Men v Boys

At the neutral venue of Glebe Park, and with a larger than life gap in the away support, Dundee, who were already qualified, made a couple of changes with young defender Luke Graham starting. However hot striker Simon Murray was on from the start with Curtis Main waiting on the bench. Danny Devine had recovered sufficiently to start but Jack Walker was rested after his head knock. Ethan Cairns and Lewis Nicolson are still missing and Niko Ujdur is finally off to Hampden today.

1-0 to Dundee in the first minute. Do we need to get the calculator out? If you answered yes, then that was the correct answer. Five up at the break Dundee cantered home scoring a further goal ten minutes before the end through Portales to round off the scoring.

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Dundee scored with their first attack; Palmer-Houlden flicked on to Murray who looped the ball over the keeper and into the net and five minutes later Murray shot from outside the box but the keeper tipped it over the bar. Mulligan played in Murray who lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net after 18 minutes. As expected, Dundee totally dominated the opening twenty minutes with Inverness hanging on at times and a third goal came from Seb Palmer-Houlden in the 23rd minute after he stole the ball from the defender and then slipped it past the keeper into the net. Robertson then played Murray in and he put the ball through the keepers legs and into the back of the net. There was more to come in a disastrous first half for the young team as Palmer-Houlden found a brilliant finish into the bottom corner of the net after being played in by Ingram. 

Half Time: 5-0 The chase is on but we'll need pushbacks.

Nightmare first half but it eased a bit in the second before Cameron’s ball into the box found Portales who headed into the back of the net with ten minutes left. 

Goodbye League Cup, thanks for having us!

It's not for everyone...

More reaction to follow.

We lost didn't we...

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Howden Enders Farewell

With the sad passing of the Immortal Howden Ender, the outcome of this game was immaterial. Johndo had travelled all over Britain to watch his beloved club and also into Europe when we went to Astra Giurgiu of Romania. Sadly, this morning he passed away suddenly and everyone at CTO passes on our our deepest condolences to his family friends and extended family at this saddest of times. He did witness Inverness lift the Scottish Cup and was looking forward to the club getting back on track after the financial woes. Sadly, he will never know, but his legacy will live longer than those at the helm just now. Johndo was Captain of the HMS Sneck a vessel he guided through stormy waters and the doldrums. It just won't be the same without you and your Smileymometer 🙂 after the games, or your pre-season five-a-side tournaments 😂 RIP Legend!

Arbroath won the bonus point after winning the penalty shoot-out following a goalless 90 minutes, but that was of secondary importance tonight.

This was Johndo casually lying on the goal line after we won promotion by beating St Johnston 3-1

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A couple of early corners came to nothing for the visitors in the first two minutes, and in an even start to the game, both keepers were called into action over opening twenty minutes, Newman saving from Innes Murray and McAdams denying Calum Mackay. Ryan Dow passed up a good opportunity after half an hour but he shot narrowly wide of the home goal frame. Jack Walker was stretchered off with a nasty head injury after a lengthy stoppage before the interval and he was replaced by Charlie Gilmour. On the resumption of play, Shae Keogh had an effort saved by McAdams in the visitors goal but it remained goalless at the interval.

HALF TIME: 0-0

Billy Mckay, Luis Longstaff and Ben Corner came on after the break but it was Arbroath who started the second half with intent. Newman saved from Mark Stowe and Tam O'Brien headed close to the post following a corner. David Gold was crocked with twenty minutes left and he was unable to continue ten minutes later leaving the visitors down to ten men for the final fifteen. Jake Davidson tried his luck but shot wide with the clock ticking down and Billy Mckay shot over with two minutes of normal time left. 

FULL TIME: 0-0

Penalty Shoot-Out for the bonus point goes to the visitors 3-5 with a full house.

Arbroath: Murray✅ Callachan✅ Stowe✅ Wilkie✅ Bisland✅ 5

Inverness CT: B Mckay✅ Longstaff❌ Savage✅ Gilmour✅ 3

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Young Guns N' Roses

Welcome to the Jungle.  For the second year in a row Bonnyrigg Rose came calling in a League Cup group stages encounter. Last season when we had selection choices we edged them 2-1 thanks to a first half brace from the discarded Aaron Doran. It would be a much more difficult task this season with the young guns on the park...... or would it. Inverness cruised to a 3-0 half time lead thanks to crisp strikes from Adam Brooks, Keith Bray and Luis Longstaff in an entertaining forty-five full of neat one touch possession football. With the job done at the break, the second half was an anti-climax with few opportunites and rakes of substitutions which put paid to any thoughts of flowing football and copious amounts of goals. Good win for the young guns who were applauded off the pitch at half time, something unheard of last season.

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A grey day at the Caledonian Stadium with a sparse crowd in attendance, brought about by the stubborness of the suits to listen to the fans, saw Inverness get the game underway. Plenty of slick passes coupled with good ball retention led to a smart opening goal when Brooks flicked home Mathew Strachan's inviting cross from the left wing. Only moments earlier, a curling cross come shot from Luis Longstaff missed the back post and striker in equal measures. Inverness continuued pressing the visitors and scored a deserved second when Bray held off a challenge in the box to turn and shoot into the bottom corner. On the half hour, Brooks was denied a second when keeper Tom Ritchie pushed his shot onto the post, and minutes later the keeper denied him again. Number three came when Longstaff made his way into the right side of the box before shooting low into the bottom corner. An enterprising opening half and a deserved advantage at the interval as applause broke out around the inside of the ground. 

Half Time: 3-0

The second half was in stark contrast, but we can't complain at the score. Nothing of note happened after the break apart from Cameron Ferguson getting booked for, well, doing nothing. Danny Devine took a head knock and was replaced after an hour. Hopefully just a precaution as he will be an important player for us this season. All five subs were used by both sides which broke up play in the second period and it was Inverness that got their first win of the season.

Full Time: 3-0

Really good win for our young team with some good performances all round. Adam Brooks looked lively and could have had a hat-trick. Mathew Strachan and Calum MacLeod never put a foot wrong and pinged in some dangerous crosses. Luis Longstaff was the pick of the older heads and will be a useful player in League 1.  Keith Bray took his goal well and did some sterling work along the right side of the park from back to front.

682 in attendance and one on the bridge. Not great, but given the way the club has treated players, fans, sponsors etc then hardly surprising, in fact maybe more than was anticipated. The same fixture last season had 1077 fans attending and nobody standing on the bridge.

With Annan beating Arbroath 0-3 and Dundee not playing today, it looks like our League Cup campaign will be over after the Group Stages. That means a weakened squad will probably see out our final two group games against Arbroath on Tuesday night and Dundee next weekend to allow us to prepare better for the League 1 campaign.

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League Cup Opener ends in defeat

New look Inverness made the long trek to Galabank Stadium for the opening game of the season to face Annan Athletic in the League Cup group stages. Most of our injured players made the game but Jack Walker and Ethan Cairns missed out. Annan added Aaron Quigg to their squad today and in former Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan they won't lack determination, skill or experience, something we lost over the summer. We'll just have to see how it pans out. Tommy Goss headed in the opening goal midway through a fairly even first half but we trailed at the break. No more goals after the interval and it ended 1-0 to Annan.

In other news, Cammy Harper has changed his shirt number to No3 at Carlisle United and Roddy MacGregor scored on his debut for Queens Park... Sigh!

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Inverness got the season underway on the 3G surface as captain Billy Mckay sets the ball rolling. Annan were first to threaten through Aidan Smith who saw Keeper Jack Newman save low to his left after eight minutes. Adam Brooks had our first effort after being fed through on goal but shot just wide five minutes later. Annan opened the scoring in the 21st minute through a Tommy Goss header. Brooks was denied from outside the box as Jamie Smith saved his effort on the half hour and following a corner Aidan Smith's header from a tight angle was denied by Newman with a super save. Billy Mckay shot over ten minutes before the break as the visitors looked to draw level before the interval. Brooks again missed the target shooting over after a lengthy injury break for Jake Davidson. Possession was even over the first 45 but it's the hosts that have the one goal advantage.

HT: 1-0

No changes at the interval and we were very close to an equaliser two minutes into the second half as Adam Brooks saw his initial effort hit the post and the rebound fell to Calum MacLeod in the box. Alas, his effort came off the bar and Billy Mckay couldn't quite scramble the ball in. Meh! Keith Bray brought out a save from the keeper and Aidan Smith did likewise at the other end before being booked a minute later for a late tackle on Charlie Gilmour. The hosts continued to dish out the rough treatment and Quitongo was booked minutes later for being late on Bray. Brooks continued missing the target, shooting wide after the hour and he would be replaced by Robbie Thompson for the last twenty minutes. Thereafter a spate of substitutions and one of them, Calum Mackay, had an effort saved by Jamie Smith. A late header by Ferguson never troubled the keeper and it was defeat in our opening match.

FT: 1-0

Narrow defeat in the opening League Cup game at Annan but nonetheless an encouraging display by the the young squad.

Johndo was at the game looking to tear the team to shreds but came away with a different perspective after watching the new look squad compete with Annan.

Positives - I attended in the belief that this report would be a total slagging. We were the better team, we played the better football and we did not deserve to be beaten, We were quicker going forward, we tried to use width, we tried to hit the bye line. Some of the forward thinking 1-2 touch football was a joy to watch. We worked for 90 minutes. We looked solid at the back.

Newman ***  Rarely tested but looked solid.

Strachan *** Looked raw and needed support of those around him. Not scared of going forward,

Davidson **** Huge improvement in what I have seen before.

Devine **** Gawd do we need to keep him fit

Savage **** Appears to have become some fans boo-boy. On today's performance totally undeserved. Always in space and looking to go forward.

MacLeod ***** MOM - first time I have seen him and very, very impressed - Roddy MacGregor +

Gilmour **** Solid as ever

Bray *** Some great touches and full of energy but may be better utilised centrally.

Longstaff *** Ran and ran, some great touches - so left footed - play him wider left.

McKay ** Sorry but he was the weak link today. NOT a forward any more. Our Harry Kane !! 20 30 minute man.

Brooks *** Plenty of pace and energy, Could/should have had a hat trick. Needs big man up beside him, Now if we had Goss we would have options and walked it.

Ref was poor and allowed too many fouls to go unpunished. (nothing new there)

Negatives - Oh jeez many of our final balls and finishing was shocking. OK we made the chances but blew them all. There were a number of occasions when we played the ball back when there was a forward ball. Some of our support are still in the boo-boy category and lets get rid of the dynasty but lets support those on the field - including Dunc. I bet there will not be many of the blindfolded agreeing with this report. On reflection I actually did want this to be a slagging, ended up pi$$ed of with score BUT encouraged by the performance.

Highlights from Annan Athletic

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