| Date | Saturday, 03 April 2004 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 1:1 Raith Rovers |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 2,413 |
| Referee | Alan Freeland |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Ross County 1 Raith Rovers 1 Alex Smith is calling on Jim Hamilton to use his best performance so far in a Ross County jersey as inspiration for the remainder of the First Division season. The former Aberdeen striker looked much more like his old self as he scored County's goal at Victoria Park on Saturday and used his strength and touch to trouble Raith Rovers and feed his team-mates. County manager Smith wants Hamilton, who is now free of niggling injuries, to make a big impact in the remaining six games of the season. With Hamilton having recently celebrated a new family arrival. Smith believes the striker is on a high. Now the manager wants Hamilton to become more of a father figure for the young Dingwall team. "I think Jim did very well in the first half." said Smith. "He linked the play up well and took his goal well. "In many respects, it was a typical Hamilton goal. He led the line well and it was the best he has played for us. "He became a father again a week past Tuesday, so he is on a wee bit of a high. "I want to see what he does from now until the end of the season. There are six games to go and we will see how he performs. "He is contracted for next season, but he should be playing a major part for us. While Smith drew a positive from Hamilton's showing, the former Aberdeen and Dundee United manager was far from happy at the way County surrendered their first-half lead. The Dingwall men failed to take a couple of early chances, with Steven McGarry and Steven O'Donnell both through on the Raith goalkeeper. But the breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Steven O'Donnell's cross from the right set up Hamilton, who bulleted a powerful header past David Berthelot. County found the tall, fast and skilful Spaniard Ramon Pereira a real handful and he grabbed the 61st minute equaliser. Despite Raith losing their keeper, Berthelot, to injury and captain, Daren Brady, to a red card for tugging back Graham Bayne as he ran through, County could not capitalise. "I was disappointed to drop two points and finish with a draw." continued Smith. "We got the lead and created chances in the first half and early in the second. "Had we got a second goal, I think we would have gone on and won, but, at 1-0, a Team of Raith's quality can always come back. "We didn't get enough crosses in or do enough to merit a victory." |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Graeme Smith, 2: Martin Canning, 3: Stuart Malcolm, 4: James Lauchlan, 5: Jamie McCunnie, 6: Steven MacKay, 7: David Hannah, 8: John Rankin, 9: Stephen O'Donnell, 10: Steven McGarry, 11: James Hamilton 1 |
| Bench | 0: Leslie Fridge, 0: Mark McCulloch, 0: Bolade Ogunmade, 0: Sean Higgins, 0: Graham Bayne |
| Raith Rovers | |
| Manager | Antonio Calderon |
| Starting 11 | David Berthelot, Goran Stanic, Shaun Dennis, Francisco Paquito 1, Darren Brady 1, Antonio Calderon, Lloyd Young, Salvador Capin, Joaquin Bornes, Juan Nieto, Ramon Pereira 1 |
| Bench | Ramiro Gonzalez, Jonathan Smart, John Boyle, John Martin, Ian Maxwell |