Date	Saturday, 24 February 1934
Competition	North of Scotland Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:3 Forres Mechanics
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee	Mr. Rees
Ross County
Manager	The Management Committee
Starting 11	1: R. (Scout) MacKenzie, 2: Dave MacKenzie, 3: Thomas Anderson, 4: Roddie Garrow, 5: Albert MacRae, 6: J. MacLeod, 7: William MacKenzie, 8: William Skinner, 9: Ian Aird, 10: James (Mollie) Ross 2, 11: William Bowie
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 2 Forres Mechanics 3 Ross County met Forres Mechanics in the first round of the North of Scotland Cup competition at Victoria Park, Dingwall, on Saturday. Following the County’s feat in the Scottish Qualifying Cup competition, a large crowd came to see the team that had made history. Unfortunately, the home team could not field its full complement of players. Macpherson had not recovered from his injury at Coatbridge, and his place was taken by D. Mackenzie, Golspie, who has previously assisted the County. Mackay was still unavailable, but Skinner was fortunately—or unfortunately, as it happened—able to play and he came in at inside right. The visitors had out their best team. The following lined up in front of Mr Rees, Aberdeen: The visitors lost the toss and were set to face a slight breeze and the glare of a setting sun, neither of which, however, proved a serious handicap. Forres went off with a rush and within seconds Stewart, from a difficult angle, sent the ball hard past the post. The County retaliated and Skinner “foozled” a promising opening. Fast, open play followed, the ball travelling with great rapidity from end to end. Weakness in the front of the County goal assisted Forres and Dickie forced a corner. He centred splendidly but “hands” relieved the situation for the home side. At the other end a cross from Bowie was too rapid for Aird, who appeared somewhat slow. Aird retrieved himself immediately by letting Bowie away with a neatly placed ball. Bowie tested Grant, who, however, fielded the ball confidently. The next incident was a beautiful head shot by Shaw, which Mackenzie was glad to punt out with his left hand at full stretch. It was a narrow escape. A concerted attack by the home forwards looked dangerous, but Bowie got offside. Then Skinner got in a shot from 30 yards which just skimmed the crossbar. Good support by Williamson let the Forres vanguard away and for a period they gave the County defence a melting time. Such pressure was bound to tell. After Mackenzie had saved a strong kick from Dickie at point-blank range, Stewart caught the return and shot into an unguarded corner of the goal. No one could grudge Forres the score. Encouraged, Forres became confident and indulged in some clever but unprofitable play. The forwards and half-backs combined nicely and the play was pretty to watch. But the customary punishment followed. Frequently Ross County got away. On one occasion Skinner was crowded out when well placed. Aird also had a try, while Garrow forced a corner on his own. Bowie took the kick, but eventually a head put the ball over the bar. Macleod had a shot, which Grant saved at the off-post. It was a perfect shot, perfectly saved. More spectacular play by Forres followed and then came the equaliser. Macleod gave to Bowie, who ran with the ball to the line and crossed. It flashed past Aird, but Skinner trapped it and coolly sent it to the back of the net. Skinner was the opportunist, but it was Macleod and especially Bowie who worked for the point. Ross County were now playing better and Forres were hard put to it, even to the extent of kicking out, to save their lines. From a strong throw-in by Garrow, Ross got possession, hesitated a second and then drove for goal. Grant rose to it, but the ball struck the under part of the crossbar and fell into the net. Till half-time the home lot held the upper hand but did not increase their score, although Macrae did make one valiant attempt. Resuming, Forres repeated the tactics adopted at the opening of the game. They started like a whirlwind and before a minute had passed they had registered the equaliser. It was the result of a corner kick taken by Stewart. The ball came to Shaw, who was unmarked, and Mackenzie had no chance to stop it. Forres were now in the ascendency and they played strong, forceful football. Fast on the ball, which swung from wing to wing, they kept Macrae very busy assisting his backs. In between Aird and Mackenzie had a chance, but it went abegging. Then came disaster. Skinner, who perhaps had been the best forward on the field, and certainly the best of the County quintette, got seriously injured. He was rushing forward with the ball and as he made to drive it goalwards, Williamson blocked it. The sound was heard all over the field. For an instant Skinner stood dazed and then collapsed to the ground. He was carried off and attended to by Dr Johnstone, who was present. Later Skinner had to be removed to hospital with a dislocated ankle. Meantime play had been resumed. For a few minutes the County held their own, but with the forward line disorganised, the Forres defence was so little troubled that they were able to assist their forwards, who attacked with great persistency. Corner followed corner and from one of these further disaster accrued. Dickie placed a corner kick parallel with the near goalpost. Macrae was standing at the post, the ball struck his body and slipped inside the goalmouth. It was an unfortunate goal, but the count could scarcely be denied Forres on play. Further misfortune befell the County when Ross was injured in a similar tackle to that of Skinner and by the same Forres player. Ross was carried off the field, but was able to resume, limping, within five minutes. While he was off the field, however, Macleod was laid out and had to be attended to at the side. Thus for a brief time the County faced 11 men with 8. The result was inevitable. But the Mechanics could not increase their total and the game finished Ross County 2, Forres Mechanics 3. In the latter half it was not a good game to witness. The accidents were too frequent and suggested rougher play than was necessary. The Forres defence was too heavy and strong for the County “rabbits.” The County came out of the game with all honours, although defeated on goals.