Date	Saturday, 16 October 1999
Competition	Scottish League Division 2
Fixture/Score	Ross County 1:1 Stranraer
Venue	Victoria Park
Attendance	2,168
Referee	Mike Ritchie
Comments	Match Report Report by Alasdair Fraser For the Daily Record. Ross County 1 Stranraer 1 Derek Holmes didn't seem like a young man celebrating his 21st birthday on Saturday. The former Hearts striker's face wore a frown like Marco Negri with toothache as he made his Ross County debut. But appearances can be deceptive and a quick word with County's £50,000 club record signing soon dispelled any notion of unhappiness. It would be understandable if the dyed-in-the-wool Jambo was dejected after swapping the capital high life for the Highlands but he is more than content at joining County promotion bid. Homes, who started repaying Neale Cooper's outlay by setting up George Shaw's opener, said: "I've been keen to get regular first-team action and that is why I've come here. "I actually think Ross County are a big club and my ambition is to get promotion with them. "The set-up here is brilliant and I like the manager's approach--I'm just looking to help the side move onwards and upwards. "I felt I was doing well enough at Hearts and felt confident in the two first-team games I was given but now I am happy just to get the chance to play football regularly." Holmes, who had been with Hearts since signing on schoolboy terms, scored for Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough in a recent trial and has a prolific record in the reserves. Hearts were reluctant to let the young prospect go, despite his place down the pecking order, and only agreed to the deal after securing first option to buy him back and a percentage of any future transfer fee. Despite a disappointing draw for Cooper, there was no doubting the difference Holmes's presence made to County's performance. Shaw, the former Dundee and Dunfermline striker, looked rejuvenated in his new partner's presence and he had more attempts on goal than he has all season. After a good first half, County slipped back into familiar bad habits and were caught by a classic late sucker punch from Billy McLaren's men. Holmes made his imposing presence felt after 11 minutes by winning a physical tussle just inside his own half and unleashing Shaw with an inch-perfect through ball. Shaw, starved of quality service in recent games, could hardly believe his luck as he netted his sixth of the season from 25 yards. Unfortunately he failed to repay the compliment, twice charging behind the Stranraer back-line only to fire wide with his big strike partner prowling at the far post. Holmes created one further opening for the lively Shaw, early in the second half, but he took a fresh air swipe at the ball with goal beckoning. County badly needed a second to kill off the visitors' challenge but it didn't come in a poor second half and sub Jason Young nabbed his side a valuable point in the 84th minute. Andy Robbie outpaced Davie Ross on the left flank and his early cross was turned into the net at the near-post. Cooper said: "The first half was much better than anything we have produced of late. We created far more chances than we have been. Holmes did well considering it was his first game in a new team and he added a new dimension to our play. I'm sure he'll be a big success. "I thought our effort was much better. There are a lot of upset players in the dressing room but I think our eyes have been opened as to how tough it is in the Second Division. "We know we are going to be in the promotion fight when the season draws to a close but it's all about hard work." Cooper admitted he is considering a squad clear-out with two or three players set to be off-loaded. What Stranraer boss McLaren thought of events we'll never known as he failed to show for interviews.
Ross County
Manager	Neale Cooper
Starting 11	1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: Ian Maxwell, 3: Craig Tully, 4: Brian Irvine, 5: Franck Escalon, 6: Roy McBain, 7: Danny Lennon, 8: John Fraser, 9: Kenneth Gilbert, 10: Derek Holmes 1, 11: George Shaw 1
Bench	0: Paul Kinnaird, 0: Kevin Finlayson, 0: David Ross
Stranraer
Manager	Billy McLaren
Starting 11	Mark McGeown, Jamie Smith, Mark Duthie, Willie Furphy, Keith Knox 1, Duncan George 1, Grant McMartin, Allan Jenkins, Andy Roddie 1, Ian Harty, Paul Walker
Bench	Dougie Johnstone, Jason Young 1, Alan Blaikie