Date	Friday, 18 September 1931
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 5:1 Nairn County
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee	Mr. George Haldane
Ross County
Manager	John (Jock) Ramage
Starting 11	1: ? Scott, 2: Dick Traill, 3: Dot Garrow, 4: Roddie Garrow, 5: John Ramage, 6: Ackie Urquhart, 7: Ackie MacKay, 8: Dave Cowie, 9: Ian Aird 3, 10: ??? McIver 1, 11: Charlie Cameron 1
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 5 Nairn County 1 Ross County deservedly beat Nairn County at Dingwall in the replay of the first round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup. At Nairn the previous week, Ross were lucky to force a draw, but on Saturday they made no mistake, the issue being decided in the first quarter of an hour. Within the first minute, Aird had the ball in the net. R. Garrow started the movement by sending it out to Mackay, who sent over a perfect cross: Cameron caught the ball and returned it for Aird to finish off a fine piece of football by beating A. Mackenzie. The second goal came within another few minutes. Cameron beat Nicol and Bowie, and squared to Maciver, who, with his second attempt, found the corner of the net. The third goal was scored by Cameron, Mackay crossing for the left winger to connect and drive hard home. Nairn were not in the least upset, however, and gamely fought back. John Mackintosh, their inside left, was the mainspring of their attack, while the veteran Jock Mackenzie forced matters. When James Mackintosh beat Scott, they were worthy of the point. D. Garrow was at fault here. He miskicked completely to let Mackintosh round him with an easy road in on Scott. The game went from end to end up until half-time, but there was no more scoring. As in the first half, so in the second. Ross County went right off their mark, and A. Mackenzie's goal again fell, Aird finishing off a centre of Cameron’s in fine style. The game now became one-sided and Aird on numerous occasions was out of luck with tries. First he headed against an upright with Mackenzie out of goal, and repeated the same performance minutes afterwards. Ramage easily subdued the Nairn attack while D. Garrow and Trail were equal to any call upon them. Nairn are to be congratulated on the plucky fight they put up. Nicol and Gordon—a youngster of great promise—were overworked, but they stood up to the gruelling with great fortitude and never knew when they were beaten. Aird notched another goal, his own third, and his side’s fifth. Mackay made the opening here, and unselfishly passed to the centre who had nothing to do but put it in the net. Nearing the close, one or two nasty incidents occurred, some of them silly in the extreme, and it might have been to the benefit of future games had the referee intervened more strongly. The Ross-shire win, although handsome, was not altogether too convincing. There seemed something missing in the team construction. Scott was never really tested. Trail and Garrow, although not the ideal combination as backs, did all that was required of them. Garrow is a right back and was not at home in the left berth, and it is rather a pity that such a strong player should be sacrificed in a position for which he is not adapted. Trail, who has now played in every position on the field except goal, can always be depended upon to put up a show. On Saturday he got there, if at times his tactics as a defender were unorthodox. His powers of recovery stood him in good stead. The half-line cannot be improved upon. R. Garrow fulfilled his duties with creditable cleverness and understanding. He is a game, willing lad with plenty of football, and it will take a good one to displace him. Ramage generalled his men well. Discovering both his wingers at the top of their form, he took every chance to keep them supplied with the ball and consequently the Ross attack were ever dangerous. James Mackintosh got little or no room to move, the big County coach saw to that. Urquhart played aggressively and he and Cameron struck up a good game together. The complete forward line was successful as a whole. Mackay, especially in the first half, was superb. He made ground quickly, beating his man with the minimum of effort, while his crosses left little to be desired and were always a great source of danger to the Nairn defence, especially with a centre who can use his head as Aird can. Cowie was right on form. He was a pleasure to watch. Football radiates out from him. It gives him no effort to draw a defence and seldom does a ball from his boot go wrong. Aird’s usefulness to the County was again proved on Saturday. A born opportunist, on Saturday it was clearly evident how he topped the goal-scoring table last year. Maciver had to play himself into the inside-left position before he grew happy and useful. His slips to the wing and centre were always judicious, but he has yet to tumble to the knack of helping his defence when they are under pressure. Besides scoring a goal, Cameron had a direct hand in three others. He was very prominent on Saturday and as keen as mustard. Nairn's defence are worthy of high praise. The backs all through were under pressure but never lost heart. John Mackenzie wears well while John Mackintosh was a star at inside left, and his partner, Gray, also sparkled.