| Date | Tuesday, 14 August 2001 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish Challenge Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Dumbarton 0:2 Ross County |
| Venue | Strathclyde Homes Stadium |
| Attendance | 432 |
| Referee | Kevin Toner |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Dumbarton 0 Ross County 2 Ross County, thanks to two super second-half strikes, deservedly marched into the third round of the Challenge Cup last night. It took two inspired second-half substitutions, of Mark McCormick and Derek Holmes, before their replacements John McQuade and Steven Hislop grabbed the winning goals. McCormick and Alex Bone were working in close harmony up front during the opening spell and were being well serviced by Steve Ferguson and Holmes. In the 15th minute, Holmes set up a chance for Bone, but keeper John White saved his shot well. In the next attack by County Steve McKay tested the Sons keeper with a super 30-yard drive. The visitors continued to enjoy the bulk of play, bur Dumbarton remained dangerous on the break. County debut man Sean Webb was in super form and twice his timely tackles ended home attacks. Four minutes from the interval Ferguson's 25-yard volley was brilliantly saved by the Dumbarton keeper. On the resumption former Dumbarton player McQuade replaced Ferguson for County and within a minute had made his mark by drilling home a glorious opener. Hislop came on 20 minutes later and he carried out an identikit job on Sons by rattling in goal No. 2. Late on firebrand Bone, who had been a thorn throughout the game in the flesh of Dumbarton's rear-guard, twice went very close to increasing County's lead. This was the first occasion this season that Dumbarton have played in their new Strathclyde Homes Stadium without scoring. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Anthony (Tony) Bullock, 2: Hugh Robertson, 3: Sean Webb, 4: Mark Perry, 5: Ian Maxwell, 6: Steven MacKay, 7: John Fraser, 8: Steven Ferguson, 9: Alexander Bone, 10: Mark McCormick, 11: Derek Holmes |
| Bench | 0: Stefan Gonet, 0: Richard Hastings, 0: Don (JNR) Cowie, 0: Steven Hislop 1, 0: John McQuade 1 |
| Dumbarton | |
| Manager | Tom Carson |
| Starting 11 | John Wight, Michael Dickie, Craig Brittain, Stephen Jack, Craig Lynes, Kevin McCann, John Dillon 1, Danny McKelvie, Steven Bonar, Joe Robertson, Andy Brown |
| Bench | John Hillcoat, David Stewart 1, Martin Melvin, Martin O'Neill, John Ritchie |