| Date | Tuesday, 31 August 2004 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish Challenge Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Peterhead 1:2 Ross County |
| Venue | Balmoor Stadium |
| Attendance | 565 |
| Referee | Kevin Toner |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Paul Third for the Press & Journal. Peterhead 1 Ross County 2 Alex Smith received his pre-match wish in seeing Ross County get their season back on track last night as the First Division side overcame tough resistance from Third Division Peterhead to reach the quarter-finals of the Bell's Cup. Goals from Alex Burke and Martin Canning in the first half gave County a comfortable half-time lead with Peterhead striker Martin Bavidge grabbing what proved to be a consolation for Iain Stewart's side from the penalty spot four minutes from time. Having lost their three previous match narrowly, County were understandably nervous in the opening stages but the defence coped well with the Blue Toon attack, weakened by the loss of winger David Hagen in the pre-match warm-up. However, it was the home side which went closer to opening the scoring in the 18th minute when a quick throw-in from Iain Good sent Bavidge clear down the left, only for the former Caley Thistle striker to shoot straight at County keeper Stuart Garden. Bavidge turned creator in the 29th minute to set up Jamie Buchan on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's low drive flashed just wide of the post. The chance spurred County into life and they responded with the opening goal on the half hour. John Rankin sent Burke clear on goal and the forward beat Paul Mathers in the home goal with a well-placed shot for his eighth goal of the season. Peterhead almost hit back immediately when Alan Youngson set up Robbie Raeside, but the captain's drive was saved by Garden. For all their possession, Smith's side was struggling to create clear-cut chances. Peterhead, however, were finding success on the counter, Buchan setting up Bavidge with a superb diagonal pass, but the striker shot over the bar from just inside the box. The miss was to prove costly as, on the stroke of half-time, County doubled their lead. Burke headed new signing Adam's corner back across goal and Canning beat team-mate John Robertson to head past Mathers from close range. Two goals to the good, County were content to let the home side attack in the second half and were dealing comfortably with the Peterhead threat. The Blue Toon did carve out an opening in the 64th minute when Martin Johnston had a clear sight at goal, but the striker failed to get his shot on target. With the game reduced to a dour midfield contest, Peterhead did not look like scoring, but they were handed a lifeline when referee Kevin Toner awarded the home side a penalty four minutes from time. Stewart Malcolm was adjudged to have held Bavidge back, but contact looked minimal. The Striker took the spot kick himself, beating Garden, despite getting a hand to his effort. Despite losing the goal, the result never looked in doubt and the visitors could have added a third in stoppage time when Gary McSwegan hit the post following good work by sub Steven McGarry. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stuart Garden, 2: Martin Canning 1, 3: James Lauchlan, 4: John Robertson, 5: Stuart Malcolm, 6: John Rankin, 7: Charles Adam, 8: Mark McCulloch, 9: Sean Kilgannon, 10: Alexander Burke 1, 11: Gary McSwegan |
| Bench | 0: John Mccaffrey, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: Sean Higgins, 0: Steven McGarry, 0: David Winters |
| Peterhead | |
| Manager | Iain Stewart |
| Starting 11 | Paul Mathers, Craig Tully, Iain Good, Robbie Raeside, Mark Perry, Keith Gibson, Keith Robertson, Jamie Buchan, Alan Youngson, Scott Michie, Martin Bavidge 1 |
| Bench | Danny Milne, Ross Buchanan, Graeme Stewart 1, Craig Campbell, Martin Johnston |