Date	Saturday, 16 October 1937
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:0 Keith
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee	Mr. T. Maclean
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: A Ross, 2: Roddie Munro, 3: ??? Brindle, 4: J.G MacKay, 5: A Burnett, 6: J MacIntosh, 7: J.A MacKay, 8: James (Mollie) Ross, 9: Ernest Gowl 1, 10: L Calder, 11: W Patterson
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 1 Keith 0 The attendance at this match at Dingwall on Saturday was not so large as was expected. After Ross County’s victory at Keith the previous week it was anticipated that many would have wanted to see the teams who had opposed each other in the Qualifying Cup tie. As it happened, neither club was able to field the same team. Keith were compelled to make no fewer than five changes; Ross County had two, which changed three positions. Macneil, for business reasons, could not turn out, which is justifiable. Urquhart’s employment took him far away to Lochmaddy. The natural move was to put Burnett in Urquhart’s place. Then a left back was wanted. J. Macpherson, an old Ross County standby, who made his reputation against Galston in 1933, was called upon. He was found to be in hospital in Wick, suffering from an injury at his work. Brindle, last year’s back, was fortunately available and he readily accepted the vacancy. Ross, from Ardgay, another past Ross County player, took Macneil’s place. Both teams were keenly interested in the result of this game, notwithstanding the previous Saturday’s result in the Qualifying Cup competition. Keith had only lost one game in the League; Ross County had lost two. Both are possible League champions. All over, however, the game did not realise expectations. Actually it was good and bad in parts; there were moments full of thrills; there was much that was lackadaisical; yet an interesting 90 minutes’ exhibition was served up. Keith won the toss and secured the advantage of a strong breeze blowing from the South end of the field. Ross County pressed and Priestley, to ease the situation, kicked back to Bremner, who fumbled the ball, which went bye. It was fortunate that the goal was not in the way. However, it was the only mistake that Bremner made during the game, in which, on occasion, he gave a brilliant display of goalkeeping. The wind did not appear to be of much advantage to Keith because the Ross County men were keeping the ball low and making rapid progress on both wings. Gowl got the first chance and he was unfortunate to fall on the ball when trying to stop it going over the bye-line. A clever tackle by J. G. Mackay saw “J.A.” get away on the right. He slipped a perfect pass to James Ross, who shot hard. Bremner brought off a graceful clutch and save. At this point it was all Ross County and they got their merited reward. J. A. Mackay crossed into goal. The ball landed among a crowd of players. From foot to foot it passed; even the uprights played their part. Eventually the ball went into the net off Gowl. Continuing to hold the mastery, Ross County should have counted through Calder and Gowl. The former shot over the bar when well placed and the latter, from a break-away, sent a powerful shot into Bremner’s hands. It was a capital save. Then J. A. Mackay shot past after a perfect triangular movement between J. G., Ross and himself. Calder was unfortunate when a rasping shot from his foot was blocked. The ball lay behind him, but without his knowledge. It was an open goal had he just known. Both Gowl and Paterson were prominent, but Bremner defied them. Keith revived and in a spell of attack they ought to have equalised. The crossbar and both side posts intervened and eventually they were repulsed. J. A. Mackay was away on his own for goal when the half-time whistle blew. The County should have been at least three goals up at the change over. Keith started the second half in businesslike fashion and for a few minutes they held the ascendancy. Two corners in succession were forced but nothing occurred. James Ross relieved the pressure with a solitary run, but his parting effort was weak. Back came Keith but Cruickshank spoiled a good movement when he shot over the bar. Burnett, from a free kick, shot narrowly past. Mid-way in this half the pace decreased and play became somewhat tame. There were moments of excitement, but they were few and far between, neither team looking like scoring. Near the end, however, Keith staged an offensive and to some purpose. For a period they had the Ross County defence rattled. With a little luck they ought to have counted. Ross saved well on one occasion from a crowd of opponents, but a few minutes later a melee in front of goal might have meant anything. As it happened, Ross County’s lines were cleared. In the end the home team turned the course of play and when the final whistle blew they were attacking. The result 1-0 in favour of Ross County is a fair reflex of the play. For Keith, Priestley gave a masterly display at centre-half; Bremner gave a great display in goal and Mitchell was the better back. Cruickshank was the most outstanding forward. Munro played a good game at back for the County; Burnett was brilliant as substitute for Urquhart until he was injured before half-time. He had great support on his left and right. The forwards did not move so freely as usual, although no complaint can be made against any of them. After all they can only do what their opponents permit them to do.