| Date | Saturday, 20 December 2003 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 2:1 Brechin City |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 2,545 |
| Referee | Willie Young |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Ross County 2 Brechin City 1 Ross County defender Martin Canning will be hoping to play a key role in the Dingwall's side's promotion push after ending months of injury frustration. The 24-year-old made an assured comeback at Victoria Park on Saturday as County claimed another three points in their First Division title quest. He even managed to supply Sean Higgins for what proved to be the winner against bottom side Berchin City. The winning margin should have been greater, however, as County pummelled a spirited Brechin side throughout the closing third of the game. Canning said: "It felt brilliant to be back. In all, it's been about nine months of a struggle to shake off my groin injury. "For a year before I stopped playing, the injury just got worse and worse and I was told I couldn't take part anymore. All I could do was rest it. "At times it was really hard to keep my morale up, but once I was back training with the lads, it got easier." In a dreary, rain-soaked first half, Brechin held a slight upper hand until Steven McGarry's 21st-minute opener. The forward--one of five changes made to the starting line-up by County manager Alex Smith following the 1-0 defeat against title rivals Clyde--ran on to a defence-splitting pass from John Rankin before slipping the ball past Derek Soutar. Sean Higgins, another of those reintroduced in County's revamped 3-5-2 formation, was free to head the second goal from six yards, but Chris Templeman gave City hope in the 67th minute when he scored with a 20-yard strike. County stepped up a gear in the final 15 minutes, although McGarry missed a glorious chance to ease the home nerves in the 82nd minute. The 24-year-old was brought down in the box by David White, who was red-carded for his offence, but Soutar, on loan at Glebe Park from Dundee, pulled off a great save to deny McGarry from the spot. County manager Alex Smith said: "It was a very big game for us and an important win. We're still very much in the championship race." |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Graeme Smith, 2: Hugh Robertson, 3: Stuart Malcolm 1, 4: Martin Canning, 5: Sean Webb, 6: David Hannah, 7: John Rankin, 8: Jamie McCunnie, 9: Don (JNR) Cowie, 10: Steven McGarry 1, 11: Sean Higgins 1 |
| Bench | 0: Stephen O'Donnell, 0: Mark McCulloch, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: Graham Bayne |
| Brechin City | |
| Manager | Dick Campbell |
| Starting 11 | Derek Soutar, Marc Millar 1, Jamie Smith, David White 1, Paul Deas, Charlie King, Kevin Fotheringham, Neil Jablonski 1, Ally Mitchell, Steve Hampshire, Graham Gibson |
| Bench | Derek Clark, David Hay, Greig Miller, Chris Templeman 1, Colin Boylan |