Date	Saturday, 12 October 1929
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:1 Forres Mechanics
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Thomas (Tom) Pirie
Starting 11	1: R. Campbell, 1: R Johnstone, 3: Robert Munro, 4: Murdo Cameron, 5: Thomas Pirie, 6: ??? MacLeman, 7: ??? Patience, 8: Hugh Strachan, 9: A Morrison, 10: Dave MacKenzie 2, 11: Charlie Cameron
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 2, Forres Mechanics 1 The correspondent in last week’s “Ross-shire Journal” who stressed the importance of leadership in ensuring sound direction and positional play may have congratulated himself on Saturday’s result. Tom Pirie made all the difference in every way. His own play was most intriguing, and he kept his team together; this led to victory. Also, the Selection Committee may each have patted the other’s back for the team changes which, venturing greatly, they once more introduced. Handicapped with an arm damaged at Huntly, Macleman was still full value for his place; Patience’s speed, and his weight and his persistency, made up for any deficiency due to a lack of practice. Young Cameron, who is a son of Dr. Cameron, Fortrose, and who gained his experience with the Fortrose Academicals, is truly a find. The youngest player afield, if light he is agile, and, as a ringside voice said, “the boy has football in him.” At outside left, cleverly supported by Strachan, he gave the noted right half of the Mechanics a bad afternoon. Another Cameron, a sturdy young Conon player, did well. Morrison’s crosses from the right were a feature, and Dave Mackenzie was at his best. No one will say the team could be bettered. In the main, it should be persevered with. One eminently satisfactory feature is the wide range of selection of players. Ross County worthily represents not only Dingwall, but various parts and points regarding the residence of players. The fact broadens interest in the Club. The attendance on Saturday is proof of the attractiveness of a real County team. The game had many thrills. That free kick of Pirie’s from the wing, upon which at the goal mouth a County head seemed to beat the goalkeeper (the referee, in a position to judge, declared otherwise), will be long remembered. Dave Mackenzie’s goal (his second, for he scored both) followed an elusive solo break through. Young Cameron got more than one cheer for beating his man and sending in shots which brilliant goalkeeping frustrated, and Morrison’s crosses were beauties every time. But to describe the game: It opened very sedately and both teams took time to settle. During this period, the chief incident was when Dickie got through the defence, and, although faced only by Campbell, sent the ball soaring over the bar. Matters livened a little after this, and Dave Mackenzie gave Mackenzie in the Forres goal a fright. Pirie was feeding the extreme men to perfection and both responded well. Morrison took his passes smartly and invariably beat his half-back. His crosses also were beautifully timed and always dangerous. One shot on his own just grazed the cross-bar, with the goalkeeper helpless. Then came Dave Mackenzie’s goal. The ball came from Macleman to Morrison, who crossed; W. Mackenzie blocked it, but Ross County’s Mackenzie caught the rebound and from 20 yards sent in a shot which deceived the goalkeeper and passed just below the bar, well out of his reach. The feature of the goal was the manner in which the Ross County centre manoeuvred for position before he shot. There was no more scoring during this half, but the County were always the more dangerous team. They deserved their lead of a goal. Young Cameron at outside left came more into prominence in the second half. He trapped the ball cleverly and invariably slipped his opponent to cross promptly. But the whole front line was playing well, although perhaps not as a combined whole; Strachan and Cameron were the only two who played to each other, but the others as individuals were always dangerous, and particularly Mackenzie and Patience. On two occasions the latter ploughed through on his own and luck alone kept him from scoring. The County continued to have the better of the game and when Mackenzie registered his second, they were worthy of the two-goal lead. Then came the surprise of the game. The home team were awarded a penalty, although no one (unless the referee) knew what for. No one seemed to grumble when Munro put the ball to the goalkeeper, who saved smartly. The resultant corner was also cleared. Incidents came fast after this. Morrison had a great but unsuccessful attempt to score. Pirie, from well out, sent in a lightning shot which just passed the right post. Ross County failed to convince the referee that they were entitled to a penalty. Forres scored a goal. It was a curious goal. Forres got a throw-in. Shand, who was on the line, signalled with his flag for a foul throw. Several of the players stood still; the referee paid no attention and before the hesitating players had recovered, Williamson had Campbell beaten with a swift ground shot. The game fizzled out after this, with the home lot always the more dangerous.