| Date | Saturday, 05 May 2001 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 4:0 Raith Rovers |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 3,004 |
| Referee | Colin Hardie |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Ross County 4 Raith Rovers 0 Hat Trick hero Martin Prest ripped Raith apart in a devastating second half display by County as they beat Rovers 4-0 in Dingwall--but it was home grown teenager Don Cowie who earned the post-match plaudits. Cowie, 18, made his debut along with 19 year old Steven Mackay, who had to be replaced through injury in the first half, and Cooper was delighted with a composed and mature midfield performance from Cowie in his first County appearance. The Victoria Park manager said: "Don was outstanding against Raith. He's a young boy but if he keeps progressing the way he has this season he's got a great future in the game. The game was a good opportunity for Don and he handled it very well. He has worked hard this season to build himself up and it helps that he wants to do well in the game. "I'm so pleased for Don and it was unfortunate that Steven Mackay had to come off early on with a head knock. Steven said to me after the game that he wishes he could remember more of his debut!" While Cowie and Mackay look set to be stars of the future, Prest's long-term plans have yet to be confirmed. The 22-year-old, who joined County from Airdrie on a short term deal earlier this year, is out of contract in the summer and Cooper has not committed to offering an extension. The manager said: "Martin's the first to admit that he hasn't done well for us since he arrived but on the form he showed against Raith I will have to look at his situation again. "He is under 24 so we can retain him and maybe that's what we will have to do." Prest's treble and an additional strike from Steve Ferguson gave the home side an emphatic end to their debut First Division season and secured a credible sixth place in the final league table. Andy Smith added to Raith's misery when he was red carded for a heavy foul on Prest. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: Mark Perry, 3: Ian Maxwell, 4: Hugh Robertson, 5: Brian Irvine, 6: David MacKay, 7: Steven Ferguson 1 1, 8: Don (JNR) Cowie, 9: Steven MacKay, 10: Derek Holmes, 11: John McQuade |
| Bench | 0: Garry Hamilton, 0: Martin Canning, 0: Bryan Dlugonski, 0: John Fraser, 0: Martin Prest 3 |
| Raith Rovers | |
| Manager | Peter Hetherston |
| Starting 11 | Samuel Monin, Laurie Ellis, Greig McCulloch, Miguel Alfonso, Wilfred Nanou, Paul Hampshire, Kevin Nicol, Salvador Capin, Jay Stein, Paul Tosh, Andy Smith 1 |
| Bench | Craig Coyle, Steven Hamilton, John Rushford, Kenny Black, Ivan Mballa |