| Date | Sunday, 11 October 1998 |
|---|---|
| Competition | FRIENDLY |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 4:2 Coventry City |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | |
| Referee | Kevin Bisset |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the North Star. Ross County 4 Coventry City 2 County added the Sky Blues to an impressive list of scalps this season after a vintage performance in Robbie Wiliamson's testimonial match at Victoria Park on Sunday. Before the Coventry players had time to admire their surrounding after their morning flight north, they were 2-0 down. Long throw expert Mark Haro sent in a seemingly innocuous ball from the right touchline after seven minutes, and to everyone's amazement the ball ended up in the back of the net after getting the slightest of touches from City sweeper Richard Shaw. County went further ahead four minutes later, when a Billy Ferries corner on the right was touched on by Neil Tarrant for Ian Maxwell to head home from close range. The English Premiership side finally found their footing on a greasy surface and after Paul Hall hit the post, Norwegian Trond-Egil Soltvedt gathered the rebound and found the top of Nicky Walker's net with a rasping shot. Noel Whelan thought he had netted an equaliser in 36 minute, but was adjudged offside. This led to a track side altercation between referee Kevin Bisset and an animated City manager Gordon Strachan. But it all ended in smiled with the fiery Scot retreating to the technical area. Gary McAllister's first contribution of note came three minutes later when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and sent a left foot shot goal-wards, but Walker saved. Steve Ogrizovic, standing in for Swedish international keeper Magnus Hedman, pulled off a wonder save from Steve Ferguson early in the second half as County continued to dominate. But the 41 year old stopper had no chance with a Ferguson shot on the hour which took a deflection off Edworthy to put County 3-1 up. Gary wood extended County's lead 15 minutes from time when he swept the ball home after Ogrizovic parried a Gary Higgins effort. Any chance of Gordon Strachan making an appearance as a substitute disappeared long before County's fourth goal, with the Coventry manager taking sanctuary in the away dug out, much to the disappointment of the crowd. The biggest cheer of the day came in the 77th minute when man of the moment Robbie Williamson received a standing ovation from a 1,000 plus crowd that had braved atrocious weather conditions to honour a player who has become something of a Ross County legend. Robbie, as usual, turned in solid display, winning every 50-50 ball before being replaced by skill-seeker Graeme Munro. A late consolation goal for Coventry arrived via the penalty spot, with McAllister showing how it should be done sending Walker the wrong way. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: David Matheson, 3: Stuart Golabek, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Ian Maxwell 1, 6: Mark Haro, 7: Franck Escalon, 8: Roy McBain, 9: Steven Ferguson 1, 10: Neil Tarrant, 11: Keith (Billy) Ferries |
| Bench | 0: William Furphy, 0: Alexander Taylor, 0: Gary Higgins, 0: Graham Munro, 0: Garry Wood 1 |
| Coventry City | |
| Manager | Gordon Strachan |
| Starting 11 | Ogrizovic, Edworthy, M.Hall, Boateng, Shaw 1, Clement, Solvedt 1, McAllister 1 (1 pen), Froggatt, Wheelan, P.Hall |
| Bench | Brightwell |