Date	Saturday, 16 October 1993
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Inverness Thistle 1:4 Ross County
Venue	Kingsmills
Attendance	1,070
Referee
Comments	Match Report Report by Kevin Williams for the Press & Journal. Inverness Thistle 1 Ross County 4 Ross County manager Bobby Wilson promised a more open game in Saturday's Qualifying Cup replay against Inverness Thistle at Kingsmills and, as far as his team was concerned, that was exactly how it turned out. The Dingwall side outplayed lacklustre Thistle and there were shades of vintage County in the performance, with midfield maestro Gordon Connelly and talented striker Brian Grant in top form. The importance of qualifying for the Scottish Cup was all the incentive the County players needed and manager Wilson said: "With our application for Scottish League status in the balance, it was very important for us to be in the cup draw. We now have the opportunity to show our mettle whereas Elgin city and Caley will be disappointed that they don't have that chance." Wilson's players were charged up from the first whistle and they were sharper and more committed than their opponents. The whole team played well and it was one of their outstanding performers. Johnston Bellshaw, who set up the first goal after only 10 minutes. He flicked a Barry Wilson corner into the danger area and GRANT was the first to react. Two goals in two minutes around the half-hour mark buried the Jags and this time it was Grant the provider. He shielded the ball in the area before slipping it to CONNELLY, who blasted home from 10 yards and then he did the same for Alan DUFF to squeeze the ball in at the near post. If there was to be any way back for the Jags, it had to come from an early goal in the second half, but it was County who grabbed it when an unselfish pass from Duff gave GRANT the easiest of goals. To their credit, the Jags kept trying and Calum MacLEAN, with the help of a deflection off Bellshaw, got a solitary consolation in the last minute. Thistle manager Henrick Madej was distinctly unimpressed, saying: "We were absolutely terrible. We had a good crowd and some tremendous support and we didn't play at all. Ross County were good but there wasn't one player in our team that I would give a pass mark." To be fair to Thistle, not many teams could match County in this mood. Bobby Wilson changed his tactics by pushing sweeper Robby Williamson into midfield and he played with a flat back four. He said: "It worked because Bellshaw and MacLeod mopped up everything. Gordon Connelly was back to his old form and when he plays well, the team plays well. But I thought Brian Grant was outstanding, not just for his goals but also for the work he did off the ball." Chris Somerville missed nothing at the back and was always creative going forward and his full back partner, youngster Craig Reid, showed his tremendous potential. Thistle's Milroy and McDonald were booked as was County's Somerville.
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville 1, 3: Craig Reid, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod, 7: Cameron Robertson, 8: Brian Grant 2, 9: Alan Duff 1, 10: Gordon Connelly 1, 11: Barry Wilson
Bench	0: Gary Campbell, 0: Keith (Billy) Ferries