| Date | Saturday, 29 April 2000 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 2 |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 3:1 Stranraer |
| Venue | Victoria Park |
| Attendance | 2,812 |
| Referee | Ian Elmslie |
| Comments | Match Report Report from the Press & Journal. Ross County 3 Stranraer 1 Alex Bone felt like a gate-crasher at Ross County's promotion party--until the locals made him an honorary Highlander. The on-loan Ayr United striker has no idea where he will be playing football next season, but would love to become a County man if the Honest Men decide they do not want his services. But having scored one and set up another against Stranraer as County celebrated promotion in style, Bone soon found himself at the heart of celebrations. Bone said: "I've only been playing for County for the last month, so to be part of the party feels a bit strange. "But I've been staying in Dingwall and the locals have made me feel really welcome and that makes it a lot easier to feel a part of things. The supporters have been terrific to me." Ross County are interested in snapping up the 28-year-old striker, who topped the First Division scoring stakes even in Stirling Albion's relegation season and has hit 10 goals in 15 games while on loan spell with Albion and County. But any move could be scuppered by Ayr's asking price since Bone, son of former St Mirren hero Jimmy, cost Gordon Dalziel's club £80,000 last year. County are less than willing to fork out a sum similar to that which brought Derek Holmes north from Hearts. Bone admitted: "My future's totally clouded and, until I'm told otherwise, I am fully committed to Ayr United. "But it has been brilliant at Ross County--I've loved it. The whole atmosphere at the club, from the chairman right through to the supporters, has been like a breath of fresh air. "I would obviously go to County, but I realise that just might not be possible. Almost 3,000 County fans turned out to celebrate County's rise to Division 1 and they saw Craig Taggart head home a George Shaw cross in the first minute. Slack defending cost County the equaliser in 16 minutes when Jim Smith rifled the ball past Nicky Walker after Ian Harty's drive resulted in a scramble. County responded immediately with Paul Kinnaird's free-kick causing chaos before Bone pounced on a loose ball to net from six yards. County's third came in the 74th minute. Bone's perfect cross found Shaw, who took a great touch before stretching to volley past keeper Mark McGeown from 10 yards. Manager Neale Cooper sent his players on a lap of honour before making an emotional speech by microphone to the fans who stayed at the end. |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Neale Cooper |
| Starting 11 | 1: Joseph (Nicky) Walker, 2: Ian Maxwell, 3: Brian Irvine, 4: Kenneth Gilbert 1, 5: Mark Duthie, 6: Derek Ferguson, 7: Craig Taggart 1, 8: John McGlashan, 9: Paul Kinnaird, 10: George Shaw 1, 11: Alexander Bone 1 |
| Bench | 0: David MacKay, 0: John Fraser, 0: Derek Holmes |
| Stranraer | |
| Manager | Billy McLaren |
| Starting 11 | Mark McGeown, Jamie Smith 1, Paul Watson, Tom Black, Dougie Johnstone, Frazer Wright, Paul Blair, Keith Knox, Ian Harty, Paul Ronald 1, Robert Bell |
| Bench | Steven Abbott, Scott Edgar, Daryn Smith |