Date	Saturday, 29 August 1992
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 3:2 Huntly
Venue	Victoria Park
Attendance
Referee	Kevin Bisset
Comments	Match Report Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 3 Huntly 2 For the first 45 minutes of their P & J Highland League match with aspiring champions, Huntly, at Victoria Park, Dingwall. Ross County produced smooth, silky football which had their opponents sometimes floundering desperately in their wake, as they picked holes in the Huntly defence, and moved into position with consumate ease and dexterity. Passes were taken up quickly; positions occupied easily; and players picked out with pinpoint accuracy. With the defence playing out of itself, Ross County were certainly on top in what was regarded as the Match of the Day, for both have Championship potential. County with their past record, and Huntly from their steady build-up over recent seasons seem destined for great things. Huntly's performance in last seasons Scottish Cup must be taken into account, particularly their latest success on Monday evening, when they accounted for Caley at Inverness in extra time in the League Cup semi-final replay. Huntly now meet Cove Rangers in the final, which should be a titanic affair. For more or less every one of the thousand or so present at Victoria Park, on Saturday, County's first half performance was the finest of any seen there in recent years. The main comment since Saturday has been the manner in which the home team ripped through the visiting defence to go three up by half-time, a score which many felt could have been doubled, almost trebled, such was the smoothness of the action, the crisp passing movements, and overlapping. In the second period, County seemed to let their opponents off the hook, and they capitalised on this and secured two goals into the bargain. However, County held out and gained a well-merited victory. The opening stages of the game were played at a terrific pace, and in the seventh minute, Ross County went into the lead from the penalty spot. Brian Grant had been pulled down in the area by Niall Grant and Gordon CONNELLY made the conversion look so simple. The home club went two up in the 25th minute, when Jamie MACPHERSON went on one of his long mazy runs with the ball under perfect control. He must have covered forty yards, leaving four defenders trailing, before despatching a strong left-foot shot past the keeper. Similar runs last season were equally as exciting and equally well rewarded. Jamie has been playing in the shadow of Gardner Spiers, the former St Mirren player, whose short-term contract with County expired this week and he is free to take up an offer from Meadowbank Thistle. Jamie's performance should give him a new lease of life and incentive to produce similar feats in the future giving regular billing. Ross County's third goal came in the 29th minute, when Cammie Robertson hit a corner kick into the penalty area and Sandy MACLEOD rose majestically to power a fine looping header over the keeper's arms. County had other opportunities to increase their tally, but they failed to make use of them, and in one particular instance Alan Duff took advantage of a muffed clearance by the keeper, gained possession of the ball, and with an open goal before him, and options on either side to pass to a colleague, inexplicably fell to the ground. Huntly were more determined in their attitude to the game in the second half, and their efforts were rewarded in the 60th minute, when Hutcheson made a first-class save from Brian Thomson, but as the ball spun in the air, DUNSIRE came through to head the rebound into the net. In the 87th minute Martin STEWART evaded two tackles, moved in on goal, and scored from fifteen yards. With time running out, Huntly just missed equalising when a free kick from Thomson from edge of the box went narrowly over the bar.
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Gary Campbell, 4: Alexander (Sandy) MacLeod 1, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Jamie MacPherson 1, 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 8: Brian Grant, 9: Alan Duff, 10: Gordon Connelly 1 (1 pen), 11: Cameron Robertson
Bench	0: Gardner Spiers, 0: Gary Ross