Date	Saturday, 30 November 1946
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:3 Inverness Thistle
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee	]. Whitecross
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: Fred Newton, 2: DD Forsyth, 3: Jock Finlay, 4: Dave Ross, 5: John Patience, 6: Adam Forsyth, 7: Frankie MacBeath, 8: ??? Rankine, 9: Charles (Chic) Ogilvie 1, 10: Alick Ferguson, 11: Davie Lawson
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 1 Inverness Thistle 3 This was a patchy game at Dingwall, with occasional bright displays by both teams. But there was a difference. Thistle consisted of eleven men inspired by the team spirit—one for all and all for one. Ross County consisted of eleven individualists. As always should, the latter suffered defeat. The Thistle halves and forwards worked like a machine. The movements were calculated and the understanding between the players was marvellous. Even the most unorthodox moves were anticipated. The Ross County defence had a gruelling time, and it was fortunate that Newton was in his best form. All on his own he several times defied the eager Thistle forwards. And all this despite the heavy, sodden and at places waterlogged ground. Conversely, Ross County's efforts appeared clumsy. The players had as much of the ball as the Thistle. The forwards often got away on the run, a pass would be sent out to the wing, only to be intercepted by a pool of water, which arrested the movement. There may have been an element of luck or misfortune in that, but why should Dame Fortune be so unkind to Ross County? As a Dingwall fan afterwards said:— "It all boils down to this," Ross County had five forwards, all good, able, enthusiastic and full of endeavour. But they lacked support behind, with the result that the two inside forwards had to forage for the ball and bring it up before they could feed their front line supports. The six men behind concentrated on defence and in consequence there was an unoccupied gap of about 40 yards between defence and attack, in which space the Thistle half-backs had a picnic. Patience early realised that his backs required assistance and therefore could do little to assist his forwards. The wing halves also fell back. The lesson to be learned, as a spectator put it, is that Ross County must realise that they are one eleven and not eleven ones. Newton was the hero in the defence; Patience as untiring as ever, and the forwards all good, although the heavy going did not favour Lawson, Ross showed much promise in the half-line and deserves further recognition. Mapplebeck was outstanding for the Thistle and brought off some clever saves in goal, if he had to thank the cross-bar and an upright for invaluable assistance on two occasions. The backs were not conspicuous, but Urquhart was a good half. In the vanguard, Macleod and Pyke shone. Thistle's first goal came early and was a surprise. Patience slipped in the mud and Pyke was left with an open goal from six yards. Newton had no chance to save. Within minutes Ogilvie equalised. It was a peach of a cross by Rankine, and the ball went past Mapplebeck like a rocket from Ogilvie's head. Another Macleod-Pyke movement gave the Thistle the lead. In the second half the ball accidentally struck D. Forsyth on the knee and went into his own goal.