Date	Tuesday, 13 September 1988
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 3:2 Fort William
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: John Sutter, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Scott Lemmon, 4: Martin MacKay, 5: Dave Bellshaw, 6: David MacRae, 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 8: John MacDonald, 9: Alex (Nero) McDonald 2, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: Alan Gair
Bench	0: Don Cowie (SNR) 1 (1 pen), 0: Alan Brown
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 3 Fort William 2 THE introduction of Don Cowie to the defence late in the game worked a transformation for Ross County as they were struggling to reduce a two-goal deficit against a fast-moving, strong Fort William team on Monday evening. Don, who retired at the end of last season, tightened up the defence, adding some finesse and stability to it, but most of all instilling that little bit of confidence necessary to boost flagging spirits on a night when no-thing seemed to be going right for County. County opened the match all action pressing continually at the visiting defence, their speed and flair taking them into many scoring positions, but with no reward, due to a stuffy, quick reacting defence, or the sure grip of the young Fort William keeper. He had an outstanding game, which was capped by a penalty save from Gordon Connelly. The latter tried to place the ball, but the keeper, in almost “action replay” movement, dived to his left and took the ball effortlessly. This was at a time, in the sixth minute, when a goal could have settled County. Connelly’s kick was low, along the ground, and had little strength behind it. Minutes later, Fort William took the lead. A “powder-puff” pass-back saw Suttar leave his goal-line to attempt a clearance. The ball was half-hit and came to Conlon, who simply lobbed it over Suttar’s head into the empty net. Captain Scott Lemon came closest for the home side in this half, when his header from a corner went a matter of inches past the upright the keeper well beaten. Attack followed attack, but always there was a Fort William defender on hand to clear a threatening situation, and, of course, there was keeper Hunter. County pressure on the visitors goal continued into the second half, and at times it was quite furious as they pressed for an elusive equaliser. Then in the 51st minute, a clearance through the middle of the County defence saw Murdoch break free from his marker and with Suttar to beat he simply lashed the ball home. Don Cowie replaced Bellshaw at this stage, and from then on County never looked back. Cowie himself converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute — no messing! In the 81st minute, a great run by Ferries down the left wing saw him cutting in on goal and slipping the ball to Nero Macdonald, who equalised. Minutes later Nero had a second goal, when he thumped home the ball after it had cracked off the bar from a Connelly shot. Time did not permit the prediction of supporter Tommy Grant coming to fruition, for Tommy had forecast a 4-2 win for County, and at that time they were down 0-2 with nothing going right for them. The win will certainly boost the confidence of the boys, who have been feeling somewhat dejected of late, playing well with nothing to show for it.