Date	Saturday, 10 April 1999
Competition	Scottish League Division 3
Fixture/Score	Stenhousemuir 3:2 Ross County
Venue	Ochilview
Attendance	840
Referee	Dougie Smith
Comments	Match Report Report by Arthur McTague for the Daily Record. Stenhousemuir 3 Ross County 2 Neal Cooper is a jovial sort of bloke who lights up after-match discussions by tossing around the odd quip or two. He was an uncompromising figure in Alex Ferguson's brilliant Aberdeen side of the 80s but he's really a big pussycat. However, on Saturday the Ross County boss bared his teeth after seeing his side not surprisingly lose to Stenhousemuir. The champions were up against it from the first whistle after being forced to field winger David Ross between the sticks. Injuries to keepers Nicky Walker and Garry Stewart had sparked a crisis for the Dingwall club and Cooper was raging at the lack of help which came from the Scottish League. He said: "In all my time in football the goalkeeping position has always been regarded as exceptional. "After ruling our two keepers out, we approached the league for permission to sign David Hay from Dunfermline but were refused. "That meant we had to use an outfield player which is just silly. "Ore game plan was to protect him and my players worked really hard to do that and succeeded until near the end. "People may say it is unimportant because we have the league wrapped up but my players have bonuses and pride to play for and Brechin and Dumbarton who are chasing Muir for second promotion spot can't be too pleased. "It was a farcical situation to be put in and it's ridiculous to ask me to give a serious analysis of the game in such circumstances." County ignored their problems to snatch the lead on the half hour mark when Paul Kinnaird used the wind to score directly from a corner. Stenny had the elements behind them in the second period and levelled in the 73rd minute through John Gibson. Gary Wood restored County's lead two minutes later and Stenny's promotion hopes were on the rocks. But sub Alan Banks caught out stand-in goalie Ross with a free-kick three minutes from time. And in injury time Willie Watters stabbed home his 11th goal of the season from close range after Albert Craig had nodded down a Jimmy Fisher corner. Stenny player-manager Graeme Armstrong watched from the touchline for the first time after being ruled out through injury. He said: "It's less tense on the park than off it but I suppose I'll have to get used to it. "The pitch was dreadful and conditions were horrendous but we showed a helluva spirit. to come back twice against the league champions speaks volumes for the players but with six wins and three draws from our last nine games that should not perhaps surprise anyone." Ochilview Park resembled an upturned tackety boot and the gale-force wind made the game something of a lottery on a day Ross will never forget. The 6ft 2in right winger said: "I didn't volunteer for the position but perhaps my height decided things. "The conditions would have tested any keeper, though, and although I would like to return to my regular position I'll just have to wait and see what the boss has in mind for the remainder of the season." The reluctant keeper admitted the pressure might have been stronger if his side needed the points. But Ross, who works in his father's Kinlochbervie fish merchants business, has a refreshing approach that suggests he would play wherever he was required. With attitudes like Ross's and his boss Cooper, the Dingwall side must surely be a force to be reckoned with in the Second Division next season.
Ross County
Manager	Neale Cooper
Starting 11	1: David Ross, 2: Stuart Golabek 1, 3: Mark Haro, 4: Ian Maxwell, 5: John McGlashan, 6: Paul Kinnaird 1, 7: Alexander Taylor, 8: Garry Wood 1 1, 9: Franck Escalon, 10: Steven MacKay, 11: Neil Tarrant
Bench	0: David Matheson, 0: William Furphy, 0: Brian MacLeod
Stenhousemuir
Manager	Graeme Armstrong
Starting 11	Lindsay Hamilton, Michael Hall, Jimmy Fisher, Graeme Davidson, Tom Graham, Ross Hamilton, Alan Lawrence, John Gibson 1, Willie Watters 1, Albert Craig 1, David Wood
Bench	Alan Banks 1, Adrian Sprott, Crawford Baptie