| 14th August 2006 – UMAX NOS Cup – Qtr Final | Victoria Park, Dingwall |
 Ross County |
3 (Martin Scott 11, Jason Crooks 38, 40) |
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Team: Mark Ridgers, Gary Irvine (Graham Girvan 56), Daniel Moore, Alex Keddie, Mark Nicolson, Stuart Anderson, Neal Hooks, Martin Scott, Jason Crooks, David Winters (Alan Grant 77), Kevin McKinlay (Hugh Robertson 46). Subs: Darren Stewart (GK), Graham Girvan, Alan Grant, Hugh Robertson, Shaun Fraser. |
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1 (Craig Shearer 46) |
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Team: Kevin McGee, Stewart Ross, Gary Manson, David Mowat, Andrew Macleod (Richard Mcadie 62), Craig Shearer, Martin Gunn, Gary Farquhar, Gary Weir, David Cowie, Graeme Reid (Shaun Sinclair 62). Subs: Daniel Bell (GK), Shaun Sinclair, Richard Macadie, Martin Bain. |
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| Referee | John Bicknell |
| Bookings | Stuart Anderson 88 |
| Reporters man of the match | Andrew Macleod |
Wick Academy Ross County started the game very well, and within 11 minutes went a goal up. Martin Scott latched onto a long ball, turned Stewart Ross, and his shot from 18 yards beat Kevin McGee into the left hand corner of the Academy net.
1 – 0
County continued to attack Academy at every opportunity and in 22 minutes David Winters worked himself into a good shooting position at the edge of the Academy box, and forced a good save from McGee low down to his left hand post.
With Academy failing to apply any real pressure on County, the Dingwall side nearly doubled their lead in the 31st minute. Neal Hooks hit a powerful drive from 25 yards out that hit the Academy cross-bar. The re-bound fell to Kevin McKinalay, but he screwed his shot wide of goal.
The County pressure paid off in the 38th minute when a crossed ball into the Academy box was headed onto the cross-bar by David Winters, and Jason Crooks headed home the re-bound from only 2 yards out.
2 – 0
5 minutes from the end of the half County scored their third. Kevin McKinaly played a great pass off the outside of his boot over the top of the Academy defence, and Jason Crooks controlled it well to score his second of the game with a cool finish.
3 – 0
Half Time 3 – 0
Academy started the second half with much more intent, and got their reward within the first minute. Gary Weir did well on the wing winning the ball from Daniel Moore. He played in Gary Manson to the edge of the County box, and Gary sent in a great cross that Craig Shearer met with a good header at the back post from 7 yards out.
3 – 1
This seemed to give Academy belief that they could take something out of the game, and they started to play their best football of the game. They nearly pulled back another in the 57th minute. A good passing movement between Martin Gunn and Gary Farquhar released Gary Weir through the middle of the County defence. Weir hit a great 25 yard shot but keeper Ridgers made a good diving save, turning the ball round his post for a corner.
Although Academy were playing much better in this half County continued to threaten. In the 61st minute David Winters was played into the Academy box after a neat 1-2 with Stuart Anderson, but he scorched his shot high and wide of goal.
Winters continued to look dangerous when in the 66th minute he fired in another good shot that McGee saved well down at his right hand post.
County were unlucky not to increase their lead in the 75 minute, when Neal Hooks fired a fantastic cross into the Academy box that ran straight across the Academy goal line, but no-one could connect with it to turn it home.
County did get the ball in the net again in the 82nd minute. McGee came for a high ball that was punted into the Academy box, and was flattened by a County striker whilst collecting the ball. Referee Bicknell blew for a free-kick, so the goal didn’t stand.
The last chance of the game came in the 42nd minute, again falling to County. This time Jason Crooks, hunting for his hat-trick, skied his shot high over the Academy cross-bar from the edge of the box.
Full time 3 – 1
A very professional performance by County in the first half was enough to see them into the next round, but Academy must take credit for the way in which they played in the second half. It seemed if perhaps they gave the County players too much respect in the first half, but after half-time they really got stuck into them, and competed very well.
Academy must now concentrate on league business again, with a trip to Mosset Park next weekend.
