| Date | Tuesday, 19 March 2002 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 0:0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 4,679 |
| Referee | Kenny Clark |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Dave Edwards for the Press & Journal. Ross County 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle battled out a disappointing goalless Highland First Division derby in front of 4,679 fans at Victoria Park, Dingwall, last night. Chances were few and far between as defences dominated and the supporters will be hoping for better fare when the clubs meet in a repeat performance in Inverness on Saturday. However, with a point each, both sides move up a place above Arbroath in the First Division table--Caley Jags into fourth and Ross County fifth. Teenage striker Conor Gethins was off on international duty with the Republic of Ireland under-19s and his place in the Ross County line-up went to veteran Alex Bone. Caley Thistle made two changes to their side after last Saturday's goalless draw at Raith Rovers--Stuart McCaffrey replacing Stuart Golabek and Paul Ritchie coming in for Martin Bavidge. It was a big night for former Aberdeen and Scotland centre half Brian Irvine, who skippered the Dingwall side to mark his 500th league appearance in Scottish football. Ross Tokely almost opened the scoring for the visitors in the ninth minute when Roy McBain's free kick was met by the lanky defender, but his powerful header drifted just wide of the upright. At the other end, the Jags defence got in a fankle and the visitors were fortunate when the ball rebounded off Hugh Robertson and went over the bar. Ian Maxwell got an important touch to the ball as Paul Ritchie prepared to meet Charlie Christie's cross as the play swept from end to end. Robertson fired in a dangerous in-swinging corner, but Nicky Walker clutched the ball confidently underneath the crossbar. In 24 minutes, Dennis Wyness should have opened the scoring, but from only six yards he chipped the ball over the top from an inch-perfect Christie cross. Just before the break, Tokely was again presented with a clear-cut chance, but this time he ballooned high over from eight yards. Early in the second period Wyness sent in a 16-yard grounder but Bullock gathered easily. County had the ball in the Caley Thistle net in 53 minutes but referee Kenny Clark blew for an earlier infringement. Bone broke free to set up Hislop but the big striker rushed his shot and fired over. Walker just got down in time to turn aside a Hislop drive in 60 minutes as County went in search of a winner. Five minutes later Bone went close to opening the scoring when his first-time effort from a Hislop feed squirmed just wide of the target. A great run by Steve Ferguson ended with the midfielder shooting tamely at Walker. Bullock dropped a high ball under the challenge of Ritchie but the County keeper recovered in time to grab the ball as Wyness closed in. Bone fired in a grounder in 72 minutes but Walker dived to hold the ball. Walker had to look smart to take the ball off Hislop toes at the second attempt. It took a brilliant block by Walker to deny Hastings what would have been the winner when the former Caley Thistle midfielder moved in on goal with only the keeper to beat in the 82 minutes. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Anthony (Tony) Bullock, 2: Martin Canning, 3: Mark Perry, 4: Richard Hastings, 5: Hugh Robertson, 6: Ian Maxwell, 7: Brian Irvine, 8: Steven Ferguson, 9: Kenneth Gilbert, 10: Alexander Bone, 11: Steven Hislop |
| Bench | 0: Ramiro Gonzalez, 0: Don (JNR) Cowie, 0: Cedric Anselin, 0: Karim Boukraa, 0: Mark McCormick |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | |
| Manager | Steve Paterson |
| Starting 11 | Nicky Walker, Grant Munro, Robert Mann, Ross Tokely, Stuart McCaffrey, Roy McBain, Charlie Christie, Russell Duncan, Barry Robson, Dennis Wyness, Paul Ritchie |
| Bench | Jim Calder, Stuart Golabek, Graeme Stewart, Martin Bavidge, Neil MacDonald |