 |
|
|
|
|
|
e-mail Lorsports
Return to the Main IndexLorsports' Home Page
ROSS COUNTY 0; Arbroath 2 |
Arbroath were returning to the first division after an absence of 22 years but it was the home team that looked to be the novices in this match. Ross County were largely unchanged from last season but they played in a disjointed manner that must be giving some cause for concern for manager Neale Cooper even at this early stage of the season.
Pre-season optimism is so easily burst and at the end of the match the County team were quite dejected whereas the visitors were well pleased with their performance. First half strikes by Mallan and Heenan had done the damage and the steady and experienced County defence looked shaky throughout the game.
Arbroath had to weather an early onslaught from a lively County but after this initial period of inspiration by the Dingwall men, it was Arbroath who grew in confidence as the game progressed. They were no push-overs and on the 30 minute mark some slack defending allowed McInally to find Mallan who finished from close range.
Six minutes later, County looked like being overwhelmed by the division's new-comers. More disarray in defence and Florence flighted a cross to the unmarked Heenan who comfortably side-footed the ball home.
County brought on Steven McKay for the lack-lustre Steven Hislop at half time and the youngster made an immediate impact, not least in the 55th minute when he sent in a stinging, angled drive to test the Arbroath 'keeper.
Arbroath were reduced to ten men on the hour mark when Cusick was dismissed for deliberately handling the ball to prevent Derek Holmes going clear through on goal. However, in spite of much huffing and puffing by County, and numerical supremacy, they lacked the inspiration or the flair to break down a stuffy and well-organised Arbroath defence.
Ross County: Bullock; Perry, Robertson, Maxwell, Irvine, Ferguson, McCormick, Hislop (S McKay, 45), Cowie, Prest (McQuade, 81) and Holmes. Unused Subs: Gonet (gk), Fraser and Webb.
Return to the Page Index
Arbroath 1; ROSS COUNTY 2 |
There was a time when playing away from home was Ross County's pride and strength. These days, trips south seem filled with trepidation of the kind more often reserved for Victoria Park in past seasons.
This was a fifth defeat in five away matches and, much more worryingly, left the Dingwall side - so assured in the CIS League Cup - uncomfortably adrift by two points at the bottom of the table.
Baffling as the general trend may be, there were clear explanations for this reversal of fortunes. Failure to take chances in a dominant first twenty minutes, clear-cut individual errors for the goals and recurrent ineptitude and failing luck in front of goal at the close.
A more heartening dissection of defeat would rightly stress that this loss was not a return to the alarming nature of County's poor run of form earlier in the campaign. The team was certainly not plumbing such depths as they pummelled a resilient, but somewhat fortunate, Arbroath in the last third of the match.
A 0-2 home defeat at the start of the season to the home side made this journey to Angus a revenge mission of sorts. Neale Cooper would also have demanded his players prove they could deal with the bread and butter stuff after refining their taste for the finer occasions on cup business.
There was an added edge to the match given league placings, with both teams sitting on nine points on Saturday morning, although County with the notably better goal difference.
Craig Hinchcliffe, the Arbroath 'keeper, prevented his side from going down early on by blocking two good efforts from a lively County attack.
Brian Irvine was on target with a dangerous shot in eight minutes but Hinchcliffe was equal to it. Five minutes later, the goalkeeper palmed out a point-blank strike from Steven Ferguson as County exuded a real air of confidence.
After nothing materialised from the Dingwall side's early on-slaught, Arbroath had a good chance in the 19th minute but McInally was unlucky when his header inched over the bar.
Team-mate George Rowe glanced the ball into the back of the County net in the 36th minute but his effort was adjudged off-side.
Arbroath enjoyed their best spell of play in the five minutes leading up to half time and they were rewarded with a goal in 43 minutes when Andy Cargill accepted a half chance to put the ball into the net.
Seven minutes into the second half, County 'keeper Tony Bullock, usually so assured with the ball at his feet, came off his line and over-elaborated on efforts to clear the ball. Cargill was the willing recipient of the gift as he bagged his second of the afternoon.
County pulled one back in the 64th minute when IRVINE headed home a Hugh Robertson corner.
The period that followed saw Neale Cooper's men pile on the pressure, with striker Steven Hislop denied by a fine save from Hinchcliffe.
County had re-shuffled their side with Martin Prest and Karim Boukraa entering the fray early in the second half as they searched for the equaliser. However, the best chance to do so fell to Hislop who came close with a header from a Mark McCormick corner.
Ross County: Bullock; Perry, Fraser (Boukraa, 46), Maxwell, Dlugonski (Prest, 57), Irvine, McCormick, Ferguson, Bone, Hislop and Robertson. Unused Subs: S McKay, Cowie and Shearer (gk).
Return to the Page Index
|
|
Return to the Page Index
Arbroath 1; ROSS COUNTY 1 |
Arbroath needed only a point to secure their First Division status but faced a tough task against Ross County who were unbeaten in 12 games before this match. In the opening minute Kenny Gilbert was keen to make an impact when he hit a 30-yard drive which forced Hinchcliffe into making a good save.
The hosts responded five minutes later when Andy Roddie whipped a long deep cross to Graham Bayne but the move just failed to pay dividends. Seconds later Arbroath should have opened the scoring when Roddie crossed again, but John McGlashan was left frustrated when his header was cleared off the line.
The visitors began to look good on the counter and this approach resulted in the opening goal in 20 minutes. Steve HISLOP gathered a through ball, then outpaced George Rowe before slotting neatly past Hinchcliffe.
In the second half, Arbroath pushed forward winning several early corners. Roddie’s deliveries were good and Tony Bullock produced an outstanding save when a Rowe header looked certain to cross the line.
Moments later Mark Perry was correctly booked for a blatant foul on Stevie Mallan as the striker raced past him on the left. Roddie’s subsequent cross was cleared but signs of an Arbroath breakthrough were beginning to emerge. Mallan continued to cause problems and when he was grounded by Don Cowie inside the area the referee pointed to the spot. Mallan shook off the after-effects of the foul to equalise for Arbroath.
Arbroath then almost took the lead when a Roddie cross was cleared as far as Cusick, who smashed the ball towards goal, forcing Bullock into making another fine save.
Nevertheless with the confidence of a goal under their belt the hosts pushed forth with Bayne and Mallan to the fore.
They were almost caught unawares though when Hugh Robertson’s cross found Conor Gethins to net, but there was a reprieve in the form of an offside flag.
Arbroath too went close though with John McAulay hitting the foot of the post, but the Red Lichties were more than happy with the point that ensured their status in the First Division.
Ross County: Bullock; Perry, Robertson, Maxwell, Irvine, Gilbert, Gethins, Cowie, Bone (Campbell), Hislop and Hastings (S McKay). Subs: Fridge (gk), Dlugonski, and Webb.
Return to the Page Index
Lorsports' Home Page