Date	Saturday, 25 November 1939
Competition	Highland Emergency League
Fixture/Score	Services XI 1:1 Ross County
Venue	Unknown
Referee	Mr. Tom MacLean
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: J MacKenzie, 2: G Ross, 3: ? Boyle, 4: A. MacDonald, 5: Adam Forsyth, 6: J Wood, 7: ??? Moffat, 8: ??? McCue, 9: Ernest Gowl 1, 10: J Birrell, 11: ??? Boal
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the North Star. Service XI 1 Ross County 1 Under trying conditions, a waterlogged pitch and a greasy ball, these two teams provided a dour fight. At times the interchanges became so keen that over-robust play was rather prevalent, but tempers fortunately did not get beyond control. The Services XI played real cup-tie football. With keen first-time tackling and kicking, they got rid of the ball quickly and used their fast forwards to the fullest extent. In comparison the County attack endeavoured to play good football. Such tactics were fatal against a defence that stood no ceremony, and cleared the lines without the least hesitation. In the opening half the County were hard pressed and distinctly fortunate to keep their goal intact. That they achieved this was largely due to the strong defensive work of Forsyth at centre-half, who repeatedly saved his goal by clever head-work. The Services forwards were also at fault in not taking the fullest advantage of their openings, several fine chances being frittered away by weak finishing. During the second period the County were much more impressive and held command of the game until a rousing finish by the homesters enabled them to get a well-deserved division of the points. Ross County played disappointingly and with the exception of Mackenzie, goalkeeper, and Forsyth, centre-half, the team was much below its usual form, the forwards failing to adapt themselves to the go-ahead style of football played by the opposition. The outstanding player afield was Stoddard, the home centre-half. He dominated the play, his defensive and offensive work being superb. As bright in their movements were Ferguson and Girvan on the left wing, the latter causing the visiting defence endless anxiety and trouble. In fact at no time was the wingman completely subdued, having invariably the better of the many exchanges with the County defence. Within a few minutes County almost took the lead, McCue sending narrowly over the cross-bar. Then Girvan twice struck the side net with shots which had Mackenzie well beaten. With McCue off injured the Services harassed County defence, and Cameron missed a grand chance by shooting wide, while Ferguson severely tested Mackenzie with a hard drive. From thirty yards Birrell sent a foul-kick right into the goal-mouth and Graham did well to deflect the ball into corner. The home centre, Robson, raced through, but Mackenzie smartly cleared his parting effort. Fine play by the Services right wing presented Cameron with an open goal but he finished badly. County were lucky that they were not in arrears at the interval. Right from the re-start County went on the attack and in a few minutes took the lead. Gowl had no difficulty in beating Graham off Moffat's cross. Girvan was prominent in the Services left wing but he secured little support from his clubmates. Then Moffat got clear away only for Graham to make a miraculous save. From this point the Services regained their first-half briskness and after three successive corners were rightly rewarded with the equaliser. Cameron's oblique shot completely deceived Mackenzie. Until the close both teams fought hard for the winning point, but neither side succeeded, although the Services had several good efforts frustrated by the brilliancy of Mackenzie.