Ross County Database

DateSaturday, 18 February 1995
CompetitionScottish League Division 3
Fixture/ScoreRoss County 0:1 Arbroath
VenueVictoria Park
Attendance1,648
RefereeMartin Clark
CommentsMatch Report
Report from the North Star.
Ross County 0 Arbroath 1
The game that shouldn't have gone on went on and at the end of the day County management, players and fans must have been sorry it did.
For it was the visitors who mastered the atrocious conditions better, got the only goal, and went home happy, their lowly side having taken three points from the title contenders and giving new boss John Brogan his second win in only his second game in charge.
But, truth is, all that should never have happened.
On chances County could have hit the proverbial barrowload but the eagerly awaited opener never came and it was a case of frustration all round for both players and fans.
It was a case of "we'll never score" or "if we score one we'll score a ton".
Sadly, the first observation came to pass and now County must pick themselves up for this week's Hampden visit.
"There was an obvious lack of commitment among our ranks," said boss Bobby Wilson, "and while Billy Ferries got in some great crosses there were no takers.
"The players will come back, there's no doubt about that, and perhaps, in the end, the defeat will have done them good."
County were looking for 11 games without defeat in this one but it was not to be with Wilson adding "I don't think we battled hard enough in certain areas and several players let their heads go down when things weren't working out for them."
Of course the conditions were all against the along the ground football County are masterly at and their tip tap stuff saw the ball stick in the mud more often than not.
Arbroath's Lee Gardiner got the goal that mattered after 11 minutes when his header seemed to be covered by keeper Steve Hutchison who then appeared to leave it and watch somewhat shocked as it flew into the net. Did he think it was going over or past?
We thought this was only a temporary set back and as County mounted one determined attack after another we were convinced of that.
But the goal never came. Not even from crack-shot Brian Grant who fluffed his kick with the crowd ready to roar 'goal'. How he missed it we will never know.
Much of the play was academic and not worth taking up space with.
It was a Disappointing display by County but hopefully They will get back on the goal trail at Hampden this week and keep up their title challenge.
Ross County
ManagerRobert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 111: Stephen Hutchison, 2: William Furphy, 3: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: William (Billy) Herd, 6: Craig Reid, 7: Johnston Bellshaw, 8: Gordon Connelly, 9: Keith (Billy) Ferries, 10: Andrew (Andy) MacLeod, 11: Brian Grant
Bench0: Donald (Don) MacMillan, 0: David MacKay, 0: Jamie MacPherson
Arbroath
ManagerGeorge Mackie
Starting 11Gordon Dunn, Jim Kerr, Tom McMillan, Steve Florance, Craig Farnan, Ian Porteous, David Shanks, David Pew, Lee Gardner 1, Barry Scott, David Elliot
BenchDerek Jackson, Ian Downie, Steven Tosh