Date	Saturday, 07 January 1989
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:0 Fraserburgh
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: John Sutter, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Scott Lemmon, 4: Cameron Robertson, 5: Dave Bellshaw, 6: Don Cowie (SNR), 7: Keith (Billy) Ferries 1, 8: David MacRae, 9: Davie Jackson 1, 10: Alex (Nero) McDonald, 11: Albert Allan
Bench	0: Alan Robertson, 0: John MacDonald
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 2 Fraserburgh 0 ROSS COUNTY continued their winning streak on Saturday with an accomplished victory over Fraserburgh on a very heavy, strength-sapping pitch, which dictated that play should, where possible, be concentrated on the wings, free from the glue-like conditions in the centre-field. And it was on the wings that County showed their qualities and their goal scoring ability. Saturday’s win was their sixth in seven games—a first-class record, and no flash-in-the-pan, for the opposition has been anything but mediocre and included the illustrious Caley! The sole defeat over this period was at home to Peterhead, and even then it was by the odd goal, as had been previous home defeats by Keith and Elgin City, whose scalp had been there for the taking. On Saturday first, County have another home game, and on this occasion, the opposition is to be provided by Lossiemouth. It is to be hoped the victory-wagon continues on its merry way. There had been some doubt about whether Saturday’s game was to have gone ahead because of the condition of the pitch in the centre-field, but the ministrations of George Barnetson and his assistant David Hamilton provided a playing surface that was acceptable to the official concerned. Recourse to this week’s “Forty-Four Years Ago” column elicits the information that on the same Saturday in 1945, Dingwall Thistle played a Royal Artillery team on a similar surface and suffered a heavy defeat, so this condition of the pitch is nothing new for Victoria Park. However, it was obvious that it would be more expedient on the day to make full use of the wings, and this Ross County proceeded to do, benefiting as a result with a quite remarkable second goal from Billy Ferries. In the 86th minute, a long ball had been played out of defence wide to the wing, and presented Billy with a race for possession with the Fraserburgh centre-back. Billy won by inches, picking the ball up as the defender lunged at him and skidded yards past the winger. From a distance of 45 yards, Billy ran in on goal, cutting across the 18-yard line and scoring with a brilliantly struck left-foot shot, which gave the keeper no chance. This was at a time when second-half pressure was on the verge of winning a reward for the efforts of the Broch team, who were putting the County defence under steady pressure and coming close to scoring on several occasions. David Jackson had been on target in the 31st minute, when he maintained his goal-a-game series, which includes his hat-trick against Caley. Earlier he had broken through and his shot was tipped over the bar by the keeper. Then Albert Allan missed scoring on another occasion, as did Jackson with an open goal. The new role of Chris Somerville in midfield has brought more power to the attack, and on Saturday he ably filled the breach caused by the absence of Gordon Connelly, who has been suspended—they certainly look alike on the field of play. Chris was always in the thick of it, pushing an attack forward or thwarting the efforts of his opponents on the break. A header by Bellshaw was tipped over the bar by the keeper, and then in the 31st minute, a corner from Cammie Robertson on the left was headed home by Jackson, the ball scraping in low down at the post. Scott Lemmon just missed scoring with a header, which the keeper held on the line. The referee was prepared to award a goal, but the linesman indicated otherwise. Ferries was having some beautiful runs down the wing, but his colleagues just failed to capitalise on his services—Macdonald headed one cross over the bar; and then from a corner kick, Jackson’s shot on the turn was brilliantly pushed away for a corner by the keeper. Then in the 86th minute, Ferries scored to round off an outstanding second-half display.