retired_marcias

Saturday October 23rd 2004

With a quarter of the season gone, Ross County find themselves again out of both cups played so far, although at least they made the 2nd round of the league cup this time before a 3-0 defeat at Alloa. In the league we have started even better than last season and bizarrely it is our away record that is our strong point this season, together with the defence. Unbeaten away, we lost our unbeaten home record which had stretched in the league all the way from when I joined.

At Victoria Park we saw off Greenock Morton on the opening day of the season with goals from Steven McGarry and Keith Robertson before recording draws away to relegated Partick Thistle away and Falkirk at home. Unfortunately we lost Steven McGarry for 3 months with a torn calf muscle, but he is recovering now.

We followed up on our 0-3 win at St. Johnstone with a 2-0 home win over Stenhousemuir with goals from McGuire and Robertson, before making it 3 away wins in a row, with McGuire and Robertson again on target in the 1-2 win at Brechin where David Winters unusually missed a penalty. Our long trip to Dumfries resulted in a highly unexpected 0-5 win as Ross O'Donoghue scored a brace to set us on our way, Robertson, Winters and McGuire completing the rout.

Our top of the table clash with Clyde at Victoria Park was a huge disappointment as our defence fell apart in a 2 minute spell just after the hour mark conceding twice before Jim Hamilton headed home a consolation goal. Another big match followed as we travelled to 2nd placed Raith Rovers. David Winters gave us a first half lead, but the sending off of influential striker John Sutton didn't stop the home side equalising. We threw everything at Raith in a desperate bid to take advantage of our man advantage and in the 93rd minute Winters was again on hand to steal all 3 points for us.

As we head into the second quarter of the season, things are looking good. Promotion would be good, but I want to bring some more youth players through from next Summer's crop so that might be better done with another season in Division 1. The financial situation is worrying though. We lost £100,000 last month with "Other" costs racking up to an alarming £90k so promotion is needed within the next 2 seasons ideally.

[This message was edited by glamdring on 11 February 2004 at 0:04.]

retired_marcias

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders - Ayr| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Clyde | | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 22 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Ross County | | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 20 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Falkirk | | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 11 | +5 | 19 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Raith Rovers | | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 18 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Morton | | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 13 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Partick Thistle | | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Queen of Sth. | | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 20 | -9 | 10 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Stenhousemuir | | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 18 | -6 | 7 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Brechin | | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 6 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | St. Johnstone | | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 5 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_marcias

Saturday 1st January 2005

Well, it's that time of year again. Teams all around scrambling to get Bosman free transfers to sign pre-contract agreements or pick up players for the January transfer window to help their season challenge.

It's highly unlikely anyone will be heading into Victoria Park this January or on a bosman in summer, but there will be players leaving whom we no longer require. Hopes are high that we'll get a good crop of youth players through this summer to augment those through last summer.

The aim is to keep the core of the side and fill in the rest of the positions with youth team products. Craig Samson (GK), Jamie McCunnie (D RC), Ross O'Donoghue (MC), David Winters (AM/F R) are the core that I want to build the team around. Our 4 strikers are all very good so there is no hurry to move them on in favour of youth team players despite the disppointing goalscoring records of Steven McGarry and Jim Hamilton.

It's the halfway point of the season now and we're hopeful of a successful season. 0-4, 0-5 and 0-2 wins at Greenock Morton, Falkirk and Stenhousemuir extended our away record to 7 unbeaten and 6 wins in a row, much to our surprise. Unfortunately a trip to Clyde for our next away game brought us back down to earth as they did the double over us for the first half of the season.

On the plus side, Clyde are the only team to beat us in the league so far. Our home form isn't anywhere near as good as last season with both St. Johnstone and Queen of the South holding us to disappointing draws. Wins over Partick Thistle (November) and Brechin and Raith Rovers in our last two matches of the year have seen us take a 6 point lead into 2005 though and with it a good chance of promotion.

Financially we really need this promotion. We are losing almost £100,000 every month now and the money from last season's cup run is vanishing rapidly. If we can have another cup run this year it will help, but an away draw at Falkirk for the 3rd round isn't too promising despite our 0-5 win there in the league.

We'll probably give young Nick James a debut soon - he's been developing steadily in the U19s and is looking like he could fulfill the high expectations on him having slotted in very well as a centre-back despite his original midfield preference. In the senior team, Keith Robertson is again leading the line well with 13 goals so far. Our 6 goal midfielder Ross O'Donoghue is wanted by Gillingham, but they can look elsewhere because I have no intention of letting him go.

[This message was edited by glamdring on 12 February 2004 at 19:35.]

[This message was edited by glamdring on 12 February 2004 at 19:36.]

retired_marcias

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders - Ayr| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Ross County | | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 14 | +26 | 40 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Clyde | | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 34 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Raith Rovers | | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 34 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Falkirk | | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Morton | | 18 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 30 | 31 | -1 | 25 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Queen of Sth. | | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 30 | -4 | 24 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | St. Johnstone | | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 22 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Partick Thistle | | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 24 | 37 | -13 | 19 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Brechin | | 18 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 35 | 44 | -9 | 18 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Stenhousemuir | | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 34 | -10 | 15 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_marcias

Match report from the Dingwall Times on Saturday January 15th 2005

McGuire saves the day as 'keepers blunder

Falkirk and Ross County will have to meet again on Wednesday for a place in the 4th round of the Scottish FA Cup after a tale of two goalkeeping blunders at The Falkirk Stadium today.

A quiet first half ended 0-0 with the visitors having slightly the better of the play, but neither side creating too many chances. The second half was developing in much the same way into the 69th minute when the usually reliable County 'keeper Craig Samson dropped a shot from Falkirk's Derek Holmes at the feet of the striker who followed in to tap the loose ball into the net.

Ross County pushed forward in vain with David McGuire coming on as a late substitute with 10 minutes remaining. With some fans having already left the stadium, the game headed into the 93rd minute with Falkirk seemingly comfortable with their 1-0 lead. Then came the amazing finale which gives County a chance at another cup run after last season's heroics.

Craig Samson scooped up a backpass and rapidly spread the ball wide to left-back Bobby Duncan who punted a seemingly aimless long ball forward. Falkirk 'keeper Darren Hill rushed out of his area to clear the ball, but completely missed his clearance as team-mate John Anderson got in his way, allowing Duncan's long ball to roll on towards an empty net. The Falkirk players could only watch as County's David McGuire followed up to tap in from 2 yards out and send both teams into tomorrow's 4th round draw.

FT: Falkirk 1-1 Ross County (10,617 Attendance)

With a home replay on Wednesday, County will now be confident of progressing to the next round for the second season running.

retired_marcias

Match report from the Dingwall Times on Wednesday January 19th 2005

County crash out after 8 goal thriller

In a truly superb game of football with both sides showing huge commitment there had to be a winner and a loser eventually, and with the prize being a home tie against either Dumbarton or Berwick from the 3rd Division, both sides knew that a win here would see them favourites to head into the Quarter-finals.

In an action packed first half, Danny Invincibile opened the scoring as Derek Holmes intercepted a David Winters' pass to set the Australian clear for a one on one with the County 'keeper on 18 minutes. Within 6 minutes County were level after persistance from Winters paid off to win the ball on the right wing and square superbly to lay the ball on a plate for County's top scorer Keith Robertson who duly scored. With just over half an hour gone, Falkirk took the lead again with a well worked and original corner routine ending with a back post header across goal from Davie Nicholls.

With the score at 2-1 to Falkirk at half time, County came out attacking in the second half and on 57 minutes won a freekick in a dangerous position on the right wing. David Winters stepped up and swung in a pinpoint cross for Robertson to glance in his 2nd of the game. Despite chances from both teams, the score remained locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes sending the game into a frenetic period of extra time.

Just 2 minutes into the extra time, Ross County turned on the style with an exquisite one touch passing move involving McCallion, Rankin, McGuire and O'Donoghue before the midfielder's fierce shot was spilled by Falkirk 'keeper David Hills - Keith Robertson reacting fastest to tap in for his hat-trick. Falkirk were far from out of it though and a defensive error from Martin Canning let in substitute Ian MacSween who slotted coolly past Craig Samson for 3-3.

It was Canning who then turned from villain to hero as he rose at the near post to head in a David Winters corner on 108 minutes to put County back in front. With time almost running out, Falkirk put together a superb passing move which culminated with a perfect cross from John O'Neil for Ian MacSween to head in unmarked at the far post. 4-4 and there was no time for either side to snatch a winner as the game headed to a penalty shootout.

The hero of the day was undoubtably Falkirk 'keeper Darren Hill who pulled off two crucial saves to deny John Rankin and Kerr Dodds from the spot after Winters and Samson for County and MacSween and Invincibile for Falkirk had converted the opening 4 penalties. John O'Neil kept his nerve to give the away side a crucial 3-2 lead in the shootout which was enough to send them through despite John Anderson's miss as Martin Canning ballooned County's 5th penalty high over the bar.

FT: Ross County 4-4 Falkirk a.e.t (5545 Attendance)
Falkirk win 3-2 on penalties

It was perhaps the most entertaining game of the season at Victoria Park, but for the home fans heading away from the ground on a wet and miserable night, that was little consolation. For the away fans, a home tie against Dumbarton awaits in the 4th round with the strong likelihood of a quarter-final berth to follow. The two teams meet again at Victoria Park in the league in a week's time when County will be looking to cement their promotion push and put their cup disappointment behind them.

retired_marcias

Match report from the Dingwall Times on Wednesday January 26th 2005

Sweet Revenge as Winters torments hapless Falkirk

Hamish Brodie reports:

If Ross County are to turn their promotion dream into reality, they need their top players to perform and carry the younger players forward in the big games. Today, County's star player David Winters was in inspirational form as County ripped into the Falkirk side who only a week ago dumped them out of the cup. Unusually for a winger, Winters is an excellent header of the ball and used his aerial prowess to devastating effect today together with his pinpoint corner taking.

With just 7 minutes on the clock, Winters won a header on the right, cushioning the ball down for young right-back Kerr Dodds to blast in from 25 yards out. Within 20 minutes County were 2-0 up as David McGuire steered home a Winters cross at the far post. 5 minutes later and Winters again displayed his aerial ability with a 25-yard bullet header from a Sergei Baltacha long ball, the Ukrainian-born Scot making his debut at the back after his £20,000 move from Bristol Rovers.

Heading into stoppage time, it appeared County would go in 3-0 up at the break, but Winters had other ideas and took 2 perfect injury time corners for Nick James and Keith Robertson to head home and send County in 5-0 up. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the second half couldn't match the first and with Falkirk providing no threat upfront, County passed the ball around confidently, but failed to add to their 5 goal haul.

FT: Ross County 5-0 Falkirk (5513 Attendance)

With their game in hand now duly won, Ross County find themselves in a commanding position 9 points clear at the top of Division 1, but players and manager know full well that the title is not won yet and they must continue to battle for every point with Clyde and Raith Rovers still in touching distance.

retired_marcias

Saturday 5th March 2005

We're heading to the business end of the season now and it's getting tense. Our lead at the top of the division has ebbed and flowed as one week we win and Clyde lose and the next week the reverse happens. We were 9 points clear at one point but despite a great 4-3 win over Clyde in recent weeks our lead is now down to 4 points.

We scored lots of goals in the last 2 months, but our previously rock solid defence has also looked creaky. The amazing 4-4 cup match against Falkirk, the 2-4 defeat away to Queen of the South, the 4-3 win over Clyde and our recent 3-5 defeat at Raith Rovers having come from 2-0 and 3-1 down to draw level at 3-3 were no doubt great entertainment for the neutral, but for me as manager it was a frustrating time stood on the touchline. I twice criticised Jamie McCunnie in recent months which is something I very rarely do, but it is because he is one of my key players and a big favourite of mine that I'm being hard on him since he hasn't been performing well enough.

We had some good home wins since the turn of the year with Falkirk beaten 5-0 and Stenhousemuir 4-1 as well as a very good 0-3 win at Partick Thistle who were pre-season joint favourites for the division. We still have the best away record in the league, but it is no longer better than our home record, despite the fact that we are only 5th on home form alone. We can be justifiably proud though to be the only team with a positive goal difference on our travels and not just a small difference...+17, largely thanks to a few 0-5 wins!

Contrary to my previous diary entry, Victoria Park has seen 2 new faces arrive as well as a few depart in January. 6 of our youngsters who we feel won't make the grade have been allowed to pursue their careers elsewhere including one of the two English lads who were at the club when I joined.

On the incoming front, David Anderson arrived from St. Johnstone in a part exchange deal as they offered him with £12,000 for our midfield player Mark McCulloch.

Mark is a good player and we wish him all the best, but he wasn't seeing first team action so we felt we ought to cash in on him and youngster Anderson is a good target-man, albeit of limited technical ability.

The big signing of the month however came as we renewed our Summer interest in Bristol Rovers' Ukrainian-born, but officially Scottish centre-back Sergei Baltacha whom we had also tried to sign when I first joined the club. He had been transfer-listed in the summer, but at that time we couldn't agree terms. We offered him a large contract of £1,000 p/w for 3½ years so we hope he performs because it represents a very big investment for a club in our position. He is an excellent defender though as well as being able to play a defensive midfield role.

With no cup run this year, it looks like we'll finish the season in the red, which is a worry with the monthly losses showing no sign of letting up. That side of the club is Archie's problem of course, but as manager I can't ignore it - I'm well below the wage budget Archie has set and there's nothing I can do about Ground maintenance costs and all the other accumulated expenses. When I can, I sell a player or two who I feel we don't need, but transfer fees are low at this level and the sale of 1 player doesn't even cover the loss for a single month.

Fingers crossed for the last 9 games of the season. This promotion would mean a huge amount to the club and the town if we can pull it off - the first Highland club ever to make it into the SPL.

One very pleasing aspect of our play so far this season is that we have scored 13 goals from corners and 7 from indirect freekicks in the league. Those 20 goals have been crucial to our success and so long as we continue to be strong on set pieces the future is bright for us.

retired_marcias

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders - Ayr| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Ross County | | 27 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 65 | 31 | +34 | 55 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Clyde | | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 51 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Raith Rovers | | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 49 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Morton | | 27 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 42 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | St. Johnstone | | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 42 | 43 | -1 | 35 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Queen of Sth. | | 27 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 35 | 45 | -10 | 34 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Falkirk | | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 33 | 48 | -15 | 32 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Partick Thistle | | 27 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 34 | 53 | -19 | 31 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Brechin | | 27 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 46 | 58 | -12 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Stenhousemuir | | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 37 | 52 | -15 | 25 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_marcias

Saturday 14th May 2005

I sit here now writing this and looking at the league table and today's results and can hardly believe it still. We had a 9 point lead over Clyde at one point of the season, it was cut to 4 points, back up to 6 before we lost 2-0 at Clyde in our last away game of the season. The fixture list had been kind to us and we found ourselves 3 points clear with 3 home games remaining and a far superior goal difference. Surely we could pull off the promotion...

Nerves were setting in though and as Brechin came and defended stoutly we failed to break them down and had to settle for a 0-0 draw. Clyde also had their trouble and had to come from a goal down to snatch a draw at home to St. Johnstone. 2 games left and still the 3 point gap. With Clyde away to Stenhousemuir and ourselves at home to Queen of the South it was looking good, but the nerves struck again and again we fired blanks and drew 0-0. Clyde however had their shooting boots on and we heard after the match they had won 0-2.

Into the final day of the season and our lead was down to just 1 point. We had a tough home time against 3rd place Raith Rovers with their 45 goal strike partnership of Martin Hugo Prest and John Sutton, while Clyde had to travel to Queen of the South who themselves had a lethal striker in Emilio Jaconelli. The stage was set for a grand finale and the two main protagonists playing at opposite ends of the country were feeling the pressure as the day unfolded:

3 minutes: cheers go up around Victoria Park as Queen of the South take the lead against Clyde.
Queen of the South 1-0 Clyde

8 minutes: mass cheers again...Jaconelli has netted his second of the game for Queen of the South.
Queen of the South 2-0 Clyde

12 minutes: our defence crumbles allowing John Sutton a free shot on goal. Craig Samson parries the shot, but Martin Hugo Prest follows in and Raith are a goal up - fans and players alike are nervous again.
Ross County 0-1 Raith Rovers

17 minutes: groans from the crowd - Clyde have pulled one back and are piling on the pressure for an equaliser down in Dumfries
Queen of the South 2-1 Clyde

32 minutes: County attack down the left and Kevin McCallion drives a shot against the post as the 'keeper palms the ball out to the feet of David Winters who lashes the ball into the Raith Rovers net!!
Ross County 1-1 Raith Rovers

47 minutes: It's a freekick on the right wing for Ross County. McGarry swings it in, Winters wins the header and knocks it on for Roberston who swivels beautifully eluding the defender, turns and fires the ball across the box as Sergei Baltacha arrives to fire home at the far post!! One of the best worked goals I've ever seen in my short managerial career and before - exquisite stuff from the moment the freekick was taken to the moment the ball hit the back of the net. The crowd are going wild and the players know it's there for the taking.
Ross County 2-1 Raith Rovers

67 minutes: News filters through that John Fraser has scored for Clyde down in Dumfries. The crowd are jittery and the County players are picking up on it.
Queen of the South 2-2 Clyde

68 minutes: Disaster for County as Martin Hugo Prest strikes again to bring Raith Rovers level. Another goal for Clyde now and the title is theirs - we need to score again to relieve the pressure - if we win, Clyde's result is irrelevent.
Ross County 2-2 Raith Rovers

89 minutes: The 4th official holds up the board - 5 minutes of injury time!! Clyde are apparently still 2-2 at Queen of the South, but who knows what is happening down there? They could score with the last kick of the game and the title will be theirs...

95 minutes: The full time whistle blows as news filters through that Clyde have been held to a 2-2 draw. We've done it!! We're in the SPL after an amazing final day that we really should have avoided!!

FT: Queen of the South 2-2 Clyde
FT: Ross County 2-2 Raith Rovers

I don't know what else to say yet, while it all sinks in. We lead the division for most of the season, but at times looked so jittery as Clyde kept coming back at us and those last 3 home games of the season...3 draws and we staggered across the finishing line when a win in any of them would have made it so much easier!!

Well, I guess we'll have a good well-earned break before returning for pre-season and planning our assault on the SPL - it'll be an exciting journey and it won't be easy, but we're there!!!!