| Date | Saturday, 26 April 1997 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 3 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 1:0 Arbroath |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 1,672 |
| Referee | Ian Fyfe |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Michael Grant for the Press & Journal. Ross County 1 Arbroath 0 Ross County manager Neale Cooper reckons he has unearthed a goalkeeping gem in Kevin Morgan. The former Aberdeen keeper was outstanding as County kept their promotion challenge alive with a nervy 1-0 win against 10-man Arbroath. Billy Ferries brought County to life after coming on as a half-time substitute and his 64th-minute goal could yet play a massive part in deciding who goes up with champions Caley Thistle. But 20-year-old Morgan, the 5ft 8in keeper released from Pittodrie earlier this year, ensured that Arbroath had nothing to show for a spirited display. "Morgan was outstanding and he was told in the changing room that if certain players showed the appetite and attitude he showed we would be outstanding," said relieved manager Cooper. "He is one of the best goalkeeping prospects I have seen." County travel to Queen's Park on Saturday and, without taking a win for granted at Hampden, they believe Caley Thistle could do them a massive favour by defeating Forfar in Inverness. County and Forfar are level on 61 points but the Angus men have a superior goal difference. Cooper added: "Against Arbroath, the result was the main thing. The nerves showed in certain spells, especially in the first half. When we brought Billy Ferries on it changed the game for us. There might be nerves in the team but there is also a hunger to do well and that showed a lot more in the second half. Arbroath's Don McVicar was sent off in 35 minutes after lashing out at Garry Wood on the ground after a tussle, but it was only when Ferries came on for Johnston Bellshaw that County began to threaten. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Kevin Morgan, 2: Stuart Golabek, 3: William Furphy, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: William (Billy) Herd 1, 6: Johnston Bellshaw, 7: Roy McBain, 8: Kenneth Gilbert 1, 9: Derek Adams, 10: Garry Wood, 11: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod |
| Bench | 0: Steven Ferguson, 0: Keith (Billy) Ferries 1, 0: John Hewitt |
| Arbroath | |
| Manager | John Brogan |
| Starting 11 | Gordon Arthur, Steve Florence 1, Donald McVicar 1, John McAulay, Rod Wylie 1, Jon Crawford, James McCarron, Gary Balfour, Mark McWalter, Craig Reynolds, Douglas Hope |
| Bench | Steve Scott, Phinn, Craig Hinchcliffe |