Date	Saturday, 25 January 2003
Competition	Scottish Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:2 Greenock Morton
Venue	Victoria Park
Attendance	2,250
Referee	George Clyde
Comments	Match Report Report by Dave Edwards for the Press & Journal. Ross County 1 Greenock Morton 2 Ross County manager Alex Smith was clearly hurting at the manner of his sides exit from the Scottish Cup. Smith is rightly passionate about the famous old trophy, having won it twice as a manager with St Mirren and Aberdeen, but passion was sadly lacking from the Dingwall side against Morton. Smith said: "The second half was particulatly disappointing, although when we played against the gale in the first half Morton could have been two up in the first quarter of an hour. We survived and got back into the game at 1-1 and even hit the post just before half time. But, apart from when we hit the bar early in the second period, we never really competed and lost an awful goal. Smith added: "Our goalkeeper saved a penalty, but even then it was a straight ball through the middle which was missed by our central defender. "I was disappointed we didn't bust a gut in the last 20 minutes to turn the game around where there was a lot of huffing and puffing, but little more than that. "We have to get out act together and pull together as a club as were out of the cup now. "We still have a lot of things to do to pick up some league points and get the players playing the kind of football I want them to play." Morton manager John McCormack said: "We did our home work on County, while Alex had to make a couple of changes due to injuries, but we adapted well and our players are more aware of what we are looking for." The pace and endeavour of Morton striker Alex Williams posed a clear threat to the County rear guard. What would Smith give to have someone of his quality in the Dingwall strike force." Ironically, a player County freed this season, Deveronvale's 20 year old Bryan Dlugonski, had Williams in his pocket in the previous round at Cappielow, but the former Stirling Albion forward ran the home rear guard ragged and could have bagged five goals, instead of a mere double. Williams showed his intentions as early as the fourth minute when he sprang the County offside trap, but side-footed wide of the target. Williams was not to be denied when he took a pass from Australian John Maisano before steering the ball past Tony Bullock. Bullock made an amazing double save to deny Williams and then Jani Cotinen and the Dingwall side were thrown a lifeline two minutes from the break when substitute Steve McGarry turned the ball across goal and new signing David Winters was lurking at the back post to stab the ball home from two yards. In a carbon copy move a minute later, Winters hit the upright. However, on the hour mark, Williams's 24th goal of the season ended County's cup dream for another year. There seemed little danger when Phil Cannie fired the ball from wide on the left flank into the box, but as Brian Irvine allowed it to bounce, Williams got the faintest of touches. William's was denied his hat trick by a great diving stop by Bullock from a late spot kick.
Ross County
Manager	Alexander (Alex) Smith
Starting 11	1: Anthony (Tony) Bullock 1, 2: Mark Perry, 3: Hugh Robertson, 4: Brian Irvine 1, 5: Kenneth Gilbert, 6: Mark McCulloch, 7: Don (JNR) Cowie, 8: Kevin McLeish, 9: David Winters 1 1, 10: Steven Hislop, 11: Graham Bayne
Bench	0: Leslie Fridge, 0: Sean Webb, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: Martin Wood, 0: Steven McGarry 1
Greenock Morton
Manager	John McCormack
Starting 11	Craig Coyle, Stuart MacDonald, David MacGregor, Derek Collins, Jani Uotinen, Mel Bottiglieri, John Maisano, Alex Williams 2, Phil Cannie, Robbie Henderson, Marco Maisano
Bench	David McGurn, Paul Gaughan, Jim McAlister, Scott Bannerman, Alan Trouten