Date	Saturday, 13 August 1938
Competition	Inverness Sports Bed Cup
Fixture/Score	Highland Light Infantry 2:5 Ross County
Venue	Telford Street
Referee
Ross County
Manager	George Barrie
Starting 11	1: Roy Applegate, 2: Roddie Munro, 3: Adam Forsyth, 4: J Wood, 5: George Barrie, 6: J MacKintosh, 7: Neil Gillies, 8: J.A MacKay 1, 9: Ernest Gowl 3, 10: J Wood 1, 11: J A Sutherland
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 5 Highland Light Infantry 2 Ross County's emphatic win over the Highland Light Infantry in the Sports Bed competition at Telford Street Park, Inverness, on Saturday, does not infer that the County are yet a very convincing team. They are, however, a team of considerable promise. There is an equal blend of youth and experience in it. At the start of a season too much must not be expected from such a combination. Youths must be permitted time to gain the necessary experience while graduating from juniors to seniors. That calls for time and patience on the part of the members of the Management Committee. Rome was not built in a day. Spectators also should give the players a fair trial before passing and particularly passing destructive criticism on them. What is wanted is encouragement. Both players and Committee cannot get too much of it. As regards last Saturday's team, Applegate delighted friend and foe alike with his display in goal. If he continues as he has started—and there is no reason why he should not—Ross County have scored a signal success in securing his signature. He has fine anticipation, takes up position smartly, is very safe with his hands and fields the ball well. Old campaigner, G. Munro, naturally showed more coolness and aplomb than his partner, Forsyth, at back. The latter, who is a Muir of Ord junior, has good physique and is fearless. He tackles well and his placing of the ball will improve with experience. He is well worth persevering with. He had a valuable adviser in his colleague. George Barrie, the new player-coach and pivot, was playing his first game for his new Club. He started somewhat shakily—perhaps he felt his responsibility and recognised that all eyes were centred on him. He appeared to be taking his bearings and weighing up his team-mates. This done he opened out, his early uneasiness disappeared and he finished strongly and looking very fresh. Like the majority of centre-halves, he concentrates on the third back position, but that he can back up his forwards was shown on several occasions. It would be inadvisable to particularise too intensely at this stage. Suffice it to state that he has distinct football ability, is already respected by his fellow players, who have marked confidence in him. He knows his job. The wing halves, Wood and Macdonald, were highly satisfactory. Wood was perhaps the sounder of the two: Macdonald did not place the ball so well to his forwards. As Mackintosh is now available, no doubt Macdonald will go into the vanguard. Mackay, Gowl and Mitchell were the best of the forwards and in order of merit as named. Mackay was in brilliant form, and it will be long before his opening goal will be forgotten. He was racing for goal and when thirty yards away he let drive. The goalkeeper never saw the ball until he picked it out of the net. Mackay received a hearty round of applause. He was also responsible for the other goals. He placed three balls on Gowl's head which were sent home. Sutherland walked through a Mackay pass. Gowl's hat-trick proves that he is as good as ever, while Mitchell is a hard grafter. He is fast, tireless, never shirks a tackle and is unselfish. N. Gillies has played to better advantage, but his abilities are known. He will not let his team down. J. A. Sutherland tried hard, but he might use his undoubted speed with greater benefit to his side. As to the game itself, little need be said. The soldiers did not provide the strong opposition that was anticipated. They were well-trained, had plenty of pluck and enthusiasm, but the forwards had lost their "shooting" boots. And, of course, it must not be forgotten they were up against Applegate. Mackintosh scored the first goal for the H.L.I., but Mackay equalised. Gowl followed with three in quick succession and Sutherland had the County's fifth. Dewar, near the close, registered number two for H.L.I.