Date	Saturday, 28 August 1999
Competition	Scottish League Division 2
Fixture/Score	Ross County 2:0 Arbroath
Venue	Victoria Park
Attendance	2,612
Referee	Brian McGarry
Comments	Match Report Report by Alasdair Fraser for the Daily Record. Ross County 2 Arbroath 0 Steve Ferguson swears he wasn't holed up on the moon all week or taking tea with Lord Lucan. But the Ross County livewire must have been the last man in Dingwall to learn of his club's interest in Mark Hateley. The little Highland town has been buzzing with anticipation since the former Rangers, AC Milan and England striker was linked with the Second Division favourites. But former Dunfermline midfielder Ferguson, who now lives in the north, still had no idea what the fuss was about when he arrived at the ground on Saturday morning. After sending County on their way to a vital 2-0 victory over leaders Arbroath, Ferguson laughed: "I only heard about the Hateley thing when I got to Victoria Park for the game. "I hadn't read a paper all week and the boys hadn't even discussed it in training, so it had all passed me by. "Mark's certainly a big name and I'm sure there wouldn't be a centre half in the Second Division relishing the prospect of playing against him. "The fear factor alone would be reason enough to sign him and he would also boost attendances here." County's biggest home crowd of the season--more than 2600--saw them shatter injury-ravaged Arbroath's 100 per cent record. Arbroath gave nothing away in a tight opening 45 minutes and the first half ended deadlocked. But County looked a different side in the second half and Ferguson opened the scoring in 57 minutes with a lethal finish from Kevin Finlayson's cross. Former Pars striker George Shaw clinched it six minutes later with a classy flick over his head, swivel and shot from the edge of the box. Ferguson's goal was all the sweeter given the fact it marked a return to top form after Neale Cooper's early season doubts over his fitness level. He said: "It's good to get off the mark but it was just important to snatch something when we did against Arbroath, who were proving difficult to break down. "The strikers have been getting stick for not scoring enough goals but I reckon the midfielders have to take the same responsibility. "I have a remit to get forward and score and there's no point me saying I'd be happy with 10--I have to aim higher. I scored 17 last season." Ferguson--like all of the County players--bewildered by the approach and tactics employed by opponents so far this season. He said: "We're the newly-promoted side yet every team we've played have been treating us like league favourites. "It is incredible to see teams get so many men behind the ball and that's why we do well against bigger sides--they have to come out at us and play a bit." The attendance was almost certainly boosted by talk of Hateley's imminent arrival, but the 38-year-old couldn't make the game. He is expected to meet Cooper in the next 24 hours to view the County set-up, have his fitness checked and possibly start signing talks. County chairman Roy McGregor stressed that money--within reason--would not be the issue, despite a rumoured £2500-a-weak asking price. McGregor revealed: "It's not a financial decision. It is one for the manager and the manager only." But County now face competition from Hamilton, who are believed to be lining up a package to land Hateley. County boss Cooper said: "I spoke to Mark again last night and he will be travelling up to meet me later in the week. "I'm sure that if the cost is right then we can strike a deal but nothing is agreed at present." Problems are piling up for Arbroath boss Dave Baikie, who was missing six first-team players, while three others played with injuries. After County's goals, Jim Thomson reacted to a Kenny Gilbert tackle and swung a boot. His red card will lead to an automatic suspension and Baikie is also left sweating over a string of others. He was angry at Gilbert challenge which led to Thomson's rash reaction and said: "It looked dangerous. He went in over the ball and Jim reacted."
Ross County
Manager	Neale Cooper
Starting 11	1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: Craig Tully, 3: Ian Maxwell, 4: Brian Irvine, 5: Steven Ferguson 1, 6: Kenneth Gilbert 1, 7: Franck Escalon, 8: Roy McBain, 9: Garry Wood 1, 10: David Ross, 11: George Shaw 1
Bench	0: John Fraser, 0: Kevin Finlayson, 0: Connor Campbell
Arbroath
Manager	Dave Baikie
Starting 11	Craig Hinchcliffe, Andy Webster, Jon Crawford 1, John McAulay, Jim Thomson 1, Barry Sellars, Steve Florence, Craig Cooper, Neil Thomson, Tommy Bryce, Colin McGlashan
Bench	Frederic Deswarte, Paul Brownlie, Chris Devine