Inverness CT -V- St Johnstone - Report

Fifth it is

Inverness ran out comfortable winners eventually after a first half to forget. There was little evidence that anything would change as the teams trudged off at the interval in what was a complete non-event. However things picked up after the break and Ryan Christie was alert enough to head home a rebound from Aaron Doran's shot. Greg Tansey ensured we remained fifth with a thunderous shot. Lashing the ball home from just inside the box after creating the space for himself. Pick that one out ya dancer!. This was a great way to end a season that promised so much but fizzled out somewhat, but overall it has been a good season all round, unless your name is Terry Butcher.

Early morning rain gave way to a bright sunny afternoon and the game was preceded by the now traditional march past by our nutters known as the Highland Marchers. Great effort from these guys once more.

For Inverness it was another makeshift back line with Josh Meekings and Gary Warren missing out and regular deputy Danny Devine pairing up with Ross Draper at the heart of the defence. James Vincent started along with rising star Ryan Christie, and Marley Watkins, Danny Williams and Nick Ross all began on the bench. St Johnstone's own hot shot Stevie May was not risked from the start with Nigel Hasselbaink on from the beginning.

Our own nomadic superfan Johndo made the sojourn from Chorley to see off the season and partake in some light refreshments around the local hostelries and he will be penning his thoughts for us once he relaxes on the train back to Englandshire.............................

The Chorley Brief

It was the last game of the year and the powers that be decide to play a nothing at stake game at 12:15 on a Sunday morning; or perhaps it may be a Subway morning in the near future?!!

The last game of the season, to moi, gives far more positives than many have given credit to. The first half was drab but the passing, to me, was nowhere near the negativity that has been posted on here recently. Both teams were negative and it was as if we were both looking for a 1-0.

The first half was totally bereft of any real skill and was as dull a 45 as I have ever witnessed. But we stuck to a very defensive system and we changed it after half time. GAWD if we had nicked a goal we may have gone ballistic!

Brill was forced to save with his legs because it was hit straight at him and we never looked like scoring, the nearest we came in the first half was when Christie fed McKay who screwed a shot just over the bar.

But the second half was SO much better and, like at Motherwell we could have rained goals IMHO.

After the break we relaxed and if we had scored a second early doors we may have hammered Perth. McKay, Watkins, Raven and Tansey could easily have added to the tally. Doran had one cleared off the six yard line with Mannus stranded, but Christie got a poachers goal and anyone of four could have snatched the second but Tansey did dispatch it with force.

So here we go with the critique :-

Brill:- 6 Not tested but never troubled. Still not convinced.

Raven:- 6 More subdued offensively which was a slight concern

Tremarco:- 6  Better game than usual - still not good enuff going forward but solid defensively.

Devine:- 6 Could really be one fer the future and I would love to see at left back

Draper:- 7 Did he look the part there or what ? Draper and Warren ?

Vincent:- 4 Totally wasted on the wide right.

Shinnie:- 8 MotM for me and maybe we stick with him in there.

Tansey:- 7 Tackles like Paul Scholes, shoots like Bobby Charlton

Doran:- 6 Jhesus if he was fit ???!!

Christie:- 7 Green but such a potential talent

McKay:- 6 Poor Billy was crocked but will prosper with the Portuguese hitman

Watkins and Wiliiams 6: Both upped the pace and added something.

Ross 5: On too late but did nothing wrong

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Final words from tm4tj...........

Well that's the season over folks and it's been a pretty decent one overall. Top highlights for many include the League Cup Semi-Final win over Hearts, a fantastic exhilarating experience coming back and beating them with nine men, Nick Ross' goal kicking of joyous scenes. The Final itself was a superb occasion with a less favourable scoreline. Others thought that stuffing the village pub team from Dingwall 3-0 was high up on the list and who can forget the comedy moment when Derek Adams thought he could halt Jamie Hamill's celebration jaunt along the touchline; wrong Derek. A late entry in this categories is the trouble and strife happening at Hibernian to someone who was once adored at Inverness by most Inverness fans. Yes, Terry Butcher blotted his copybook and turned his back on us at Easter Road by hobnobbing with his Hibernian chums whilst still in employment at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Well well Judas, not going so well now, hope you are enjoying your Marks and Spencer cakes while Yogi dunks his Tesco ones in his tea.

Made me laugh anyway...............................

That's about it from the editorial team for this season, we'll be back for the start of the new season, enjoy the break.

Date: 11.05.2014   Venue: Caledonian Stadium    Attendance: 3121

Referee: Alan Muir

Inverness CT: 2

Lineup: Brill, Raven, Draper, Devine, Tremarco, Doran, Tansey, Vincent (Watkins 68), Shinnie, Christie (Ross 82), McKay (Williams 72)

Subs (not used): Esson,  Polworth, Brown, Sutherland

Scorers: Christie (59) Tansey (90)

Booked: Shinnie

Sent Off: none

St Johnstone: 0

Lineup: Mannus, Miller, Mackay, Anderson, Easton, Wotherspoon (Croft 60), Millar, Dunne, O'Halloran, Hasselbaink (Iwelumo 65), MacLean (May 74)

Subs (not used): Banks, McDonald, Brown, Clancy,

Scorers: none

Booked: Dunne

Sent Off: none

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