Date	Saturday, 31 January 1931
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 6:1 Nairn County
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Johnny Hart
Starting 11	1: Peter Brett, 2: Roddie Munro, 3: Sonny MacKenzie, 4: Dick Traill, 5: Ackie Urquhart, 6: Paulo Grant, 7: Ackie MacKay 1, 8: Dave Cowie 1, 9: Ian Aird 2, 10: Johnny Hart 2, 11: Charlie Cameron
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 6, Nairn County 1 Ross County’s victory over Nairn at Dingwall on Saturday was a massive success, as the score of 6-1 indicates. Nairn were plucky fighters and, if anything, gave more than their share in the first half, but they sorely missed an opportunist in the front rank. Scott, who took Morrison's place at centre-forward, put plenty of life into his play, but was unsteady when it came to shooting. There were at least four occasions in the first half when he should have netted. Trail made two miraculous appearances to clear when Scott was all but through; the centre completely missed another fine opening from Taylor when he had an open goal, and again he banged the ball hard against the crossbar, when a low tap would have found the net. The Nairn goal also had its escapes in this period, but not to the same extent, and altogether the first half was very interesting, the go-ahead methods of the Nairn forwards being particularly admired. Mackay scored Ross County’s one goal in this period, a long shot from the centre completely deceiving Leith, whose judgment was hampered by Aird’s attention. The second half opened briskly and it was early evident that Urquhart had tumbled to the centre-half position, as his mode of attack and defence had entirely changed and he held the Nairn forwards in a tight grip right from the beginning of play. Urquhart’s long passes up the centre allowed his forwards plenty of room to move, and goals were not long coming, Aird scoring off a movement started by Grant, who put out to Cameron, the winger’s cross being met by the centre’s head. The game now became one-sided. Nairn halves and backs could not hold the fast-moving Ross forwards, and it was good to see Mackay and Cameron responding so well to the promptings of Hart and Cowie. Indeed, Hart’s play was on a plane by itself. He splendidly led Cameron, drawing away all opposition and giving the winger a clear run. The Ross wing play improved a hundred per cent on Saturday, mainly due to Hart’s inclusion in the forward line. This was a comforting factor to the Ross-shire spectators, as wing play has been the weakest factor in the eleven since its foundation. Cowie had the next goal and it was a lovely drive, the scoring of which gave this youngster more confidence in himself and he went on to play a great game. Hart came away with the next point, beating four men to score with an unsavable shot, which shook the net in no uncertain manner. Aird scored the fifth goal, Gray replying with a point for Nairn, snatched owing to slackness in the County defence. A sixth goal for Ross County was got by Hart, and again Nairn came forward and Brett was beaten by Mackintosh before the game drew to a close. All over, the Ross team was a huge success. The two points Nairn did get were due to the defence taking things easy. Otherwise, Brett, Munro, and Mackenzie were ideally sound. Munro’s game keeps on improving, his fine tackling being particularly noticeable on Saturday. Trail was a conspicuous half-back throughout. In the first half his defensive work stood out, and as already mentioned, he saved what seemed two certain goals. Urquhart played his way into the centre-half berth. He was not happy in the first half, but thanks to instructions from Hart, he quickly tumbled to what was required and played a sterling game in the second period. He has fine judgment in placing his balls, is a deadly tackler, and excels in headwork, while his ball control is superb. Perhaps he lacks in training to maintain the constant exertion this position requires, but the stamina is there and only requires pulling out. Grant’s form as a left-half is always brilliant, and his football ever shrewd and entertaining. With a fine eye for defence, Grant was particularly clever in covering up Urquhart while not giving the veteran Taylor too much rope. The forward line played exceptionally well. The wing men were ideal. Aird was up amongst the goals throughout the day, though only credited with two. One went into the net just as the whistle was sounding, and another header was chalked off for offside, a very doubtful decision. Cowie, who hails from Beauly, coming there from Motherwell, is only seventeen, but his display assures him a place in the team. He is tall and heavily built for one of his years, and did much to establish himself as one with the spectators. He displayed clever football and after scoring the goal he got, he went more confidently into his work and revealed fine understanding of the game. Hart, as a player, is a real match winner. His display on Saturday went beyond praise, and with him forward, the County have a forward line that will be hard to subdue. Nairn’s goalkeeper played a brilliant game—Leith always does. Their backs were none too sure, as also was the half-line, but the forwards are a quick-moving line and made ground rapidly, none better than the veteran Chatter Taylor, who worked hard and effectively.