Date	Saturday, 16 September 1989
Competition	Scottish Qualifying Cup
Fixture/Score	Ross County 3:0 Buckie Thistle
Venue	Victoria Park
Referee
Ross County
Manager	Robert (Bobby) Wilson
Starting 11	1: Derek Rudkin, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville, 3: Gary Campbell, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Scott Lemmon, 6: Don Cowie (SNR), 7: George Stewart 1, 8: Cameron Robertson, 9: James MacKay 1, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: Lee O'Brien
Bench	0: Barry Wilson 1, 0: Alex (Nero) McDonald
Attendance
Match Report	Report from the Ross-shire Journal. Ross County 3 Buckie Thistle 0 What a tremendous result for Ross County! What a fillip to their season! County’s 3-0 defeat of Buckie on Saturday in the second round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup had supporters in raptures, with a similar state of joy encompassing fans whose ways had taken then far and away from Victoria Park that day — to Aberdeen on Rotary business; to Glasgow for the Scottish Snooker Championships; to Invercharron for the last Highland Games of the season; and to various other venues! County’s performance of late have been most encouraging after a non-too-exciting start to the season, and supporters were mildly confident that they could put it over Buckie. And in no uncertain terms they did, taking the Club into the quarter-finals of the competition, for the first time in a good many years, and winning a home tic with Keith, which might be a more difficult hurdle to surmount. A large crowd were royally entertained on Saturday with most of the magic coming from County, who were much encouraged by the support they received. James Mackay has slotted well into the role filled over the past two seasons by Dave Jackson, and as a playmaker he is second to none, using the ball intelligently, and delivering the telling pass, when he notes a player is in a position to take it. Young George Stewart continues to impress, as does teenager Lee O’Brien, who is being brought more into the scheme of things. Chris Somerville continues to act as an effective link between defence and front line in his darting runs down the wing. It is worth noting that in County’s last three games, the defence has not conceded a goal, a state of affairs due in no small measure to keeper Derek Rudkin, as much as it is to the men in front of him, perhaps more so. For all his shouting on the park, one feels that Don Cowie in midfield, is an inspiration to his colleagues. Don’s stentorian blasts register with his team-mates and they know exactly where he is and the situation that is building up. The defence benefited from the presence of Scott Lemmon, who has been holidaying from his police duties over the past two weeks, and he has given much encouragement with his performances, linking up well with Robbie Williamson, who is coolness personified, and with his own look-a-like Garry Campbell, who is now holding down the left back position occupied by Scott last season. After a goal-less first half, County hit a purple patch at the start of the second half with George Stewart opening the score in the 54th minute, when Chris Somerville had laid the way open for him to crash the ball home. Three minutes later James Mackay cracked in the second goal from 25 yards. With a minute remaining, Barry Wilson, who came on as “sub” for James Mackay, broke through opening the defence up completely, and when it seamed as easy to pass to a colleague, elected to shoot, and lashed the ball straight and true into the net.