Date	Saturday, 07 November 1987
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:0 Buckie Thistle
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: Don Cowie (SNR) 1 (1 pen), 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 8: Donald MacKay, 9: Davie Jackson 1, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: James MacKay
Bench	0: Alan Gair, 0: David MacRae
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 2, Buckie Thistle 0 WHAT a transformation there has been at Victoria Park, Dingwall, over the past few months! Holding up the Highland League last season, Ross County are now at the other end of the scale, vying with the best in the top bracket. Following last Saturday’s victory over Buckie at Victoria Park, Dingwall County have moved into fourth position from the top, something unforeseen in the dismal days of last season or, for that matter, for many years previously. There they are, fourth from the top. Although some teams immediately below them have a game or two in hand, to cap it all, their efforts for the month of October have brought them the R. B. Farquhar Team of the Month Award with five League wins for the month. Good going indeed! Of more than equal status is the fact that they so convincingly accounted for Buckie Thistle, the team which had dumped them out of the Scottish Qualifying Cup competition a matter of weeks ago, by five goals to nil, and which was doing well in the League. There was a touch of sadness too about Saturday’s game, as the crowd—over 400 in number—honoured the memory of Mr. George Munro, Mackay Square, Dingwall, a popular personality not only in club circles, but in Ross-shire as a whole in his “wanderings” as a fund-raiser over the past two years. George passed away with great suddenness earlier in the week, and in his tribute preceding a one-minute’s silence to his memory, the announcer, Mr. Hugh Urquhart, said that this year alone he had sold over £3,000 worth of tickets for the County’s Car Scheme. He could not have been much off that total the previous year. Hugh said he would be greatly missed for his assistance at all times, and his good humour. It was a touch of sadness to the opening of a sterling game by the County men which would have gladdened George’s heart, for when time permitted he was a regular attender at home games, and it was not unknown for him to travel further afield on occasion. Ross County were not overawed by their opponents’ present record and set to their task with a will, functioning smoothly in all sections, with colleagues covering one for another as undue pressure was exerted on that particular section. Again one noted their superior fitness and ability. There was plenty of running in the ranks, but running to a purpose, whether to fill a blank in the field or to make a position. Either move was followed with complete coolness and grasp of the situation. It was another first-class display of the type which had shocked Caley and nearly brought that particular team’s downfall. Buckie were not so “jammy”! Moving quickly on and off the ball, the home team attacked continuously for most of the ninety minutes, although for a short period at the start of the second half it seemed Buckie were coming more into the game. However, their finishing was not as decisive as their initiative in setting up attacks. County had a looseness about them, a looseness combined with the ability on the part of a player to use his own initiative and fall into the scheme of play developing. This initiative could take a player steaming upfield from a defensive position, up to the attack, but this same agility and alertness brought that player “whizzing back” to combat a sudden surge forward by the opposing team. Left, right or centre, each and every one of the ten outfield players was prepared to act in roles other than their own, in positions “alien” to them as far as “team lines and numbers” were concerned. The understanding was such that one would be forgiven if the thought came into one’s head that here was a combine which played as a team day in and day out. As it is, the players only come together perhaps twice a week. Great stuff, County, and the stuff that will win back the fans in goodly numbers again, and bring in those who do not know one end of a football field from another but enjoy the atmosphere, the entertainment, and in one case supporting one particular personality! In the 13th minute on Saturday, Ross County went into the lead from the penalty spot, but before that, the way matters were shaping up, a goal was on the cards. As it was, Robertson and Connolly had combined to ensure Billy Ferries received a good ball on the right of centre. In one of his speedy controlled runs, Billy cut across to the left leaving a trail of defenders in his wake, and had no one but the keeper to beat as the latter came off his line and dived. However, the winger in attempting to take avoiding action was upended and crashed to the ground just inside the box. Don Cowie simply stroked the ball in at the keeper’s left hand post, as he plunged to the right. Continuing County pressure brought no results but plenty of entertainment. Suttar dealt competently with the little he had to do, for most of the Buckie efforts were being blasted wide of goal. In the 86th minute David Jackson completed the scoring, but the speed and incisiveness of the break by Somerville from his own half following a pass from Connolly saw the full-back completely in the clear with the keeper and another defender coming out to meet him. Keeping his cool, he advanced inside the eighteen-yard box, and with Dave Jackson in his sights, waited the opportune moment to give him possession and an open goal.