Staggies Women return to action in style to see off Buchan Ladies

Ross County Women returned to action to kick off 2025 in supreme style as they defeated Buchan 14-1.

It was not a full strength side, with Mollie Parker away representing Scotland in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup and a couple of others out injured.

Freezing conditions also meant the match got switched from Dingwall’s Highland Football Academy to Dalmore Park in Alness on the morning of the game, but that did not knock County off their stride at all.

Instead, Agnes Hooper opened the scoring in just the 10th minute to give County the advantage, and they never looked back.

Captain Laura Cameron scored her first goal of the SWFL North season, and the same duo would score once more each before half time to put the hosts in a commanding position.

Knowing that goal difference could play a factor at the end of the season, head coach Iain MacIver would have been desperate for his side to keep going to score as many as they possibly could, and the players did not disappoint.

Hooper would complete her hat-trick and claim a fourth of the afternoon within six minutes of the restart, and Daisy Fraser made it 7-0 before the hour mark.

Hooper would add a fifth to her personally tally before Maimie Zimmerman got in on the act to make it nine.

At that point Buchan would claim a consolation, but that did nothing to dampen the spirits and determination of County.

A sixth of the afternoon saw Hooper stretch clear as County’s top scorer in the SWFL North so far this season, and also brought up double figures in the match for County.

From there, Cameron – playing in midfield due to injuries elsewhere – completed her own hat-trick with 10 minutes left on the clock, and another flurry late on brought about three more goals.

Fraser scored her second to make it 12-1, before Katie Mackinnon scored her third league goal of the campaign and young defender Teagen Syrjanen opener her account to seal a comprehensive victory.

Gaining all three points meant that Ross County moved level on 15 points with Grampian alongside Elgin City, who were also victorious.

However, County’s win was so dominant that they have leapfrogged both sides into top spot on goal difference, sitting four ahead of Elgin and 15 ahead of Grampian, who have also played a game more.

The Highlanders go back on the road next week, taking on a Westdyke side who sit second bottom of the table and most recently lost 1-0 to Aberdeen.