| Date | Saturday, 02 December 1995 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 3 |
| Fixture/Score | Livingston 0:0 Ross County |
| Venue | Almondvale Stadium |
| Attendance | 3,444 |
| Referee | John Rowbotham |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Gordon Simpson for the Daily Record. Livingston 0 Ross County 0 John Rowbotham must lie in bed at night and wonder if it's all worthwhile. One minute he's hailed as the Great White Hope of refereeing in Scotland. The next he's pilloried in public and quizzed in private by the SFA. Rowbotham's offence, it seems, was his failure to tell the SFA he had lost his job 48 hours before the Rangers-Aberdeen dust-up on November 11. Whatever the outcome of the 'hearing', one thing is for sure-the fun has gone out of his life. He Performs his function as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. At Ibrox he failed to take a single name and other forces took over to administer justice. On Saturday at Alomonvale, Rowbotham brandished more cards than Paul Daniels-possibly in a subconscious desire to redress the balance. It didn't succeed. He was as guilty of over-dramatising a low-key game as he was under-playing 'Gazzagate' last month. I'm sure Rowbotham doesn't want pity, but he deserved some on Saturday and a few kind words of understanding. For God's sake, refereeing is only a hobby and he is only doing his best. One bad game doesn't make a bad referee and doesn't merit a Spanish Inquisition-type grilling from the SFA. He should have known it was going to be another of these forgettable days. The match programme referred to him as J.Rowbottom. After recent events, some might say rock bottom. Rowbotham has clearly taken the criticism to heart. Once he refereed with an obvious zest-now he has a hunted look. The yellow-card score-line was Livingston 5, Ross County 4. Frankly, only four of five were justified. Earlier in the season Livingston stole a Point at Dingwall. This time County were fortunate get one. Livingston boss Jim Leishman insisted: "It was a great advert for the Division. "We played attractive stuff and had enough chances to win the game. The only disappointment is that we didn't tuck one away." That's the problem. In three games since moving home to Almondvale, his side have scored just one goal, lost once and drawn twice. Despite that, they have played to crowds of 4000, 3700 and 3444-a Factor which excites Leishman. He said: "The potential is unlimited. Both Ross County and ourselves have the facilities and the ambition to go right through the divisions." County boss Bobby Wilson conceded that he was fortunate to escape with a point. He said: "We had to dig in and battle. "They had a greater percentage of the play and chances. We're not unhappy with a draw." Right now Livingston are still adjusting to their new surroundings. Even the Players are finding it difficult to adapt. Speed merchant Mark Duthie who had two great chances to clinch three points, admitted: "After playing in front of 200 fans at Meadowbahk this is a dream. "I'd never signed an autograph before we moved here. Now we're asked all the time," |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Robert (Bobby) Wilson |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Stuart Golabek, 3: William Furphy, 4: Christopher (Chris) Somerville 1, 5: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 6: William (Billy) Herd, 7: David MacKay, 8: Johnston Bellshaw 1, 9: Gordon Connelly 1, 0: Brian Grant, 0: Jamie MacPherson |
| Bench | 0: Colin Milne, 0: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 0: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod 1 |
| Livingston | |
| Manager | Jim Leishman |
| Starting 11 | Douglas, Williamson, Alleyne 1, Davidson, Graham, McLeod, McMartin, Smart 1, Callaghan 1, Young, Duthie 1 |
| Bench | Bailley, Harvey 1, Sorbie |