Date	Saturday, 12 September 1936
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:3 Wick Academy
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee	Mr. T. Maclean
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: R MacNeil, 2: Willie (Wicky) Spence, 3: J Stewart, 4: J.G MacKay, 5: Robert Corbett, 6: J.A MacKay, 7: D. Sutherland, 8: E Gillies, 9: Morgan MacKay 1, 10: D Bowie, 11: D. Ross
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the North Star. Ross County 1 Wick Academy 3 For the second time in their history, Ross County have been knocked out in the first round of the Qualifying Cup. On Saturday last, they were defeated at home by their northern rivals Wick Academy, who displayed superior cup-fighting abilities. From the outset it was obvious that the quick, bustling tactics of their opponents would trouble the County, and although youth displayed enterprising resource in the first half, in the latter period the stamina of the much heavier Academy told its tale. The County were not allowed to settle down to their usual style. When the young home team did make a fight of it to the extent of causing their opponents many anxious moments, which might have resulted, with some luck, in the Academy having to face an unsurmountable deficit at the interval, the County failed to take full advantage of the supremacy because they had not a schemer of J. A. Mackay's ability. His forced absence was a great loss and a deciding factor in the ultimate result. Mackay's experience and brainy play would have been of great value to his club. At the time they were on top his coolness and punch in the goalmouth would have led to more goals being registered, while his example would have been a spur to his clubmates to greater efforts. As it happened, one was inclined to form the opinion that the County were taking matters too easily and particularly after they opened the scoring. Following the goal, the Academy fell away and had sustained pressure been applied on their defence there was no doubt they would have fallen to pieces. As it was their halves and backs were glad to get rid of the ball at any cost and to find relief by playing into touch. Having survived the first half storm, the Academy made certain that the second half was not to be a repetition. They boldly took the offensive and reaped victory because the home backs faltered badly when subjected to quick and dangerous raids. In fact, none of the visitors' three goals were classical. They were the work of the centre, Mulraine, who did not hesitate to have a try at goal when the least opportunity came. It was his snappiness alone that earned for him a worthy hat-trick. Although Mulraine played a great part in his club's success the major honour of qualifying for the second round must go to Rutherford, the centre-half. One is accustomed to seeing many fine pivots in Highland teams but Rutherford outshone them all. After Morgan Mackay scored he never allowed the centre the least scope to get in even another shot at goal, so well did he police the County leader's movements. Rutherford's most brilliant play, however, was when the homesters strove hard to stage a closing rally. On many occasions such a desperate revival would have succeeded but against Rutherford its force was spent. The tall centre-half with head and foot defied the County attacks, clearing his citadel with such confidence that he won the admiration of friend and foe alike. He was the stumbling block to the County's path to success, and in saying he was the finest pivot who has ever appeared at Victoria Park, one is not flattering his undoubted merits. He is too good for his class and would receive a place in the higher grades of football if he desired it. Rarely have the home wingers been so little seen. They were seldom utilised as a means of attack, and it was amazing to witness how Gillies and Bowie persisted in the futile method of sending the ball down to the centre instead of passing out to the wings. The only players who seemed to realise that wing play was more effective were the halves. The very few bright flashes down the touch-line that did occur invariably originated from the intermediate line. In the first minutes Ross County forced the pace but Wick soon returned the attack. For a period mid-field play followed. Chisholm, Academy, however, was the first to cause the homesters anxiety when his shot flashed past the upright, while Boyd was also not far off the mark. At the visiting end, Robertson saved brilliantly from J. G. Mackay, at the expense of a fruitless corner. In a head collision both Banks (Wick) and Bowie (County) received severe cuts. This handicap proved serious to the County player, for his left eye was shut during the remainder of the game. From this stage County were on top but their attack could not get near enough to test Robertson. Boyd then raced to the home end where he had a good try. Distinctly the more aggressive, the County harassed the Academy defence and Morgan Mackay was unlucky with a fine effort. From a corner forced by Chisholm the ball was cleared to Morgan Mackay, who sent his winger Sutherland away on the right. Eluding the defence, Sutherland centred beautifully and the home centre found the net with a well-taken shot. This reverse infused more spirit into the visitors and play became much faster. After the home goal had survived two narrow escapes, the County redoubled their efforts and Bowie sent a hard drive flashing past the upright. A few minutes later, J. G. Mackay struck the cross-bar with a terrific shot, Robertson being well beaten. Although the County were easily the superior team their forwards lacked punch at the goalmouth with the result that many good chances went abegging. In fact, it was obvious the homesters' attack was too elaborate in its movements thereby giving the visitors' defence time to recover their position and also numerous opportunities to clear their lines at random. For their supremacy in the outfield, two or three goals at the interval would have been in keeping instead of a solitary goal. Wick resumed with more eagerness and in the early minutes the home goal was in jeopardy. Haggerty missed a good opening when he sent a foul kick wide of the side post. The County's goal, however, did fall within ten minutes, when Chisholm rounded Spence. The winger centred and Mulraine had no difficulty in equalising. The homesters became more impressive but further disaster came their way in another five minutes, Mulraine, profiting by a defensive error, added the second, from what appeared to be an off-side position. Shortly after he completed his hat-trick, Macneil failing to hold his shot, which passed into the net. This roused the County and a foul outside the penalty box presented them with a glorious chance but Bowie failed to turn it to good account. The homesters now applied intense pressure but their endeavours proved futile against an opposition that had in Rutherford, centre-half, the best defender afield. J. A. Ross (left half) then assayed a try at goal but his shot was just off the mark. Sutherland, who had very little to do, made progress on the home right. He tricked the defence but no clubmate was in position to snap up the gift opening. The Academy backs, at this critical time, played grandly and although their clearances often found the touch-line, nevertheless they never faltered. Morgan Mackay completely overshadowed by Rutherford, tried hard to open up the game, repeatedly heading and touching the ball back to his inside men but his supports, somehow, did not rise to the occasion by showing their usual initiative of bringing their wingers into action. To the last whistle the County fought doggedly to retrieve matters but nothing seemed to come off. During the Ross men's desperate rally, the Academy preferred to concentrate on defensive tactics, showing praiseworthy determination to hold their substantial lead. Even their attack at times fell back to assist the halves and thus the home goal was rarely in further danger of again falling. The County went out of the cup because they did not seize their opportunities in the first period.