| Date | Saturday, 30 September 2000 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 1:0 Alloa Athletic |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 2,875 |
| Referee | Stuart Dougal |
| Comments | Match Report Report by Alasdair Fraser for the Scotland on Sunday. Ross County 1 Alloa Athletic 0 One-Upmanship is a central feature of this season's long-awaited resumption of Highland hostilities in the first division, with the two-down scenario understandably also foremost in the thoughts of Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. There will have been more than a few of the less imaginative at defeating Alloa by a Margin less impressive than their rivals' 4-1 trouncing the previous week, but this was a vital win in a fraught campaign. Alloa have made a relatively high-profile signing in ex-Hearts midfielder Grant Johnston, but they were unable to match the pre-match stir created by County snapping up Kilmarnock striker Andy Smith on a one-month loan deal. In the end, it fell to a striker with a less impressive CV, Alex Bone but equally impressive scoring record to seal the points with a superbly taken 15-yard volley in the 70th minute. County manager Neale Cooper admitted: "That was a big one for us and although it is early in the day, the cushion we have on those below is pleasing particularly after the poor start we endured." Alloa manager Terry Christie's evaluation of the game was less upbeat: "I think we had more possession and the only difference between the sides was an absolutely class finish by Bone." Certainly, the Dingwall side were the dominant in the first 45 minutes, but they were thwarted by a superbly drilled three-man Wasps defence, with the two wide midfielders dropping back to provide invaluable cover on the flanks. A livelier spell after half-time saw County pressing hard for the opener. Alloa goalkeeper Mark Cairns was in inspirational form and he required his best in 53 minutes as he tipped over a fierce long-range effort from Eddie Cunnington. It was a slightly cruel twist that this precipitated the winner. Derek Holmes' run was blocked by two defenders, but McQuade's cross from the right found Bone firing home as County took three priceless points. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: Edward Cunnington, 3: Ian Maxwell, 4: David MacKay, 5: Darren Henderson, 6: Mark Millar, 7: Paul Kinnaird, 8: Franck Escalon, 9: Andrew Smith, 10: Alexander Bone 1, 11: John McQuade |
| Bench | 0: Stefan Gonet, 0: Brian Irvine, 0: Steven Ferguson, 0: Kenneth Gilbert, 0: Derek Holmes |
| Alloa Athletic | |
| Manager | Terry Christie |
| Starting 11 | Mark Cairns, Craig Valentine, Gregg Watson, Stevie Thompson, Ian Little, Derek Clark, Grant Johnson, Richard Huxford, Max Christie, Ross Hamilton, Chris Wood |
| Bench | James McQueen, Lee Gardner, William Irvine, Stuart Davidson, Charles Brigain |