Ross County Database

DateTuesday, 02 March 1999
CompetitionScottish League Division 3
Fixture/ScoreRoss County 4:2 East Stirlingshire
VenueVictoria Park
Attendance1,021
RefereeSteve Kaney
CommentsMatch Report
Report by Alasdair Fraser for the Scotsman.
Ross County 4 East Stirlingshire 2
Two goals from Steve Ferguson inspired Ross County to mave another step closer to the third division title last night.
Victory over a stubborn East Stirlingshire at Victoria Park pushed County 12 points clear at the top with a game in hand to second-placed Stenhousemuir.
Watched by St Johnstone managerial duo of Sandy Clark and Billy Kirkwood, County's Neil Tarrant struck his 19th goal of the season, but Ferguson stole the show with his goals.
He opened the scoring for County with a fierce 25-yard drive which left goalkeeper Barry Thompson with no chance.
County went two up when John McGlashan's cross from the right enabled Gary Wood to head home from eight yards.
David Muirhead clawed a goal back from the penalty spot in 36 minutes but County were quickly back in front when Tarrant sprinted on to Andrew Storrar's poor pass-back and clipped the ball delicately around Thomson.
Man of the match Ferguson hit his second of the match and 16th of the season by stroking the ball into an empty net from 15 yards after Roy McBain's cut back beat the keeper before the visitors scored a consolation.
Ross County
ManagerNeale Cooper
Starting 111: Colin Meldrum, 2: Mark Haro, 3: Ian Maxwell, 4: Craig Tully, 5: Steven Ferguson 2, 6: Roy McBain, 7: Alexander Taylor, 8: John McGlashan, 9: Neil Tarrant 1, 10: Garry Wood 1, 11: David Ross
Bench0: Stuart Golabek, 0: David MacKay, 0: Colin McKee
East Stirlingshire
ManagerHugh McCann
Starting 11Scott Walker, Andy Storrar, Gordon Russell, Jim Smith, David Muirhead 1 (1 pen), Tony Barr, Martin Hardie 1, Paul Patterson, Stevie Laidlaw, Hugh Ward, Thompson
BenchBilly McNeill 1, Brown Ferguson, Kenneth Kennedy