| Date | Saturday, 26 March 1994 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Highland League |
| Fixture/Score | Cove Rangers 3:1 Ross County |
| Venue | Allan Park |
| Attendance | |
| Referee | Ian Elmslie |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Ritchie McNab for the Press & Journal. Cove Rangers 3 Ross County 1 Cove Rangers may well be out of title contention for this season, but they could well have a major say as to who wins the Press and Journal Highland League. After Saturday's victory over contenders Ross County, the Allan Park side has still to meet pace-setters Elgin City and Huntly and the outcome of these could well decide the destination of the flag. Two opportunist goals--one in each half from Alan Leslie and a third from young Mike Beattie--saw the Aberdeen side complete the double over Ross County as well as putting a severe dent in the Dingwall side's title hopes. In a match played with tremendous pace and commitment, Cove Rangers had to work hard for their victory. For long spells, the back four were under constant pressure but they came through the ordeal with flying colours. Paterson and Morland proved a solid defensive barrier that denied the lively County forwards space from which to shoot, while Graeme Park and Doug Baxter had to work hard in midfield to contain the lively Gordon Connelly, who was at his tantalising best. Young Mike Beattie could well turn out to be the find of the season. His willingness to run at defenders and his ability to snap half a chance could well see him become one of the hottest properties in north football scene next season. Ross County were making their final league appearance at Cove and still looking for that elusive first victory. With top scorer Brian Grant on the subs bench it gave manager Bobby Wilson the chance to have youngster Gary Ross on from the start and he turned in a hard-working performance as well as figuring in County's goal. Another plus for the Dingwall side was the form of local boy Craig Reid. The 19-year-old took over the No, 3 shirt vacated by the experienced Gary Campbell and has rapidly developed into one of the best full backs in the league. Cove went ahead in 13 minutes. The Aberdeen side broke out of defence and Beattie was sent scampering down the touchline with a neat ball from Park and when his accurate cross came in, Alan LESLIE was on hand to side foot it into the net from six yards. County went looking for the equaliser but Cove's defence stood firm until the 42nd minute. Barry Wilson was brought down just outside the penalty area and Gary Ross's low cross was headed past McLean by Alan DUFF. The visitors took command after the break and had good efforts from Barry Wilson and a Robbie Williamson shot that came back off the crossbar but in 74 minutes a lapse in concentration by the County defence saw Cove go ahead totally against the run of play. A through ball from Megginson found Alan LESLIE unmarked and he thundered a first-time left foot volley past Hutchison from 14 yards. Ross County fell further behind 10 minutes later when Mike BEATTIE netted a left foot shot that went in via the upright. Cove Rangers assistant boss Ronnie Brown said: "It was a cracking game and excellent entertainment from both teams. The only difference I could see between the sides was Alan Leslie's finishing. He had been out of our side for a spell with an ear infection but has come back hungry for goals and it's four goals in two games for him." A far from despondent Ross County boss Bobby Wilson said: "I am not unhappy with our performance; it's only the score-line that grieves me. "We played better today than we have for some time and if our finishing had been on par with our general play, we would well and truly have laid the Allan Park bogy. "Our normal game is to attack down the flanks but with the narrowness of Allan Park it made it very difficult for us to play our normal game. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Robert (Bobby) Wilson |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stephen Hutchison, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Craig Reid, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Alexander (Sandy) MacLeod, 7: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod, 8: Gary Ross, 9: Alan Duff 1, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: Barry Wilson |
| Bench | 0: Brian Grant |