| Date | Saturday, 30 October 1993 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Highland League |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 3:0 Lossiemouth |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | |
| Referee | |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Mike Tremlett for the Press & Journal. Ross County 3 Lossiemouth 0 Ross County wing wizard Billy Ferries could be in line for a starting place in Saturday week's Qualifying Cup final clash with trophy heavyweights Huntly at Borough Briggs. After a two-year battle to shake off a pelvic injury which threatened his career, the 28-year-old breezed through his second full first-team game this season against Lossie at Victoria Park on Saturday. His performance should have alarm bells ringing at Christie Park because all of the trickery and sleight of foot which made the Tain-based winger a full back's nightmare was on show against the Coasters. "Billy still lacks a bit of the electric acceleration which scared defenders rigid when he was at his very best, but he is getting fitter, quicker and stronger by the game," said County boss Bobby Wilson. "He is now forcing his way into my selection thinking for the cup final. If he comes through our games between now and then with no setbacks it will be difficult to overlook his claim." Although he did not get on Saturday's scoresheet, the wee man's crossing posed problems for Lossie, who showed signs of rust after their injury and illness-enforced two-week lay-off. That was no more apparent than up front where livewire striker Iain Stewart and hunting partner Ian Shaw both missed chances they would normally bury. Shaw failed to convert a good chance at the back post in 12 minutes after Johnston Bellshaw misjudged a cross from Andy Fiske. Two minutes later the normally deadly Stewart steered a free header over the County bar. But Alan DUFF polished off an opportunity in 22 minutes when Sandy MacLeod nodded down a Billy Ferries corner to send County in at the break 1-0 up. It was the same story in the second half--Lossie made and missed a chance and County responded by putting one away. Shaw sent a header flashing inches past Hutchison's near post in 68 minutes and four minutes later Brian GRANT put County 2-0 ahead, leaving DUFF to grab his second and County's third. "You really have to put the chances away to get the better of a side as good as County on their own patch and we couldn't do that," said Coasters boss Fraser Kellas. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Robert (Bobby) Wilson |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Craig Reid, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Alexander (Sandy) MacLeod, 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 8: Brian Grant 1, 9: Alan Duff 2, 10: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod, 11: Tommy Drummond |
| Bench | 0: Robbie Stewart, 0: Barry Wilson |