Date	Saturday, 20 August 1988
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:1 Cove Rangers
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: John Sutter, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Scott Lemmon, 4: Cameron Robertson, 5: Dave Bellshaw, 6: David MacRae, 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries 1, 8: Davie Jackson, 9: Alex (Nero) McDonald, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: Alan Gair
Bench	0: John MacDonald 1, 0: Albert Allan
Attendance
Match Report	Report by Bill McAllister for the Press and Journal. Ross County 2 Cove Rangers 1 COVE RANGERS can shrug off a sticky start and make their first serous Highland football title challenge That's the firm forecast from Bob Summers, who skippered Caley to last season's championship. Summers has started his career as Cove centre half with two defeats in three games, but he sees a bright season ahead for the ambitious Allan Park club, who stepped into the senior ranks just over two years ago. Speaking after their 2-1 defeat against Ross County at Dingwall on Saturday. Bob said "Having now had a chance to settle and see the squad. I honestly think Cove could be there when the honours are handed out this lime. "They've found out in the last two seasons Just how hard it can be to adjust to Highland League football, and that expenence is invaluable. Results haven't reflected how well the team haw been playing and it wouldn't lake much to give really good chance in what seems be a wide-open title race". Bob. who won medals in his 14 years with Caley. is now 33 but wore his years lightly in commanding performance at Dingwall in which he got the better of his former Telford Street teammate "Nero' Macdonald. Cove manager Tom Cummings feels the Summers influence can be a big boast to the club and is also encouraged by Saturday's showing. Cove have been accused to making too many changes in the past, but boss Cummings said "There will be shake for the home game with Inverness Thistle. The lads are showing good attitude and have key games coming up against Keith. Buckie and Peterhead in which have the chance to make an impact. Tom is happy with his squad but admits that another midfield recruit would come handy. Certainly, Cove did lot of powerful running against unbeaten County and should have been ahead by half time, before being dumped by two superbly-taken goals from John Macdonald and Billy Ferries. Andy Paterson capped sound comeback with good goal but Cove, in the end, were undermined by the midfield guile of Cammy Robertson and Gordon Connolly.