Date	Saturday, 31 August 1935
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 5:1 Nairn County
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: I MacPherson, 2: Tom Anderson, 3: Ackie Urquhart, 4: Roddie Garrow, 5: Albert MacRae 1, 6: William Fraser, 7: John Alex MacKenzie, 8: J.A MacKay 1, 9: Ian Aird 3, 10: J.A Ross, 11: J Sutherland
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 5 Nairn County 1 This game took place at Victoria Park, Dingwall, and was largely attended. The weather was pleasant and so was the game. There was little to enthuse over, but the fact that the home County won their first game of the season in the league greatly gratified the supporters, and all left the field happy—if not entirely satisfied with the construction of the team, at least feeling it had improved on recent displays. Ross County began in great style. From the kick-off, they attacked. Aird gave the ball to Mackenzie, who raced down the line, cut in and shot. Allan brought off a wonderful save. The goal kick was intercepted by Macrae and sent far up the left. Sutherland connected and got clear away. His parting shot struck the cross-bar and Mackay, lying unmarked, sent it home. Scarcely had the ball been centred when the Ross-shire men were back in the Nairn goal. Aird received the ball in a good position and, kicking it as he was in the act of falling, it slipped in past the far post with goalkeeper Allan helpless. Two goals up in four minutes was astonishing. For a period, the County dominated the game and all the forwards were shooting from all angles. The Nairn defence played their part manfully, but they had a gruelling time. Sutherland and Mackenzie were being well fed by the inside forwards and the halves, and they were centring the ball with marked exactness. Ross made a great effort when he took the ball from Bowie's feet and sent in a rocket shot which Allan was lucky to stop. It must not be thought that the Nairn forwards were idle. They had many runs up the field, but at close quarters they were easily held by Anderson and Urquhart. The ball was not running too well for them. Sometimes they put it too far forward, then someone would miss it altogether; others tried a shot, but seldom in the vicinity of the goal. The first shot Macpherson had to stop was a pass-back by Urquhart. It was a risky action, because Robertson was in close proximity to Macpherson. The latter, however, fielded the ball well and cleared the danger. Sutherland had a good tackle and centre, but Allan was ready. A moment later, a similar cross was stopped by Mackenzie, who steadied the ball and sent in a raker which just went outside the foot of the post. Then Allan stopped a hot shot from Ross with one hand. Then Ross County got a shock. A long shot was sent into the goalmouth by Millar. Robertson, lying handy, got it with the side of his head. Macrae, who was standing in front of Macpherson, jumped for the ball but did not get it fairly, and it glanced off the side of his head into the net. Within five minutes, this goal was nullified by Aird, who scored a third for Ross County. The movement was started by Sutherland and Ross, and the latter, seeing Aird unmarked, gave him a beautiful pass, which Aird converted with the greatest ease. The home team continued on their victorious way at the opening of the second half. Aird was ever between the backs, who latterly sought relief by playing him off-side. Then the centre was tripped up as he was breaking through. Macrae took the kick and, from about 25 yards, sent in a hard shot which the goalkeeper touched with his fingers but could not stop. With such a commanding lead, the Ross team began to take things easy, with the result that Nairn County improved. For a time, they took the offensive, but the shooting of the forwards was very poor and the men behind appeared to get discouraged. Birrell missed a great chance when, with only Macpherson to beat, he sent it past. Then Macpherson stopped a fine header from Fraser, who connected with a well-placed corner kick by Wallace. Nairn never lay down, but they were completely out of luck. They could do clever things, but nothing resulted to their advantage. Near the close, Ross County again took command and the Nairn goal had several marvellous escapes before Aird registered a fifth goal and at the same time completed his hat trick. Result—Ross County 5; Nairn County 1. It was intimated after the game that Allan was suffering from an injured back. In the circumstances, he could not be blamed for the goals scored against him. Nairn had a couple of hardy defenders, but they were overwhelmed by a virile attack. Bowie was the best of the halves and Robertson an ever-ready raider, who got little support. No complaint could be found with the Ross County defence. Macrae was a tower of strength at half and he had good support in Fraser and Garrow. All the forwards did well, with veteran Aird as nippy as ever. Ross and Mackay were the master-minds, but what pleased most was the excellent play of the two junior wing men.