| Date | Saturday, 12 February 1994 |
|---|---|
| Competition | North of Scotland Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 0:1 Caledonian FC |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | |
| Referee | Ian Elmslie |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Bill McAllister for the Press & Journal. Ross County 0 Caledonian FC 1 Caley ace Danny Macdonald (27) is taking the same comeback route as Manchester United's Paul Parker and Bolton Wanderers' Andy Walker. An aircraft electrician at RAF Lossiemouth, Danny has been out of action since damaging his cruciate ligaments in a pre-season friendly, but he is now poised to make a return for the blues in a month. That was the great news for Caley after booked a home McEwan's Lager North Cup semi-final against Lossiemouth by recording their third victory of the season over Ross County. Macdonald has just returned from spending a month at the Combined Services Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, Epsom, and the hi-tech diagnosis and expert treatment has worked wonders. "I was due to have an operation which would have meant me being out of football for a year afterwards, as happened to Ian Durrant and Paul Gascoigne. But the services' medical team has now told me I don't require surgery. Paul Parker and Andy Walker are the first two professionals to come back from cruciate trouble without surgery and I'm now doing the same as them." Mike Noble and Martin Lisle turned in performances of great power and determination at Dingwall, the kind of midfield strength and stamina which are going to be vital for Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish League Third Division. Noble was the best player afield and County sorely lacked someone of his drive. Caley were deserved winners of a tie brimful of goal chances. For County, luckless Gordon Connelly miscued three times and Alan Duff scooped over an empty net. Caley also squandered a hatful and Ross keeper Steven Hutchinson pulled off an incredible save from Charlie Christie. But when the winner came, 15 minutes from time, what a beauty it was: Perth youngster Alan SMART hitting the kind of sweet volley that would have done justice to Roy of the Rovers. Sub Smart transformed Caley's forward threat when he came on for Dave Caldwell and the former St Johnstone lad has surely booked his place in this week's starting line-up at Cove. The flair of Colin Mitchell and Charlie Christie always threatened for Caley, whose defence was well organised. County switched to a flat defence and Robbie Williamson moved to midfield, which could be his better position for the Dingwall club which was hit by injuries to Andy McLeod and Craig Reid, which could be a major problem for this week's crunch clash at Huntly. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Robert (Bobby) Wilson |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Craig Reid, 3: Cameron Robertson, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Alexander (Sandy) MacLeod, 7: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod, 8: Brian Grant, 9: Alan Duff, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: Barry Wilson |
| Bench | 0: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 0: Gary Ross |