ROSS COUNTY 3 (Bayne 79, Cowie 97 & 116)Fridge (Miller 46), Campbell, Gray (Townsley 70), Bolochoweckyj, Webb, Cowie, O’Donnell, Gethins, Wilson (Lynch 53), Robertson, Bayne Subs – Logan & Dodds
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Proctor 84) Ridgers, Proctor, Smith, Munro, Thomson, Chisholm, MacRae (Jarvie 40), Finnigan, MacKinnon (Sutherland 99),
MacLaren (A Christie 80), Low Subs – Kerr & Fraser
REFEREE – J Bicknell ATTENDANCE – 383
Two young sides, each bolstered by experienced players, were evenly matched for most of the game but County had more staying power and clinched victory in extra time. The visitors’ Tony Low had shots blocked in 11 minutes then he came close in 22 minutes when a lob came off the bar. At the other end Stephen O’Donnell tested Ally Ridgers twice in three minutes but otherwise there was little on target. Les Fridge tipped over a Low shot in 37 minutes. Graham Bayne put County ahead with eleven minutes of normal time left – as two players lay injured Bayne swept the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards. David Proctor rose high in 84 minutes to head an equaliser and extra time was required. County went ahead in 97 minutes when Don Cowie took a Conor Gethins pass and chipped over Ridgers from outside the area. The tie was settled four minutes from the end when Cowie scored his second with another long range high ball which deceived Ridgers. County play Clach in the final.