Date	Saturday, 12 November 1949
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:1 Buckie Thistle
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee	Mr D. Mackintosh
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: Fred Newton, 2: Jimmy Farmer, 3: Jimmy Crosbie, 4: Finlay Browning, 5: John Patience, 6: Tommy Rooney, 7: Charles (Chic) Ogilvie, 8: Willie (Billy) Urquhart, 9: Graham Davidson 1, 10: Alick Ferguson, 11: John (Johnny) Bremner
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 1 Buckie Thistle 1 There did not appear to be the same cohesion in the County defence as of late. The presence of W. Urquhart at right back was definitely missed. Farmer gave a good enough account of himself in that position but he was not up to Urquhart's standard. Crosbie, left-back, was as cool and calculated as ever in his tackles and clearances, but was not up to his usual. At centre-half, Patience played a steady game. His anticipation was uncanny; pressure was often relieved by his clever pass backs to Newton; his heading ability was exemplary. Browning is a pure fighter and a doughty one at that. During the first half he was inclined to wander, with the result Farmer had a hectic time with the Buckie left wing. Rooney was slow, deadly slow; his distribution of the ball was good. There were periods in the game when Newton excelled himself. On one occasion he twice blocked point-blank shots from Lawrie, before turning the ball round the post for a corner. No County supporter can ever find fault with Willie Urquhart; he is at home in any position on the field. When Willie went for the ball one was sure he would reach it before the back, dribble past him, and centre an ideal ball for the forwards' heads. Ogilvie and Ferguson inspire that little bit of confidence in the spectators too. Davidson richly deserved his goal—it was not for the want of trying that he did not get more. Bremner had a quiet game and was inclined to be slow. Buckie were the essence of speed and slick moves. For one period of the first half they completely dominated play with their dribbling and close passes. County defence could do little but chase livewire forwards like Buchan and Davies. The power behind their attack, however, was undoubtedly half-backs Massie and Lawrie. Play was fairly even throughout. For thrills and grand football the second half was the better. Bad light threatened to mar the closing minutes of the game despite an early start. Buckie produced the better football. They just failed to score more than once during the first-half. Wood had four splendid opportunities before he scored. Davies' grand approach work in drawing the defence left Wood with ample time and room to score. Newton had little chance with the shot, which dropped under the bar. Each goal came under steady attacks for the remainder of the half. Buchan shot wide; Davidson headed wide, and in the last minute Newton dived to save a shot from Wood. Within ten minutes of the restart, Bremner netted for County, but was judged off-side. This came after good outfield work by W. Urquhart, who had moved to outside right following an injury to his back. Davidson beat Findlay to the ball, failing to score. However, County were now on top. It was inevitable that they should score, and from a corner by Urquhart they did, Davidson heading home. Newton was kept fairly busy between County attacks. Massie, on several occasions, dribbled through, and Newton did well to punch his shots over the bar. At Findlay's end, he was having a hectic time. Urquhart was sending superb crosses over. They were of considerable danger to Findlay, as Davidson was simply flinging himself at them, and missing the goal by inches. An incident occurred at Newton's end, which only happens once in a blue moon. Newton had brilliantly punched out, and the ball was going to run over the line for a corner when a dog stopped it. The referee blew for a corner, which brought protests from the Buckie players, who wanted a throw-up. A corner it was, however. Play proceeded at a not too robust pace to its end in the dim light.