| Date | Saturday, 21 September 1991 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Highland League Cup |
| Fixture/Score | Ross County 3:1 Fraserburgh |
| Venue | Borough Briggs |
| Referee | George Simpson |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Robert (Bobby) Wilson |
| Starting 11 | 1: Michael Ure, 2: Christopher (Chris) Somerville 1, 3: Gary Campbell, 4: Robert (Robbie) Williamson, 5: Johnston Bellshaw, 6: Robert Allan, 7: Cameron Robertson 1, 8: Brian Grant, 9: Alan Duff, 10: Gordon Connelly, 11: Barry Wilson |
| Bench | 0: Keith (Billy) Ferries 1, 0: Jamie MacPherson |
| Attendance | 2,000 |
| Match Report | Match Report Report by Mike Tremlett for the Press & Journal. Ross County 3 Fraserburgh 1 After Extra Time Ross County pulled off an exciting 3-1 Tennents Highland League Cup extra-time victory against Fraserburgh in front of a near 2,000 crowd at Borough Briggs on Saturday. In a match where the ante-post odds were turned on their head in the first half, County had to come from behind to send the final into extra time, with man-of-the-match Cammy Robertson equalising Scott Clark's 19th minute opener for Fraserburgh on the hour-mark. Goals from Chris SOMERVILLE and second half substitute Billy FERRIES in the first period of extra time saw County through to a deserved win. "I always knew that Fraserburgh, whatever their injury problems, would make us graft to get our hands on the League Cup," said County manager Bobby Wilson. "But the one thing I was confident about was my side's ability to raise their game when it matters and to step up a gear when things look to be going against them. For 75 minutes of the final, Ross underlined their reputation as the best side in the North, but not until Fraserburgh had made their own mark in the first half. Going into the match, Fraserburgh manager Charlie Duncan was looking for all the help he could get after a disastrous build up and he got it courtesy of torrential rain and a strong wind which was blowing straight down the ground at the kick-off. Four of Broch's five walking wounded--Alan Thomson, Brian Sim, Robert Gordon and Henty Michie--passed fitness tests and Broch started the final at a frantic pace, Did not allow County to settle and their virtual dominance of the first half suggested that there might be an upset. They led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Scott CLARK's free kick which drifted through County keeper Mike Ure's hands from fully 50 yards. Had Fraserburgh taken the other chances which fell to Simon Sim and Ronnie Smith, who volleyed a sitter over the County bar, County could have had a harder task on their hands. The second half, however, was a very different story as Ross County stepped up a gear and created chance after chance and only a fine string of saves from Broch keeper Billy Gordon and the woodwork kept County at bay until Robertson hammered in the equaliser. From then on, with Fraserburgh's walking wounded feeling the pace, there looked to be only one possible outcome even though Broch battled gamely to the last after going 3-1 behind. Workaholic County skipper Cammy Robertson was a worthy winner of the man-of-the-match award and was closely pressed for the Accolade by Chris Somerville, whose phenomenal work rate and terrier-like play alongside pre match birthday boy Gordon Connelly was a joy to watch. Robbie Williamson looked completely at home in the sweeper position, while up front Alan Duff and Brian Grant would probably have had a hat-trick apiece on any other day. For Fraserburgh, Robert Gordon's policing of the quicksilver Connelly stood out in the first half, as did the contributions of Andy Lavelle and Ronnie Smith, who gave County a few anxious moments in the first 45 minutes. But the stand-out performances came from sweeper Jimmy Young, who held the Broch defence together, and from Gordon, who enhanced his reputation as the best keeper in the North. |