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| 10/9 | vs Clyde (A) | |
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| 6/8 | vs Cowdenbeath (A) | Won 2-0 (aet) |
| 13/8 | vs Alloa Athletic (A) | Won 1-0 |
| 20/8 | vs St Mirren (H) | Drew 1-1 (after extra time) St Mirren win 6-5 on penalties |
It took First Division Ross County 118 minutes to break the spirit of their Second Division opponents Cowdenbeath before running out 2-0 winners in this Bell's Scottish League Challenge Cup first round tie.
Normal time saw Cowdenbeath dominate play. The woodwork denied home midfielder Craig Winter after 18 minutes and then it took a fine save from visiting 'keeper Tony Bullock to defy Graeme Brown.
The second half of normal time saw County continue to struggle.
And they only took control after the Fifers were reduced to 10 men in the first period of extra time when substitute Gary Gilfillan was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Two minutes from time Sean WEBB headed in a Steve McGarry corner kick.
Then a minute later Connor GETHINS beat the home offside trap to send his side into round two after a titanic struggle.
Ross County: Bullock; McCulloch, Irvine (Bayne), Perry, Deas, Cowie, Gilbert, Ferguson, McKay (Webb), Bone (Gethins) and McGarry. Unused Subs: Fridge (gk) and Wood.
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Ross County claimed a well-deserved Bell's Challenge Cup third round place at Recreation park last night but it took a Brown Ferguson own goal to send Alloa tumbling out of the competition.
The win maintained the Dingwall men's fine early-season winning run.
Delighted County manager Neale Cooper said: "We came here expecting a hard game and found that Alloa worked hard. But I felt that we strung some good passes together and defended very well at corners and free kicks.
"The main thing for us is that we lost no goals and I thought that our defender Martin Canning had an outstanding game. Our boys are showing great rapport which sets us up nicely for our trip to Ayr on Saturday."
Alloa manager Terry Christie said: "Although I felt our attitude was right, we have gone three games now and have not scored a single goal and this is a concern."
After their poor show against Arbroath last Saturday, Christie had his boys fired up for this cup test.
The Wasps' manager brought back Ian Little to sharpen up the frontline and after two minutes he pushed in a lovely ball from the left to present a chance for Brown Ferguson but his low shoy was off target.
County responded immediately, Conor Gethins picking out Steve McGarry at the left post but his first-time shot was brilliantly pushed over the top by young 'keeper James Evans.
Breaking quickly, County began to force Alloa back into defence with Martin Wood testing Evans from 25 yards, just before Gethins sent a curling shot just wide of the right hand post.
Alloa nearly stunned County in 31 minutes. Gareth Hutchinson headed a Scott Crabbe corner for the right side of the net but a County defender popped up to clear off the goal line.
It was anybody's game as the interval approached but Alloa had a good chance in 42 minutes, CRabbe stretching for a corner by Andy Seaton buy County 'keeper Tony Bullock was ready to make a confident save.
County took the lead three minutes into the second half through an own goal by Brown FERGUSON.
The home midfielder was under pressure from Steven Ferguson to reach a deep cross by Mark McCulloch but headed past his own 'keeper.
It was a blow for the Wasps but defender Andy Seaton almost brought them level with a powerful 23-yard free kick that struck the crossbar with Bullock rooted to the spot.
There was controversy in 66 minutes when Alex Bone replaced McGarry in the County side but he was booked for entering the field without permission.
County manager Neale Cooper was lectured by referee Willie Young for allowing the switch.
Ross County: Bullock; McCulloch, Deas, Perry, Canning, Gilbert, McGarry (Bone, 66), Ferguson, Gethins (McKay, 46), Cowie (Campbell, 84) and Wood.
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St Mirren secured a place in the Bell's Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Division One rivals Ross County.
Substitute Simon Lappin fired home the winning spot-kick for the Paisley outfit after Mark McCulloch's effort had been brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Kris Robertson.
The sides had finished level at 1-1 after extra time following a pulsating clash.
Republic of Ireland Under-19 forward Conor GETHINS grabbed the lead for County with a fine solo goal in the 42nd minute.
The visitors equalised just after the hour-mark when midfielder Ricky Gillies converted from the penalty spot after Ian Ross had been fouled by Martin Canning.
Both teams hit the woodwork as the game raged from end to end. Saints' Martin Cameron headed the ball against the post and County's Kenny Gilbert crashing a 20-yard drive against the crossbar in the final minute.
But it was the Paisley side who held their nerve from the spot after a goal-less extra time.
Ross County: Bullock; McCulloch, Mackay, Perry, Canning, Gilbert, McGarry, Ferguson, Bone, Gethins, Robertson. Subs: Fridge (gk), Wood, Webb, Bayne and Cowie.
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| 7/8 | vs Clachnacuddin (A) | Won 4-2 |
| 15/8 | vs Fort William (A) | Won 5-1 |
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Ross County cruised into the final of the Inverness Cup with a comprehensive win over a battling Fort William outfit.
The Dingwall side fielded several first team regulars including Hugh Robertson, Alex Bone (who netted twice on the night), Sean Webb and Graham Bayne.
Ross County opened the scoring in the 14th minute when referee MacDonald awarded the softest penalty and BONE slotted home the spot kick.
John Cassidy came close with a 25 yarder which County 'keeper Les Fridge just managed to tip over.
However, Dingwall youngster Scott LOGAN made it 2-0 just on the half time whistle when he flicked the ball home at the near post.
County's Michael BOLOCHOWECKYJ netted twice midway through the second period while Graham McKenzie pulled one back for the homesters after excellent leading up work by Andy Martin.
BONE completed a good night's work with a late goal for his own second and County's fifth of the night.
Ross County: Fridge; Grey, Robertson, Webb, Townsley, Bolochoweckyj, Logan, Campbell, Bone, Bayne (Miller 43), Kane.
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