Date	Saturday, 28 December 1929
Competition	Highland League
Fixture/Score	Nairn County 2:2 Ross County
Venue	Station Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Thomas (Tom) Pirie
Starting 11	1: Jackie Cross, 2: Robert Munro, 3: R Johnstone, 4: Dick Traill, 5: Paulo Grant, 6: Tom Young, 7: A Morrison 1, 8: Ackie MacKay, 9: J Stewart 1, 10: ??? Patience, 11: Charlie Cameron
Bench
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Nairn County 2 Ross County 2 Ross County's journey to Nairn on Saturday was productive of one valuable point. They defeated Nairn earlier this season, but as Nairn can only produce their best eleven near the end of the season when the players return to the fishing, a keen game was anticipated. The pitch was treacherous and the ball was fast and dangerous, the ball rebounding off the hardened surface with great speed. Nairn kicked off, but Ross took up the attack, until a foul off Mackay was followed by one off Young. Cross had a fine save off the latter’s place kick, and again Cross did well to hold a close shot from Mackintosh. Leith then confidently held a fast ball from Grant although Stewart pressed him sorely. Stewart was again prominent, but play transferred to the other end, where Young had to give away a corner to clear. From the kick, the ball bobbed round the Ross goal for a considerable time but ultimately went out of play. Nairn should have scored here. A breakaway on the Ross left was crowned with success, Stewart following up a pass up the centre, cleverly directing the ball past Leith into the net. Nairn got busy forward, but Morrison caught a clearance by Munro and worked a corner. The kick was headed narrowly over the bar by Mackay. Glass broke away on Nairn’s left, and sent in a dangerous centre, Johnstone however cleverly clearing. Nairn pressed still harder, and Cross did well to hold a ball close to the post. Trail saved a certain score, when he bowled over Glass who was manoeuvring for position. Ross were having the best of matters up to now, but Nairn were dangerous in their breakaways, and when Grant put over a fine centre, Mackintosh should have scored. From a corner taken by Cameron, Young had a good effort blocked, then Leith saved from Stewart, and minutes after, Leith again became prominent, saving a low hard shot from Stewart. Morrison did well to cut a stray ball in but it went by. Charlie Cameron followed up and was nearly through, but Nicol beat him. A slip by Munro should have been scored, but Johnstone had a miraculous clearance. Nairn were doing the pressing hereabout. Johnstone was on form, and kicked from all angles. He and Munro played with fine understanding during heavy pressure, and it was only their sterling defensive tactics that held Nairn out. Tommy Young relieved the pressure by breaking through on his own. He worked into shooting position but Nicol blocked the shot, the ball going into corner, just missing the post. Young was worthy of a score. A foul kick for Nairn looked dangerous to the visitors but Grant cleared. The ball returned and Trail had to corner when closely pressed. Cross however cleared from the kick. Half-time came with the Ross-shire lads worthy of their one goal lead. Ross opened the second half merrily, and before many minutes had elapsed Morrison scored a brilliant goal. Kicking right from the touch line, he beat Leith all ends up, Leith being hampered by the close attention of Stewart. Pressure by Ross was resumed, but Nairn broke through. Munro lost his tackle due to the treacherous ground, and Glass passed to Mackintosh, who from an unmarked position shot well and truly home. It was a bonny goal, and the leading up to it was not less so. Cross got no chance with Mackintosh’s parting shot. Heartened by their success, Nairn resumed the offensive, and Ross have to thank Trail for brilliantly clearing when it looked as if nothing would stop Glass from getting through. Stewart got away from an up-the-centre pass by Grant. He beat the back but Leith effected a clever clearance. A few minutes later Leith again showed his mettle by another brilliant save from the centre forward. All looked lost for Ross when Glass again got through, but Trail held him up at great personal risk. Trail was a tower of strength in the defence at this period. Nairn kept hammering Ross and deserved a score. Young went off hurt but was back in a few minutes although he received a bad crack on the face with the ball. Numerous attacks by Ross were held up by the fine work of Nicol and Leith, especially the latter, whose display was superb. Mackintosh broke through on his own, but Johnstone sent him flying, and the referee awarded a penalty. The kick was taken by Mackenzie who made sure work of it. Nairn went all out to win, and Trail again saved a desperate situation. Morrison got away and sent across to Cameron, who shot wide when well placed. Glass had a splendid shot but luckily for Ross the ball went wide. Nairn were enthusiastic and gave Ross defence no end of trouble. Allen, their centre half, played like one possessed, but they could not break down Ross defence. Grant relieved the pressure and let Morrison away, but the latter player missed a most likely chance. Nairn were back at Cross again, but the goalkeeper was in sparking form. The more pressure he came under the more sure were his clearances. Just on time, Nairn came near to winning, but Munro got his boot to the ball and drove to the corner. The whistle went before the kick could be taken, which was just as well for Ross, as the light was bad and the Nairn outside men are adepts at placing corner kicks. The Nairn team fielded on Saturday was a huge improvement on the side which was defeated at Dingwall. Leith proved himself a master of goalkeeping. The backs are a strong combination with Nicol the better. At half back, Nairn were well served by Allen and Bowie, the former putting in a hard day’s work. Forward the line works well and individually are very clever, but Paul Grant kept a tight grip on Mackintosh and this knocked the line out of action. Taylor, who is the idol of the Nairn football lovers, was greatly missed. Ross County’s display was a decided improvement on last week. As a whole they worked well, Stewart infusing new life into the forwards. Cross again was a decided success. His handling of the ball was unblemished and his kicking clear was done confidently with plenty of length in his shots. Munro and Johnstone had a wonderful understanding throughout. Both tackled and punted well, in the shortest of time. Trail, Grant and Young—with Pirie not available—is the best half line that Ross can field. Trail’s play rose to great heights, and he was the best half on view. Grant was both clever and hard working throughout. Rarely did he waste a ball, and his tackling and heading subdued the Nairn forwards from the start. Young played confidently and with good effect, showing good speed and ball control; time and again he went on the offensive, and on one occasion at least deserved to score. Charlie improves with every game, got knocked about on Saturday, but stuck to his game and was as clever and elusive as is his wont. The inside men were inclined to get too close together, which can be accounted for by the narrow pitch. Stewart, centre forward, whose first appearance it was for the County, is a Dingwall boy who plays regularly with Edinburgh University. He is an accomplished forward with great speed and shooting power. A tendency to get offside nulled some of his efforts, but he gave neither goalkeeper nor backs a moment’s peace, and generally livened up the whole forward line. His goal was cleverly taken. Morrison’s play improved. He got rid of the ball more quickly and his lobbing centres were always dangerous. His goal was one of the best registered for the County this year.