| Date | Sunday, 07 November 2004 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish Challenge Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Falkirk 2:1 Ross County |
| Venue | McDiarmid Park |
| Attendance | 7,471 |
| Referee | Kenny Clark |
| Comments | Match Report Published: Press & Journal 8/11/2004 Reporter: Paul Third Falkirk 2 Ross County 1 Ross County agony after final heroics Falkirk may have won the Bell's Cup at McDiarmid Park yesterday but runners-up Ross County left Perth with their heads held high following an impressive display. For 65 minutes County Were in total control but two goals in five minutes from Falkirk swung the game. David Winters had put the Dingwall side in front but goals from Neil Scally and Darryl Duffy secured the trophy for Falkirk. Despite the defeat, County manager Alex Smith lavished praise on his players. Smith said: "While I congratulate Falkirk on their victory I feel we deserved to lift the trophy. We played some great football and had opportunities to score a second goal when we were 1-0 up, when it was 1-1 and when were trying to get back into the game at 2-1 down. "My players are absolutely shattered at having lost. I'm so proud of them for having given their all for the club and represented Ross County with pride in a cup final. "If there is one thing I have leaned over the years it is that no amount of victories can compensate for the despair of losing. We have played some great football and impressed everyone with our style of play, yet we have come away with nothing to show for it. The boys are gutted." The Bairns had started brightly with Russell Latapy at the heart of all John Hughes's side's attacking play but County gameplan of pressuring the ball at every opportunity seemed to knock Falkirk out of their stride. The Dingwall side created the first opportunity of the game, with Martin Canning heading Charlie Adam's corner wide. The chance seemed to give Alex Smith's side confidence and forwards Sean Higgins and David Winters were combining to good effect, their running off the ball causing the Falkirk back four real problems. The duo combined to set up a half chance for Don Cowie but the ball just evaded the County midfielder. Bairns boss Hughes's gamble of starting John O'Neil backfired in the 25th minute when the midfielder had to go off, being replaced by Scally. O'Neil had been suffering from a virus all week and clearly was not a 100%. County's 4-4-2 formation was giving them the advantage against the Bairns midfield three but defender Mark Campbell strode forward, beating two County players before hitting a drive from fully 30 yards which Stuart Garden in the County goal did well to turn round the post. Bairns keeper Allan Ferguson was called into action for the first time in the 40th minute when Winters put Cowie clear down the right. The midfielder held off Craig MacPherson's challenge but his shot from right yards was saved by the Falkirk keeper. County finally took one of their chances 11 minutes into the second half with a great breakaway goal. MacPherson's free kick went straight to Rankin, whose 40 yard pass put Winters clear from the halfway line. The former Dundee United forward held off the challenge of Scott MacKenzie to loft the ball past the onrushing Ferguson and into the net from 14 yards to spark celebrations among the 2,300 County fans. The goal meant Falkirk, who had looked nothing like the side which is pushing for promotion in the First Division, had to commit more men forward but it almost resulted in a second for County, Winters putting substitute Sean Kilgannon clear but the winger's attempted lob went well over the bar. The miss was to prove crucial as the Bairns drew level with a goal out of the blue in the 70th minute. There appeared little danger when Duffy squared the ball to Scally 25 yards out, but the substitute curled the ball high past Garden. Within five minutes Falkirk had a second goal. Latapy's ball from the right was hit first time by Duffy. The ball was deflected on to the post but the Falkirk forward knocked the rebound over the line. In a frantic finale, County tried to hit back and Kilgannon was unlucky to see his bullet header cleared off the line by McPherson. County manager Smith withdrew Winters with substitute Stuart Malcolm, normally a defender, sent on up front. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Stuart Garden, 2: Martin Canning, 3: John Robertson, 4: James Lauchlan, 5: John Rankin, 6: Mark McCulloch, 7: Don (JNR) Cowie, 8: Charles Adam, 9: Jamie McCunnie, 10: David Winters 1, 11: Sean Higgins |
| Bench | 0: Colin Stewart, 0: Stuart Malcolm, 0: Sean Kilgannon, 0: Gary McSwegan, 0: Steven McGarry |
| Falkirk | |
| Manager | John Hughes |
| Starting 11 | Allan Ferguson, Andy Lawrie, Craig McPherson, Scott MacKenzie, Mark Campbell 1, Kevin James, John O'Neil, David Nicholls, Andy Thomson, Russell Latapy, Darryl Duffy 1 |
| Bench | Pedro Moutinho, Neil Scally 1, Daniel McBreen, Kieran McAnespie, Darren Hill |