Date	Saturday, 14 February 1948
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 6:4 Inverness Thistle
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: Fred Newton, 2: A Sutherland, 3: A (Eck) Jack, 4: Jock Finlay 1, 5: George Ross, 6: George Sutherland, 7: Charles (Chic) Ogilvie, 8: ? Munro 1, 9: ? Miller 3, 10: Alick Ferguson 1, 11: Tommy Urquhart
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 6 Inverness Thistle 4 After a very calm opening, Miller caused the first thrill when he cutely turned a cross shot from Urquhart. Peters was glad to tip it over the bar. Play livened up, but ten minutes had elapsed before there was real excitement. And it was against the run of play, Gray got away on the left. He crossed the ball to a few yards in front of goal, and Forbes lying unmarked, had nothing to do but shoot into the net. Within sixty seconds the County had brought the scores level. Miller did the needful, but credit is due to Ogilvie and Munro, who paved the way. Next Peters saved a scorcher from Munro from six yards. If anything, Ross County were now on top and they got no more than they deserved, when Findlay added number two. The left wing was making the pace and the ball came across to Findlay, who took a first-time chance and drove it to the top corner of the net. From this point there was only one team in it, and that was not the Thistle. Time and again Peters came to the rescue, but even he could not stave off such a virile attack all the time. He made one error. He failed to gather the ball properly and opportunist Miller, lying handy, had only to push the ball into the net. Thistle did not lie down. They had several concentrated attacks, but their efforts in front of goal were feeble and futile. At the other end, Ogilvie let Miller away on his own, but with nobody to beat but Peters, Miller drove hard past the wrong side of the post. A minute later Miller gave a repeat performance, but on this occasion, after Ferguson had sent a perfect ball up the centre, the mud completely frustrating Miller's parting shot. Newton lay on the top of the ball to keep Forbes from scoring, following which the "Jags" developed a little more sting. Newton, however, was giving nothing away. Ferguson tested Peters with a strong shot, which the latter failed to clear, and an opportunity was lost. Miller got his "hat trick," when he connected with his head with an Urquhart cross, and left Peters standing helpless. Half-time arrived with the score Ross County, 4; Thistle, 1. On resuming, Thistle showed improved form, and the exchanges were more even. Ross County always appeared to have something to spare and certainly were more dangerous when they reached the penalty area. The visitors, however, were the first to score. Forbes was running in on Newton and the latter blocked him. | The ball bounced back to Fraser, who slashed it into an undefended, empty goal. This was after Newton had made one or two fine clearances, when his backs were hard pressed. However, it did not take County long to restore their lead. Ferguson sent in a shot which the cross-bar alone stopped. The ball went out to Ogilvie who returned it into the goalmouth. Like a salmon leaping up a river fall, Ferguson rose to the ball and with his head deflected it past Peters. Seconds later, Ferguson sent Munro away, and while Peters advanced to meet him, he shot a perfect goal. With a lead of six goals to two, Ross County began to toy with their opponents. It was a mistake. Thistle were having nothing of it. They staged a come-back, and they deservedly scored twice through Macaulay and Forbes. Unfortunately their efforts came too late. With another ten minutes to go there is no knowing what might have happened. Final score:—Ross County, 6; Thistle, 4. Ross County deserved their win, but while they were much the better team in the first half, they had enough to do in the end to hold their own. In Newton and Peters, there were two good goalkeepers, with the first named having more of the luck. Thistle had the better pair of backs, but County held the advantage at half-back, where Findlay was almost irresistible, until he visibly tired very much near the end of the game. Young Paterson was a tower of strength to the "Jags" at centre-half. This is a young man of much promise. County had much the better forward line, where Ferguson was in great form. The others gave him good support, but Urquhart should not be so shy of his opponent. Calder had him on toast in the tackle, but on the run, Urquhart left Calder behind. The Thistle's forwards were best served by their inside men, with Macrae outstanding.