Date	Saturday, 30 September 1989
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 4:2 Keith
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: Derek Rudkin, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Gary Campbell, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson 1, 5: Scott Lemmon, 6: Don Cowie (SNR), 7: George Stewart, 8: Cameron Robertson, 9: James MacKay 1, 10: Gordon Connelly 1, 11: Lee O'Brien 1
Bench	0: Barry Wilson, 0: Albert Allan
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal Ross County 4 Keith 2 FOR THE FIRST time in many years — 15 it is said — Ross County have gained a place in the Scottish Cup proper, as a result of their 4-2 quarter-final defeat of Keith at Victoria Park, on Saturday. County more or less set their mark on the game as early as the 7th minute with a sparkling opening goal from Gordon Connolly — a header from a well placed far post cross from George Stewart. Late-comers missed this goal, but savoured the other two first half counters from a magnificent vantage point in direct line with the Keith 18-yard box, marvelling at the clinical precision with which they were executed. Taking advantage of a strong sun and a fairly stiff breeze, Ross County took the game to their opponents from the start, and gave them little opportunity to settle, their discomforture made all the worse by the glare of the sun. At the other end, the County goal was in the shadow of the enclosure, but even so against the background of crowd and shadow it was difficult to follow the flight of the ball until it was gathered safely by keeper Rudkin. However, the vantage point at the East End of the park at the Canal end of the field proved the most strategic for the spectator who wanted to be up with the action, and enjoy an exhibition of pure football, for that was just what he got from Ross County in that first 45 minutes. Mind you, a change of tactics in the second half, did not serve to ensure continuing confidence, as County fell back on their own 18-yard line and let Keith come at them. For all of this period they lived dangerously, and were fortunate that the Keith finishing was not on target. Neil O'Brien impressed, playing a midfield role during this period. However, all over, County played out of themselves and but for the second half tapering-off, presented fans with exhilirating exciting and entertaining football. Playing as a team, the pattern of play knitted well, to the extent County’s understanding and cohesion, when moving forward or falling back, was such that there was always cover or a player in position in talk a Pass. It was this understanding which stood out with the second and third goals in the 25th and 43rd minutes. Time and time again, the slickness of the County play was opening up the Keith defence, and on one occasion, Williamson took a pass in the open, looked up, saw Connolly in position and lobbed the ball over to him. The striker’s shot went just over the bar. O’Brien too was showing up well on the left wing, never wasting a ball, and as often as not turning the defence. Came the 25th minute, Somerville and Williamson set up Robertson, who broke through to the Keith goal-line before despatching the ball to the far post, where two colleagues were eagerly waiting. The honour of scoring fell to O’Brien whose powerful header went over the outstretched arms of the keeper into the net. Initially the move had started well inside the County half, when young Garry Campbell turned his opponent and broke upfield, before passing to Williamson. James Mackay was again the play-maker up-front, making very intelligent use of the ball, holding it when necessary, turning on it easily and sending opponents the wrong way, before his final pass. His positional sense also relieved some of the pressure on his colleagues. For Keith, MacAllister had a powerful low shot well taken by Rudkin, and another shot went just wide off the mark, as Keith showed that they were anything, but down and out. Then in the 30th minute they scored, when Brebner took a cross from left back Bennett at the far post and turned it past the keeper. A strong diving header by Scott Lemmon from a corner by Cammie Robertson went past the upright as County re-asserted themselves, and then another brilliant piece of teamwork preceded their goal in the 43rd minute. On this occasion, the move involved Somerville and Connolly, who opened up a gap for the latter to slip the ball through to Robbie Williamson, whose controlled shot gave the keeper little chance. Although the County goal was under steady pressure in the second half, there was the odd occasion, when a break was on, as it was in the 70th minute, when George Stewart took advantage of a defensive slip, beat the offside trap and made for the goal-line before pushing the ball across to James Mackay, who scored. The referee from Haddington had a field-day taking the names of players for offences which really merited a ticking-off — in this respect Keith won hands-down, 6-2. In the 75th minute, Willie Garner scored the second Keith goal with a strong low drive from 25 yards. The linesman’s flag was up, but after consulting him the referee allowed the goal to stand. Rudkin made a diving save from Brebner, neatly turning the ball aside for a corner, and as the game closed, Connolly was denied a chance from a Barry Wilson cross, when the keeper whipped the ball off his toe.