| Date | Tuesday, 15 February 2005 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Clyde 2:1 Ross County |
| Venue | Broadwood Stadium |
| Attendance | 1,576 |
| Referee | Hugh Dallas |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Andrew Dickson for the Press & Journal. Clyde 2 Ross County 1 After Extra Time. Clyde super-sub Gary Arbuckle shattered County's hopes of bumper Scottish Cup quarter-final with Celtic when he struck in three minutes of extra time in this fourth-round replay at Broadwood last night. Arbuckle's Dingwall sickener came after John Rankin had given Alex Smith's County side an early lead with a stunning free kick. But Craig Bryson's leveller for the Bully Wee shortly before half-time meant at least another half-hour would be needed to determine who faced the Bhoys. With their assistant manager John Robertson looking on from the crowd, County began well and created a string of chances in the opening stages. Their passing was crisp and their movement neat, thus allowing Don Cowie, Rankin and Alex Burke the chance to test home keeper Bryn Halliwell early on. None of them, however, could find a way past the Clyde goalie, who had been the Bully Wee's hero between the posts during the original 0-0 draw these sides shared 11 days ago. The visitors persevered, though and took a deserved lead in 16 minutes with a wonderful goal. Burke sent the ball through to David Winters from midfield and the former Dundee United forward was shouldered over by ex-Arabs team-mate Gary Bollan 20 yards out. Referee Hugh Dallas blew for a free kick as a result and when Rankin stepped up to take it, he fired a sweet, curling effort into the top corner of the net. The hosts tried to hit back, with Darren Sheridan sending a low shot into the side-netting at the second time of asking. Ian Harty then came close for Billy Reid's men as he drilled just past the target from 10 yards, while Colin Stewart had to be alert to tip 18-year-old Bryson's shot wide. An equaliser was coming and, nine minutes before the break, it duly arrived. Martin Canning clearly handled Sheridan's in swinging cross as it dropped into the box and, with everyone looking for Dallas to pass judgement, Bryson turned the ball in. His strike made for a fiercely-contested second half and, as the sides scrapped for the lead, the quality of play deteriorated with both teams making several unforced errors. Chances were few and far between, but County had the best of them and Burke nearly edged his side back in front as he steamed in to volley Sean Kilgannon's centre just wide, with Halliwell motionless. In a late flurry, Rankin almost snatched it with a rasping drive from 30 yards, Winters hit the bar and John Robertson's goal-bound shot was deflected over. They could not find a winner by the time the match had gone the distance, though, and extra time was required. Clyde's winner came 100 seconds into the extra 30 minutes. Arbuckle picked the ball up in the heart of midfield and simply strode forward before unleashing a 25-yard thunderbolt beyond Stewart. County threw Sean Higgins on for Robertson as they tried to take the game to penalties, and Rankin nearly did just that with another curling effort. Halliwell was equal to the task, though, and despite bombarding their opponents' upright as the final minutes ebbed away, County could not muster the second goal they needed. Ian Harty had a chance to make sure of the result from the penalty spot eight minutes from time after a foul by Martin Canning, but he lifted the set-piece too high. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Colin Stewart, 2: John Robertson, 3: Martin Canning 1, 4: James Lauchlan, 5: Don (JNR) Cowie, 6: Fergus Tiernan 1, 7: Mark McCulloch, 8: Sean Kilgannon, 9: John Rankin 1, 10: Alexander Burke, 11: David Winters |
| Bench | 0: Stuart Garden, 0: Stuart Malcolm, 0: Jamie McCunnie, 0: Sean Higgins, 10: Steven McGarry |
| Clyde | |
| Manager | Billy Reid |
| Starting 11 | Bryn Halliwell, Gary Bollan, Stuart Balmer, Eddie Malone, John-Paul Potter, Simon Mensing 1, Darren Sheridan, James Gibson, Craig Bryson 1 1, Alex Burns, Ian Harty |
| Bench | Alan Morrison, Scott Wilson, Mark Gilhaney, Kevin Bradley, Gary Arbuckle 1 |