Date	Saturday, 14 August 1937
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Elgin City 3:5 Ross County
Venue	Borough Briggs
Referee	Mr Peter Craigmyle
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: R MacNeil, 2: Roddie Munro, 3: Alexander (Ackie) MacPherson, 4: A. MacDonald, 5: A Burnett, 6: J MacIntosh, 7: J.A MacKay 2, 8: James (Mollie) Ross, 9: Ernest Gowl 3, 10: ??? Cowie, 11: D. Ross
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report From the Ross-shire Journal. Elgin City 3 Ross County 5 Ross County went to Elgin with the best of hopes and without any sense of an inferiority complex. In several respects it was a new combination with a judicious blend of the old. Elgin are no novices. They played well; Ross County played better. That is all there is to it. The County team knit well together, even if players have still to know the individual moves of each other. But there was graft as well as craft in their display. Time will probably show it was no flash in the pan display. From the enthusiastic president, down the executive of the Committee, all deserve congratulations. Every supporter will hope that Elgin form will be kept up. A winning team commands good gates home and away. The County did not play as selected. Urquhart, who was working in Lochcarron, did not reach Dingwall in time to travel with the team; J. G. Mackay was detained owing to his banking duties, and D. Garrow, who was reserve, could not travel. Fortunately the Club was able to call upon John Macpherson, better known in the shinty than the football world. He took Urquhart's place at left back. He fully justified the confidence placed in him. Cool and reliable, he ably supported Munro, at the same time as he covered up Macneil. The other vacancy was filled by reserve A. Macdonald, Evanton. He also paid his way. Unfortunately heavy rain fell at the start of the game and the players found it somewhat difficult to keep their feet. The home team set a hot pace and within a minute were a goal up, Cormack netting after Macneil had cleverly fielded a hard drive from Rothnie. Dr Bain followed up with a fine effort for his team, his parting shot just going narrowly past the wrong side of the post. Gowl showed his opportunism, when after a scrimmage in front of the Elgin goal, he got the ball with his head, to equalise. It was a typical Gowl goal. The game proceeded on open lines, with much miskicking owing to the greasy ball. The Ross-shire men punted strongly. In this respect they were better than their opponents, who preferred to play carpet football. To an extent they succeeded and often attacked strongly, but when they reached scoring distance they were easily dispossessed. After Lowden had brought off a spectacular save from J. A. Mackay, the County went further ahead through Gowl, who pushed the ball through in a melee in front of goal. Just on half-time the City were awarded a penalty. Maclennan, the ex-Partick Thistle player, however, kicked the ball straight at Macneil, who brought off a brilliant save. This was the second occasion on which he had defied Maclennan. Elgin City opened with great energy on changing ends, and for a time they put on extreme pressure. They had much the better of the play in the open, but score they could not. It was at this point that Burnett showed his value. He took up the position of a third defender and with head and foot kept the eager Elgin forwards at bay. When he was passed, Munro and Macpherson were both sound, with Macneil a stumbling block to all who tried to beat him. Maclennan had two great headers and Cormack and Phinn had powerful drives. Macneil never faltered, although he was twice assisted by the crossbar. Such a pace could not be maintained, and when Ross County did get a look in they were more successful in the way of goals than their opponents. A faulty clearance by Lowden let J. A. Mackay in and he made no mistake. After half-an-hour's play in this half, Maclennan got away, and scored from close in, Macneil having no chance. This gave the home team inspiration, and two minutes later Rothnie headed home a fine cross from Dr Bain, to put the scores level. The excitement was now intense, and at a great pace the ball went from end to end. Fortune, however, was with the better finishing team. When J. A. Mackay rounded Grant and beat Lowden, the game was won and lost. In the closing minutes Gowl, with a characteristic effort brought the total to five, and at the same time secured his hat trick. Result—Elgin City, 3; Ross County, 5. The turning-point of the game was when Elgin failed with the penalty. Ross County never again looked back, notwithstanding the severe pressure early in the second half by Elgin. The home team was well served by their forwards and halves, except in actual goal-getting. It was their defence that was shaky. Ross County owe their win to the defence and Burnett, Gowl and Mackay. But all did well. From centre to outside right, the County was strong. The left wing was weaker, which was fortunate for Elgin. Calder and Ross have not yet got the necessary "understanding." It will come. J. Ross was serviceable if quiet; J. A. Mackay was rampant. Gowl was himself. The palm, however, must be handed to Burnett, and he well deserved the congratulations of Mr Malcolm MacDonald, M.P. for Ross and Cromarty, which he received at the close.