Date	Saturday, 03 October 1936
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 3:4 Inverness Thistle
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: R MacNeil, 2: W.G Ross, 3: J Stewart, 4: J.G MacKay, 5: Robert Corbett, 6: J.A Ross, 7: D. Sutherland, 8: J.A MacKay 1, 9: Morgan MacKay 1, 10: K Moir, 11: D. Ross 1
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the North Star. Ross County 3 Inverness Thistle 4 It is rare that Macneil, the home custodian, has an off-day, but on Saturday the County 'keeper did nothing right. An early lapse, which enabled Gowl to score the opening goal, unsettled him and throughout the rest of the game he did not regain his usual confidence. It was certainly hard on him that his errors of judgment should have caused the loss of three goals. From two faulty clearances by Macneil, which resulted in two early goals being obtained by the visitors, the County did not recover and although they reduced the margin at times, nevertheless they were always at least a goal down. It was a splendid game, fought out on keen lines and at a fast pace. The most pleasing feature, however, was the clean manner in which both teams played, not one incident being worthy of the referee's rebuke. The Thistle won and one might say worthily because their positional play was much superior to their opponents. The Thistle forwards invariably passed accurately to one another while the County's passes repeatedly went astray. That was the main advantage that led to the Jags' victory. Territorially neither team could claim any outstanding superiority, each side having their period of aggression. The debut of the Alness junior, W. J. Ross, was a success. His display gave every promise of him developing into a very serviceable right back. His partner, Stewart, did not strike his best form. The home halves, however, J. G. Mackay, Corbett and J. A. Ross rose to the occasion by forming a sterling intermediate line. As centre-half, Corbett was brilliant. He strove hard to turn the game in his club's favour and although his commendable efforts failed, he was a hard worker, who did not hesitate to have a try at goal. The home attack was not a success. At outside right Sutherland was not happy and he failed to maintain the good reputation he earned in previous matches. On the other extreme wing, D. Ross was unusually quiet. His lively runs down the side-line were conspicuous by their absence. The redeeming point of his listless afternoon's play was a well-taken goal in the closing minutes. The inside men, J. A. Mackay, Morgan Mackay, and Moir were not impressive. The latter did better when he moved to left half, while J. A. Mackay was fitful in his play. At periods he would rise to great heights only to return to mediocrity. In one sense, the home centre paid his way, but in another he was disappointing. He snapped a brilliant goal, only to miss a much easier chance and at no time did he appear to have a perfect understanding with his front clubmates. The Thistle, despite being below strength, showed that they have to be reckoned with in the destiny of the League championship. Taylor, centre-half was a grand deputy for Ballantyne, and it seems the regular pivot will have to fight hard to recover his position. The snappiness of their attack was very obvious. Gowl was an eager leader and Pyke, inside left, a first rate opportunist. His two goals were both secured through following up the ball. It was in the right wing, where Clunas and Kay operated, that the victors' strength lay. Clunas's long hard drives were always so dangerous R TTl=et LT A S el e e that they led to two goals, while Kay, on the wing was a thrustful and fast raider. His crosses into the goalmouth often caused disorder and confusion among the home defenders. Facing a strong sun, disaster soon came to the County for the visitors went ahead within five minutes. Clunas shot and Macneil failed to hold the ball. Gowl rushed in to net easily. The "Jags" were now more impressive and Kay caused further uneasiness with a shot, which flashed past the upright. At the other end Corbett nearly secured the equaliser, with a drive which was just inches off the mark. Following this Thistle obtained their second point. Macneil only partially saved from Kay and Pyke, running in, had no difficulty in tapping the ball into the net. A minute later, Macneil was lucky to clear from W. J. Ross, who almost turned the leather into his own goal. End to end play ensued with neither team on top. A beautiful movement on the part of the visiting attack, presented Gowl with an open goal but the centre sent weakly past. From this point the homesters struck their form, pressing desperately to reduce the lead. From an offside position Gowl netted, but the goal was disallowed. A loose pass down the centre went to Morgan Mackay, who raced past the visitors' defence. He hooked the ball past the approaching Sherlaw. Then Mackay (Thistle) nearly deceived Macneil with a grand forty yards' drive. In the "Jags" goalmouth, J. A. Mackay tested Sherlaw and D. Ross sent in a terrific shot which the visitors' keeper did well to turn over the bar. Just before the interval, the homesters became desperate and only two brilliant saves by Sherlaw prevented the equaliser, his clearance from Sutherland's corner kick being outstanding. The County re-opened where they had left off—on the aggressive. Their efforts, however, were futile against the "Jags" defence, which cleared the goal-line cleverly, although they were hard pressed by the eager home forwards. Breaking away, the visitors raced to the home end, where they were awarded a foul kick outside the penalty area. Clunas drove hard and Macneil dropping the ball enabled Pyke to put on his club's third goal. Morgan Mackay then gave D. Ross a "gilt-edged" chance but the left winger hesitated and his shot was blocked on the goal-line. Macdonald (Thistle) was similarly at fault in missing a great opening, when he shot wide from a good position. J. A. Mackay made amends for previous lapses by scoring a fine goal. The County were now the superior team but Sherlaw stood between them and further success, particularly when he turned J. A. Ross's snap shot round the post. Thistle showed the way to seize the least opening. Gowl got clear and passing to the unmarked Kay, the winger found the net with an oblique shot, which deceived Macneil. With only the keeper to beat, Morgan Mackay steadied himself but instead of netting he sent the ball on the outside of the upright. After this, Sherlaw made a magnificent save from J. A. Mackay, but in the closing minute he was completely defeated by D. Ross, who reduced the lead with a strong drive.