Date	Saturday, 09 September 1933
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 6:2 Inverness Clachnacuddin
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: C Sherlaw, 2: Tom Anderson, 3: Alexander (Ackie) MacPherson, 4: Roddie Garrow, 5: Albert MacRae, 6: Ackie Urquhart, 7: J. MacKay 2, 8: William Skinner 1, 9: William MacKenzie 1, 10: James (Mollie) Ross 2, 11: William Bowie
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 6 Inverness Clachnacuddin 2 Ross County are through to the second round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup Northern Area, and in no uncertain manner, beating Clachnacuddin at Dingwall on Saturday by six goals to two, in a game which amply repaid the huge crowd for their attendance, thrills abounding with a good deal of “debatable” points thrown in. The referee was in a generous mood and in consequence the game suffered from too many “incidents” in which players on both sides were allowed off with displays of temper quite out of place at Victoria Park, and but for the saner judgment of some of the men, might have led to serious trouble. As it was, an incident near the bye-line on Ross County's side of the field saw a few spectators invade the field, but the speedy arrival of the police smoothed things down again. Clach’s two goals, although not altogether undeserved on the run of the game, were of the “gift” nature; one occurring from a penalty kick awarded against Urquhart, when from the spectators’ point of view, he was trying to release Logie's grip on his jersey. The other point was the most “peculiar” award ever seen in Victoria Park. The ball had gone out at Sherlaw’s end, and the goalkeeper walked up to take position. In the process, Anderson hit the ball gently to the goalkeeper, who, not having heard the whistle go for the resumption of play, did not stir himself. However, the Clach centre shot the ball goalward, and Macpherson, standing on the goal-line, clutched it with his hand—thence Clach’s last point just on time. As is now customary of them, Ross County were off their mark in the first minutes and Clach had to look lively to keep their lines clear. Bowie and Mackay were again the chief source of danger, both scampering along the wings with confidence, while in the centre, Mackenzie's fearless tactics kept the Clach backs on tenterhooks and upset their style of play. Rodgers, the Clach professional, found in Ross, Mackenzie, and Skinner opponents who did not shudder at the centre-half's great bulk nor yet hesitate to tackle him; these three gave Rodgers a lively time of it! A miskick by Macpherson resulted in Sherlaw coming into action for the first time; he did his work with a marked coolness and skill, and the home crowd sat back, comfortable in the fact that they had a goalkeeper who knew his job! Clach were kept with their backs to the wall. Macrae, Urquhart and Garrow contested every effort of the Clach forwards to transfer play upfield, both Urquhart and Macrae being particularly clever in intercepting and defending. County secured the lead, and it was fitting that Mackay should take the honour of instigating the movement which allowed Ross to blaze home a cannon-ball shot. Carrying the ball along the wing, Mackay tricked the defence, and sent over to the centre to find Ross ready and waiting. A Clach sally upfield gave County a scare. Sherlaw had a splendid fist-out from among a maze of players, while on the goal-line Anderson kicked out a certainty, and a few minutes after, Macrae's wonderful powers of scenting the place of danger allowed him to do the same. A few displays of temper which occurred here might have ended in “nasty stuff” had the referee taken more stringent action. The cheering of the crowd and their “helpful” advice did not mend matters any. A header by Mackenzie hit the upright and, luckily for Macneil, hit his knees and went into play. Two corners for Clach brought out the best in the County defence, and then a great run upfield by Mackenzie saw Skinner get another goal for County. The much-disputed penalty incident occurred and Clarke scored from the spot with a picture of a penalty kick. Ross County’s two-one lead at half-time gave them confidence, but the great battle Clach put up at the start of the second half soon knocked the confidence away. Urquhart, Macrae, and Sherlaw worked like demons to stem the Clach onslaught, and it was the centre-half’s stranglehold on Mackinnon alone which kept Clach out. Mackinnon, a great centre-forward with a name for goal-getting, found himself up against what must have been the greatest task of his life—the rounding of Macrae. He failed to do it, and probably in that fact, Ross County's victory was assured. Although Clach had the running, it was the County who got the goal. Urquhart, drawing the opposition from Mackay, gave the winger a chance of going through, which was quickly accepted. Mackay was pulled up, but before falling passed to Ross and again this hardy little individual was there to score from close in. County were now set for a run-away victory. Bowie's shot was luckily scraped away by Macneill, while Bruce stepped in just in time to clear from the winger’s toe. With Garrow hurt, and Mackay back in the half-line, Clach had an innings, and a period of mid-field play followed. On Garrow resuming, the County attack again got going and Mackay scored the fourth goal with a real beauty. Three down did not take the sting out of the Invernessians. They fought with pluck and considerable skill but the County half-line proved too strong for them. Skinner had the County fifth goal and Mackenzie the sixth—a well-earned point for a daring and hard-working player. On the call of time, Clach secured their second “gift.” During the week preceding the game, Ross County supporters found much to discuss in the formation of the side to meet Clachnacuddin in such an important match. Sherlaw, in goal, an unknown quantity to most of them, was the centre of discussion, and not a little doubt. The big goalkeeper, however, quickly dispelled all doubt as to his ability. His coolness when in action gave both players and spectators added confidence in their team. If a weakness were noticeable in the County side, it was at back, where both Macpherson and Anderson, although kicking and tackling well, were too prone to get out of position. The play of Urquhart and Macrae counteracted this defect. County have never fielded a more serviceable half-line. Garrow was set a hard task to live up to the high standard of play set by the other two half-backs—but he did it. Macrae's stranglehold on Mackinnon has already been mentioned as the means of knocking the Clach attack out of joint, but Urquhart's watch and guard over Loggie (“The Little Red Devil” of Citadel days) was a no less deciding factor; seldom is the little chap so well held. Of the forwards, each and all of them were superb. Mackenzie, new to the eleven, did not need any breaking-in: he fitted right away. His dashing play gave no rest to an over-worked defence, while he was game to tackle anything and everything, no ball being too high or too hard for him to have a go at. He had not the best of luck with his efforts at goal, and though always a trier, never indulged in selfishness as evinced by the goals of Skinner and Mackay. Skinner's “killing” of the ball was brilliant, and he and Ross—up until now, two inexperienced and practically unknown players—in their last two games, have made names for themselves in Northern football. Bowie and Mackay, ever artful, aggressive, and both possessing fine shooting abilities, gave the crowd some rare exhibitions of wing play, but still, it would pay County if they got even more of the ball.