| Date | Tuesday, 14 March 2000 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 2 |
| Fixture/Score | Alloa Athletic 1:2 Ross County |
| Venue | Recreation Park |
| Attendance | 613 |
| Referee | Mike Ritchie |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Scott Macnab for the Press & Journal. Alloa Athletic 1 Ross County 2 Injury-hit Ross County dented Alloa's Second Division title hopes with a gritty win at Recreation Park last night. County avenged Saturday's dramatic 4-3 defeat at home by the Wasps to ensure that Terry Christie's side was unable to capitalise on the shock defeat of leaders Clyde at bottom-placed Queen of the South. Ross County boss Neale Cooper was without seven injured first team regulars and dropped keeper Barry Thomson in favour of 19-year-old rookie Gary Hamilton, while Wasps' boss Christie fielded new loan player Colin Nish, signed yesterday morning from Dunfermline. The young keeper was tested after just 14 minutes of the match when Willie Irvine's corner was missed by visitors' defence and Ian Little's close-range header seemed net-bound until Hamilton pulled out a fine stop on his line. However 19-year-old front man Nish wasn't so impressive in the 29th minute when Mark Wilson set off on a lung-bursting run from his own half to the edge of the County box. His through ball found Nish in time and space on the right side of the box, but a right-foot effort flew narrowly wide of Hamilton's goal to waste a golden opportunity. Neither side looked likely to craft an opener during a tight first half but it was the visitors who grabbed the lead just three minutes after the restart. Dave Mackay--starting his first match in more than two months--burst down the right flank and his cutback found Steve Ferguson on the edge of the box to net with a controlled right-foot effort. And the visitors all but sealed the points 10 minutes later after a suicidal piece of defending from Wasps' full back Wilson. Under pressure from George Shaw. Wilson attempted to find teammate Frank Conway in the middle but Derek Holmes intercepted to send Kenny Gilbert clear to net. The hosts hit back, though, and ensured a nervy finale when sub Mark Donaghy sent Little clear on goal in the 73rd minute and the ex-Livingston midfielder slotted a right-foot effort beyond Hamilton. However, the young keeper came to the Highlanders' rescue just two minutes later when Willie Irvine lashed in a curling right-foot free kick from the left flank which was destined for the postage stamp corner of Hamilton's goal before he brilliantly pushed the ball on to the bar. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Garry Hamilton, 2: Martin Canning, 3: Ian Maxwell, 4: Brian Irvine, 5: David MacKay 1, 6: Craig Feroz, 7: Mark Duthie, 8: Kenneth Gilbert, 9: Steven Ferguson 1, 10: George Shaw, 11: Derek Holmes |
| Bench | 0: Peter Cormack, 0: Paul Kinnaird, 0: Roy McBain |
| Alloa Athletic | |
| Manager | Terry Christie |
| Starting 11 | Colin Stewart, Craig Valentine, Frank Conway, Davie Beaton, Ian Little 1, Mark Wilson, Gary Clark, William Irvine, Max Christie, Colin Nish, Martin Cameron |
| Bench | Jimmy Boyle, Mark Donaghy, David Menelows |