Former Ross County manager Adams reflects on game-changing Hibernian victory as 10th anniversary approaches
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It was the night a modest Highland club humbled the big city might of Hibernian.
It was also the night an unlikely match-winning hero – the big, rugged defender Scott Boyd – became immortalised in supporters’ affections as ‘The Ginger Pele’.
In Derek Adams’ eyes, though, it was above all else the night that lifted club horizons and changed Ross County forever.
The former manager has never forgotten the magic of an occasion that will reach its 10th anniversary on Monday. It propelled the First Division Staggies, then a club that barely registered in national consciousness, to a Hampden semi final where they startled the football world by beating Celtic.
Adams, now manager of Morecambe in England’s League Two, regards the Scottish Cup quarter final replay win over Hibs as the moment County came of age.
After three home goal-fests in beating Berwick 5–1, Inverurie Locos 4–0 and Stirling a club record 9–0, County went to Easter Road on March 13 2010, where a late Michael Gardyne equaliser salvaged a 2–2 draw.
This was a Hibs full of international quality, Anthony Stokes, Derek Riordan, Ian Murray and Liam Miller among them.
What they encountered, though, was a fantastically driven and able set of footballers, many of whom were big club cast-offs, who feared nobody.
Read more in today's Ross-shire Journal.
