Date	Saturday, 10 January 1931
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:1 Buckie Thistle
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Johnny Hart
Starting 11	1: Peter Brett, 2: Roddie Munro, 3: Ackie Urquhart, 4: Dick Traill, 5: Johnny Hart, 6: Paulo Grant, 7: D Sutherland, 8: A Kerr 1, 9: D MacLeod, 10: Ackie MacKay 1, 11: Charlie Cameron
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 2 Buckie Thistle 1 Both Aird (centre forward) and Mackenzie (left back) were absentees from the Ross County eleven which faced and defeated Buckie Thistle at Dingwall on Saturday, by two goals to one. This did not tend to lend confidence to the home spectators, and although Urquhart, playing at left back, put up a game which would be hard to beat, Macleod, from Alness, did not have the experience of Aird, nor the shooting abilities and self-reliance which characterises the County centre's play. Had Aird been fit, he certainly would have reaped a harvest of goals. The outstanding events of the match were the great game put up by Johnny Hart; Cameron’s delightful work on the left wing, and the brilliant game played by Munro and Urquhart. To the latter pair goes all the credit for holding Buckie out, especially in the first half when they had to kick into a tricky wind on a pitch which was little better than a quagmire. Brett was seldom troubled, but when in action there was a confidence about his work which radiated out to the rest of the team. Buckie's goal, which was the first point scored and allowed them to cross over with the lead, was a brilliant shot. Lowe, the Buckie centre forward from Falkirk, got the ball in the penalty box, and finding Hay, the outside left, unmarked, slipped it to him. Hay made no mistake, the ball travelling hard across goal to the left corner of the net. Brett got down to it, but owing to the soft state of the ground, he lost speed in his dive. The Ross-shire half-back line was excellent and, although up against an exceptionally clever forward line and bearing the brunt of persistent Buckie attacks in the first half, invariably had the better of the exchanges. Trail put in a hefty day's work and at the end was full of running, and this on a muddy, sticky surface. Hart, as already mentioned, was outstanding. He early realised Cameron’s worth on the left wing and exploited it to good purpose His long swinging passes out to the left were reminiscent of Pirie and delivered with an accuracy bordering on the uncanny. Hart outgeneralled Lowe every time, and in forcing home his advantages he added the sting to the forward line which was sorely lacking. The County's first goal came from Hart's work. He shot high into goal; Bowie breasted the ball down, and before the defence could recover, Macleod had the ball in the net. Grant, at left half, has returned to his old form. Up against the famous Mackintosh and Murray wing, he gave them little room and tackled with deadly precision, while displaying fine anticipation in covering up Hart when the latter was forcing the game among his forwards. Cameron was easily the pick of the forwards, with Mackay closely following him. Cameron's work was without blemish. He had the Buckie defence in a knot, and it was a pity indeed that the inside forwards could not make more use of the chances he made for them. Kerr got the winning goal. Mackay, who had gone to centre forward, miskicked, the ball slipping off his boot to the wing. Kerr breasted it between the backs and drove hard past Wood into the net. Kerr was not too fortunate with his work on Saturday, but improved as the game went on. A damaged eye, sustained early on, handicapped him greatly. Macleod, the new recruit from Alness, when he got over a not unnatural stage fright, showed that he knows the game and can shoot, but it was not a centre forward's day. The footing was all against quick turning and forward rushes. Mackay played a forcing game and is a real live wire, giving glimpses of real good football. He has a powerful kick for his size and uses either foot with comfort. County are indeed in luck to have him in the team. Sutherland was not happy on the muddy field and did not get going, while his crosses were too often wide. The game all over was a dour, fast and exciting struggle. In the first half, Wood, the Buckie goalkeeper, had only about three balls to handle although constantly kept on the qui vive, while Brett got more work, but in the second half, it was Brett who got the spectator’s job. The closing minutes were very exciting, and for a time near the end, it looked as if Buckie were to pull off a draw, especially at the time when Urquhart dribbled himself into a hopeless tangle and was robbed of the ball. However, Maclennan’s shot was wide, much to the relief of the home crowd.