| Date | Tuesday, 03 February 1998 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 1:0 Airdrieonians |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 3,102 |
| Referee | Martin Clark |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Mike Tremlett for the Press & Journal. Ross County 1 Airdrieonians 0 Super-sub Derek Adams struck with an ihjury-time penalty, his 18th goal of the season, to give Ross County their finest moment in the Scottish Cup in more than 30 years at Victoria Park, Dingwall, last night. The Third Division promotion favourites took on First Division Airdrie in front of more than 3,000 spell-bound fans and emerged with a famous victory after matching the Diamonds in every department in a tense third-round replay. Ross County's reward is a home tie against Dundee, whose manager John McCormack watched County put on a marvellous display, in the fourth round in what is certain to be a sell-out tie. County boss Neale Cooper said: "Tonight has been the best night of my management career and a brilliant night for the club and its fans, The lads are justifiably proud of themselves and I am delighted with then." Cooper made three changes to the side which drew 0-0 with Berwick on Saturday, bringing back Gerry Farrell, striker Garry Wood and winger Roy McBain. Cooper dropped 17-goal Adams to the bench, leaving out injured Neil Tarrant. Airdrie were forced to take a chance on veteran goalkeeper John Martin, who travelled with a calf injury, and twice the No. 1 had to pull off fine saves to keep Airdrie in the tie. At the end of a first half during which County grew steadily in confidence, Martin pulled of a brilliant save by diving to his right to palm Alex Taylor's blistering half-volley behind for a corner. Airdrie's best chance fell to Cooper after Walker saved a crisply-hit effort from John Davies on the half-hour. The former York City striker clipped his folow-up effort into the side-netting from a narrow angle. A minute later Steve Ferguson blazed a shot just over the Airdrie bar as County stepped up the pressure. Airdrie were forced into a change after the restart, defender Paul Jack limping off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Austin McCann. County had a narrow escape in 60 minutes when striker Woods, back defending, cleared a MacKay corner to the edge of the box and Johnstone drilled in a shot which bounced back off the stranded Walker's left-hand upright. Three minutes from time Wood took Gerry Farrell's cross on the volley and his effort forced Martin into his second outstanding save of the night. But a minute into injury time McBain was felled just inside the Airdrie box by the combined efforts of Sean Sweeney and Jimmy Sandison. Adams rammed the spot kick past the helpless Martin to send County into the fourth round. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: Mark Haro, 3: William (Billy) Herd, 4: David MacKay 1, 5: Alexander Taylor, 6: Kenneth Gilbert, 7: Gerard Farrell, 8: Roy McBain, 9: Steven Ferguson, 10: Garry Wood, 11: Jamie MacPherson 1 |
| Bench | 0: Stuart Golabek, 0: Franck Escalon, 0: Derek Adams 1 (1 pen) |
| Airdrieonians | |
| Manager | Alex MacDonald |
| Starting 11 | John Martin, Paul Jack, Sean Sweeney, Forbes Johnston, Jimmy Sandison 1, Anthony Smith, Gary Mackay, Kenny Black, John Davies 1, Brian McPhee, Steve Cooper |
| Bench | Austin McCann, Marvyn Wilson, Paddy Connolly |