-yard effort took a wicked deflection on its way past a stranded Walker.
Four minutes into extra time controversy erupted when Walker got his head on the end of a Gillies corner. The ball appeared to be cleared off the line by a County defender, but the assistant referee flagged that the ball had crossed the line and the goal was given.
In the second period, County, pushing for an equaliser, were caught on the break by Brown and he killed the tie with a clinical finish from just inside the box.
Ross County: Walker; Gilbert, Cunnington, Maxwell, Irvine, Taggart (McQuade, 77), Shaw, Ferguson (Escalon, 105), Bone (Millar, 118) and Holmes. Subs (not used): Hamilton (gk) and D McKay.
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| 15/8 | vs Clyde (H) | Won 2-1 |
| 29/8 | vs Livingston (H) | Lost 0-3 |
Some managers say you never change a winning team. Clyde boss Alan Maitland made no fewer than 11 changes to the side that had defeated Ross County in the league three days earlier.
The bizarre move at first suggested either arrogance or a less than subtle dig at Neale Cooper's injury and illness problems, but Maitland later claimed he had merely wanted to give fringe players an opportunity to put up or shut up about their lack of first team action.
What it did illustrate, was a lack of commitment to lift the Bell's Challenge Cup, a complaint that certainly could not be levelled at County's determined starting eleven.
But with Clyde's team selection resembling a reserve run-out County were on something of a hiding to nothing. Win and it would be said they had beaten a weakened Clyde; lose and the criticism would have engulfed them.
Still, they went about their work thoroughly and professionally and, in truth, had it reflected their endeavours, the margin would have been more comfortable.
Derek Holmes again looked in the mood but it was Alex Bone who opened the scoring in 15 minutes when he met Ian Maxwell's flick-on at the back post for a simple tap-in.
The Bully Wee were pinned back for most of the first half, but former Rangers player Craig McPherson's drive had to be parried by Nicky Walker and Bingham's follow-up hit the post.
In the second period, County continued to press and the in-form George Shaw set up Holmes who headed past with a goal beckoning.
Just after the hour mark, County's dominance was rewarded when Darren Henderson rose to head home another good cross from Shaw who had gathered a rebound shot from Bone which had hit the crossbar.
Clyde's small group of fans were celebrating ten minutes later when David McKay hauled down Phil Cannie and the Clyde man converted the penalty kick himself.
But there was no real danger of Cooper's men losing the match and they ran out comfortable winners to maintain their 100% record in cup matches.
Ross County: Walker; D McKay, Cunnington, Maxwell, Irvine, Escalon, Shaw, Fraser, Bone, Millar and Holmes. Substitutes: Henderson, Ferguson, McQuade, Ross and Hamilton (gk).
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Ross County tumbled out of the Bell's Challenge Cup at Victoria Park last night.
The Dingwall men paid a heavy price for failing to capitalise after having most of the first-half possession against fellow First Division side Livingston.
Within eight minutes of the restart Livingston snatched two goals through David Bingham and substitute Gerry Britton, who went to complete a double.
County manager Neale Cooper was clearly agitated by his side's second-half collapse. He said: "In the first half we had so many chances and totally dominated the game, but when the chances come you've got to take them.
"Frank Escalon missed a bad one just before half-time and then early in the second half bad mistakes cost us two goals.
"After that it was very difficult to get back into the game."
Cooper revealed that 19-year-old Preston midfielder Stuart King has arrived at Dingwall for a three-month loan spell.
The County boss said: "Stuart's registration papers were only completed five minutes before the game but he came on for the last quarter of an hour and I thought he did fairly well."
Livingston manager Jim Leishman said: "We got a roasting in the first half and Escalon really should have put Ross County one up just before the interval. But in the second half we were the team that wanted to get to the ball first."
In the fifth minute George Shaw turned brilliantly in the box and unleashed a fierce angular drive that Livingston keeper Alexander did well to smother.
Two minutes later John Fraser fired in a 35-yard drive that just went over the Livingston bar.
County fans had their hearts in their mouths when former Dingwall hero Barry Wilson lobbed home keeper Nicky Walker but the ball clipped the top of the bar and went over.
Three minutes from the break County missed a gilt-edged chance to take the lead when Escalon was left with only Alexander to beat from six yards but somehow the Frenchman managed to side-foot the ball past the post.
Livvy broke the deadlock in 50 minutes against the run of play when Bingham headed Fleming's corner past Walker.
Three minutes later the County defence was caught out again when a brilliant darting run by Brian McPhee ended with Britton having the simplest of tasks to nod the ball past Walker from four yards.
A minute later Livingston keeper Alexander turned away a net-bound George Shaw effort. Then Walker brilliantly turned a Wilson shot past the post. It was all over in 80 minutes when Bingham once again carved open the home defence to set up Britton, who beat Walker with ease from six yards.
Britton had the miss of the match just before the final whistle when, with only Walker to beat, the Livingston striker smashed the ball off the bar from six yards.
Ross County: Walker; Gilbert, Cunnington, Maxwell, Irvine, Escalon (Bone, 66), Shaw, Fraser, Ferguson, Millar, Kinnaird and (King, 72).
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| 26/8 | vs Brora (A) | Drew 1-1 (aet) Won 7-6 on pens |
| 2/8 | vs Lossiemouth (H) | Lost 0-3 |
Ross County fielded a young side in their McEwan's North Cup second round match at Brora and they produced a memorable performance in beating the Sutherland side after extra time and a penalty shoot out.
The victory was all the more creditable because they had to play most of the match with ten men as Steven McKay was harshly red-carded after 14 minutes following a collision with a Brora player.
With the exception of David Ross, County fielded a team of 16 to 19 year olds, sevn of whom had played in a SPL Under-18 match 24 hours earlier - a real testimony to their fitness and character.
In the first minute Craig Campbell came close to opening the scoring when his shot was well saved by the 'keeper. From the resulting corner, Steven Edwards struck the ball home to give County the perfect start.
County looked really sharp but were rocked by the dismissal of McKay and they had to reorganise things quickly as Brora were allowed more space to play in.
Brora equalised early in the second half, but County were strong enough physically and mentally and they dug deep into their reserves to keep Brora at bay. Indeed, it was County who were playing the better, possession, passing game at this stage.
Both sides had chances to finish the game before it went into extra time and then to penalties. Dlugonski, Edwards, Canning, Lees, Young and Kenny all scored as the penalties went to sudden death. Gonet then became the hero when he scored from the spot and then went into goal to save the decisive penalty to give County a well-earned victory.
Ross County A: Gonet; Young, McKay, Canning, Edwards, Dlugonski, Witkowski, Cowie, Campbell, Ross and Wilde. Subs: Lees, Kenny and Hastie.
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Ross County's chances of appearing in the McEwan's North Cup final disappeared when the lost to a spirited Lossie side.
Maybe the fact that half of the team had taken part in the SPL Under-18 fixture against Celtic 24 hours earlier had a bearing on things, but the young County side looked a bit lethargic and they will feel that they did not perform at their best.
County did show quality in brief spells, but unfortunately, their inexperience showed when they let Lossiemouth unsettle them and allowed the visitors to be first to the ball on too many occasions.
Lossie took the lead after 20 minutes when their right winger had time to cut the ball across for Robertson to stroke the ball home.
County had a chance to equalise but Kenny's shot was saved. They did have a better chance just on half time when McKay might have shot but instead he set up Campbell whose shot was blocked.
Lossie hit County with a second goal early into the second half when Walker reacted quickly to a headed clearance. They added a third ten minutes later when Allan ran through the home defence to score.
County came close to pulling a goal back when Dlugonski had a good effort tipped over. McKay did have the ball in the lossie net but the whistle had gone for an earlier foul.
Ross County A: Gonet; Young, Ewing, McKenzie, Edwards, Dlugonski, Kenny, Lees, Ross, Campbell and McKay. Subs: Witkowski, Wilde and Cowie.
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| 3/10 | Inverness CT | Won 4-2 |
| 17/10 | Elgin City | Won 3-1 |
| 31/10 | Forres Mechanics | Won 1-0 |
Ross County booked their place in the semi-finals of the Inverness Cup with a comfortable victory at Caledonian Stadium.
County were on top from the start and Craig Campbell put them ahead when a good run by Derek Holmes set up the chance in 17 minutes.
George Shaw extended the lead when a cross from Stephen MacKay had the home defence in a tangle in 27 minutes.
Thistle were quick to retaliate and Charlie Christie reduced the deficit from Martin Glancy's through pass on the half hour.
Immediately after, Stefan Gonet made a superb save from Denis Wyness.
Gonet again came to the rescue after Glancy raced on to a defence-splitting pass from Christie just before the break.
Mackay gave County a dream start to the second half when he took advantage of sloppy defending to put them 3-1 up in 47 minutes. The Jags briefly returned to the attack and Christie fired inches wide when Glancy knocked down a cross from Wyness.
Holmes raced through a static defence to put County further ahead with a low drive from 12 yards in 66 minutes.
Neil Macdonald gave Caley renewed hope when he scored the goal of the game with a thundering 25 yarder in 81 minutes, but they failed to build on their success.
Ross County: Gonet; Lees, Ross, Canning, Irvine, Taggart, Shaw, Campbell (Cowie, 75), Holmes, Ferguson and MacKay (Edwards, 87).
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Ross County cruised into the Inverness Cup final with first-half goals from George Shaw and Steve Ferguson, while Derek Holmes made it 3-0 after the interval. Connor Campbell netted a late counter for Elgin.
The Dingwall side will now meet the winner of tonight's other semi-final between Clachnacuddin and Forres Mechanics with the final date set for Tuesday, October 31.
The visitors started strongly and Martin Canning fired a 25-yarder just wide of the target in the second minute.
At the other end, the former County player Connor Campbell almost opened the scoring when he spotted Stefan Gonet off his line but his 35-yard lob dropped agonisingly over the crossbar.
City threatened again in the 13th minute when Colin Milne's cross was met by Steve Clinton at the back post but his header sailed over the top.
On the quarter-hour mark County's Derek Holmes burst through the middle and went down in the box under the challenge of three City defenders. George SHAW stepped up to take the resultant penalty kick to send Martin Pirie the wrong way for the opener.
Two minutes later slack Elgin defensive play gifted County a second goal. George Russell's short pass back was intercepted by Shaw who unselfishly squared the ball to Steve FERGUSON to stroke the ball into the empty net.
Just before the break County keeper Gonet did well to turn a Mark Slythe effort over the top.
Early in the second period the County keeper comfortably held a Neil Whyte drive then made a brilliant diving stop from a Colin Milne strike as City strived to open their account.
Elgin keeper Pirie was called into action to take a John McQuade header over the top.
However, Ross County increased their lead in the 58th minute when Derek HOLMES' downward header was deemed to cross the line before Jordan MacDonald cleared the ball.
Elgin substitute Steven Ellis sent in a dipping 25-yarder that went inches over the crossbar.
With only 60 seconds left Connor Campbell fired in a 15-yarder, giving Gonet no chance.
There was no more time for City to build and for Elgin it was no more than a consolation goal.
Ross County:Gonet; Lees, Cunnington (MacKay 70), Canning, Edwards (Campbell 57), Taggart, Shaw, Fraser, Holmes, Ferguson, McQuade.
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Forres Mechanics made Ross County fight all the way in the Inverness Cup final at Grant Street Park last night, but an Alex Bone strike 14 minutes from time took the trophy to Dingwall.
On a pudding of a pitch both sides served up some attractive football and with a bit of luck the Highland League side might have taken the game into extra time.
County had eight first-team regulars in their starting line-up, while Forres fielded four former County players.
Martin Canning burst forward for County early on, but his shot from 25 yards sailed over the crossbar.
In the 32nd minute Charlie Brown left the County defence in his wake, but Canning intercepted to clear the danger.
It took a brilliant save by Mark McRitchie in the Forres goal to stop a 39th-minute snapshot from Bone.
From the resulting corner Darren Henderson fired in a fierce 25 yard shot which came back off a post.
Early in the second period Forres's Graeme Stewart, on loan from Caley Thistle, sent an angular drive inches wide of Stefan Gonet's goal.
On the hour mark Charlie Brown's cross-cum-shot came back off the face of the crossbar with Gonet beaten.
County went straight up the park and McRitchie made a brilliant diving stop at Bones' feet.
Forres replied with a darting run from Brown, but Gonet held his swerving drive well.
In the 76th minute Ross County scored the winner, BONE firing the ball under the diving McRitchie from 12 yards.
The Mechanics keeper drew loud applause from the crowd when he moved into attack for two late corners as Forres staged the grandstand finish, but the First Division side held on to lift the silverware.
County assistant manager Gordon Chisholm said: "The pitch was a great leveller and I honestly feel that a cup final deserved to be played on a better surface.
"I am disappointed, as we had offered our own Victoria Park which is in first class condition, as a venue, but this suggestion was turned down.
"However, we're delighted with a win.
"My players worked very hard as Forres made us fight all the way and were certainly up for the occasion."
Forres Mechanics manager Fraser Kellas said: "A lot of people expected us to come here and get slaughtered, but we more than managed to hold our own and only lost out to a scrappy late goal."
Ross County: Gonet; Gilbert, Henderson, Maxwell, Canning, Taggart, Lees, Miller (Ferguson 65), Bone, Fraser, Holmes.
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