Date	Saturday, 10 October 1992
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:3 Cove Rangers
Venue	Victoria Park
Attendance	1,100
Referee	J. A. Young
Comments	Match Report Report by Bill McAllister for the Press & Journal. Ross County 1 Cove Rangers 3 Ray Stephen has ensured he will play in the Scottish Cup for the first time in seven years and his dream is to take Cove Rangers to Pittodrie. The former Dundee and French League striker produced two superb late goals to book Cove's place in the national tourney and wreck Ross County hopes of their fourth successive qualification. "I got as far as the quarter-final with Dundee," said Ray, "but it's a special thrill to help Cove through and it would be ideal if we can reach the third round and face my home town team. Aberdeen, particularly as I've such a good scoring record at Pittodrie." Stephen revealed that he had a stomach bug and almost did not play in the 3-1 victory at Dingwall, but it was the County fans in the 1,100 crowd who were feeling upset by the end as it became clear that there will be no Scottish Cup scalps this time for the champions. Ray needs to shed another stone and admits he is short of peak fitness and feels he is another month away from being really ready. But the knee which forced him to quit Nancy is not troubling him and in addition to taking his goals so impressively, he also held the ball up well and led the line cleverly. "Ray's a predator and he can only get better once he sheds those pounds," said delighted manager Dave Watson. But it was a tremendous team performance by Cove which ensured their third Scottish Cup spot in six seasons, with none better than wee Doug Baxter, who shrugged of the nightmare of his League Cup final penalty miss by shackling Ross playmaker Gordon Connelly and heading two certain goals off the line. Andy Paterson, Dave Whyte, Graeme Park and Mike Megginson have played in every Cove side to reach the Scottish Cup and they all made significant contributions at Victoria Park. MEGGINSON produced a fine half volley on the hour to open the scoring in a fast, tight, hard tussle after the home defence got in a tangle. Without Johnston Bellshaw, the Ross rear guard looked vulnerable and Cove created a spate of early chances yet needed a superb Archie McLean save off Alan Duff's header to go in level. Two down and chasing the game, County pulled one back three minutes from time through CONNELLY only for Cove to break away swiftly for STEPHEN to clinch victory. County did not play all that badly and had plenty of possession, but the zip was missing from their build-ups and their midfield gave the ball away far too frequently, while their sluggish front trio failed to pose too many problems for Andy Paterson and company. Manager Bobby Wilson may need to strengthen his squad to give him more options as he bids for a third title. Cove were without Ray Yule for work reasons but kept his absence a secret , but Dave Watson has a big pool. "If we'd lost, then I'd have reviewed the question of putting some up for sale," he said. "but now we're in the Scottish Cup we'll need them all."
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Gary Campbell, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Jamie MacPherson, 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 8: Brian Grant, 9: Alan Duff, 10: Gordon Connelly 1, 11: Cameron Robertson
Bench	0: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod, 0: Gary Ross