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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Visiting a cup final ghost town | Visiting a cup final ghost town |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| By Steven McKenzie Highlands and Islands reporter, BBC Scotland news website A sign outside a beauty salon in a Dingwall side street | By Steven McKenzie Highlands and Islands reporter, BBC Scotland news website A sign outside a beauty salon in a Dingwall side street |
| In the end there was no coming back from the dead for the ghost town. | In the end there was no coming back from the dead for the ghost town. |
| The streets of Dingwall in Ross-shire were deserted as its home team - Ross County - played out the Scottish Cup final against Dundee United. | |
| The residents who had not joined the army of supporters at Hampden in Glasgow were at home or in a pub watching the game. | The residents who had not joined the army of supporters at Hampden in Glasgow were at home or in a pub watching the game. |
| Even as the Staggies went one, then two goals down in the second half, the fans clung to the hope that their team would equalise and go on to win the game. | Even as the Staggies went one, then two goals down in the second half, the fans clung to the hope that their team would equalise and go on to win the game. |
| County have form for staging spectacular come-backs. | |
| They had fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road to secure a replay earlier in the competition. | They had fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road to secure a replay earlier in the competition. |
| Thousands of fans have left the small town to watch the game Fans gather at Scottish Cup Final In pictures: Ross County fans United clinch cup final win | Thousands of fans have left the small town to watch the game Fans gather at Scottish Cup Final In pictures: Ross County fans United clinch cup final win |
| Just minutes after the final whistle following their 3-0 cup final defeat, Dingwall's empty town centre began to fill with sad yet proud Staggies supporters. | |
| They spilled out of the British Legion's main hall. | They spilled out of the British Legion's main hall. |
| Deborah Alliston, 29, from Dingwall, said: "It is heart-breaking, but we can't wait for the boys to come back home." | Deborah Alliston, 29, from Dingwall, said: "It is heart-breaking, but we can't wait for the boys to come back home." |
| Grace Sutherland, from Conon, who watched the game with friends including five-year-old Sophie Dent, of Muir of Ord, said for the team to reach the final had been tremendous. | Grace Sutherland, from Conon, who watched the game with friends including five-year-old Sophie Dent, of Muir of Ord, said for the team to reach the final had been tremendous. |
| She said: "No-one has stopped talking about it. It was amazing for them to get to the final." | She said: "No-one has stopped talking about it. It was amazing for them to get to the final." |
| There were an estimated 17,000 Ross County fans at Hampden for the final. | There were an estimated 17,000 Ross County fans at Hampden for the final. |
| The town's population is about 5,000. | The town's population is about 5,000. |
| A sign directed at traffic leaving the town on the road to Inverness read: "Last one out turn the lights off". | A sign directed at traffic leaving the town on the road to Inverness read: "Last one out turn the lights off". |
| The sign reflected what many have been thinking, with a crowd numbering more than triple the town's population cheering on County in Glasgow. | The sign reflected what many have been thinking, with a crowd numbering more than triple the town's population cheering on County in Glasgow. |
| All the shops were decked out in County colours | |
| Blue ribbons fluttered from the street lights and every shop in Dingwall - including a pet shop and children's fashion store - had signs and posters proclaiming support for the Staggies. | Blue ribbons fluttered from the street lights and every shop in Dingwall - including a pet shop and children's fashion store - had signs and posters proclaiming support for the Staggies. |
| Bemused tourists paused at the window of a bakers and stared at a teddy bear wearing a County shirt and holding a football. | Bemused tourists paused at the window of a bakers and stared at a teddy bear wearing a County shirt and holding a football. |
| Of the people still about in the town, there appeared to be a higher ratio of women to men and more older people than young. | Of the people still about in the town, there appeared to be a higher ratio of women to men and more older people than young. |
| High-profile County fans who headed for Hampden included BBC Scotland weather forecaster Gail McGrane, who hails from Dingwall. | |
| She told BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme that she had felt superstitious and had chosen to wear the same outfit she wore to previous round of the cup. | She told BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme that she had felt superstitious and had chosen to wear the same outfit she wore to previous round of the cup. |
| Another caller to the show - GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly - said she was meant to be in New York interviewing the cast of Sex and the City but had passed up the chance to support her beloved Dundee United. | |
| The cup final had captured the attention and imagination of fans on both side. | The cup final had captured the attention and imagination of fans on both side. |
| But even having seen its team defeated, Dingwall was a place filled with pride rather than dejection. | But even having seen its team defeated, Dingwall was a place filled with pride rather than dejection. |