It's Raining Goals
Liam Sole started this one after a dazzling half hour display against St Johnstone and he made an immediate impact. He was booked in the 5th minute for alleged simulation. Billy Mckay turned on an Alfie Stewart ball but just missed the target early on. A trialist opened the scoring for the hosts after 17 minutes under a challenge from Danny Devine. Liam Sole blazed wide after a good run and Alfie Stewart was denied by Morrison before at the other end John Robertson clipped the post with an effort from distance that looped over the keeper before hitting woodwork. Inverness would not be denied though as Longstaff, Allan and Stewart combined brilliantly for Billy Mckay to nod in at the back post from Alfie's superb cross. Sole was then denied from a tight angle by keeper Morrison and with five minutes to the break dangerman Robertson went close at the opposite end. Almost another for Inverness but Alfie Stewart's shot bounced just wide after he was played through on goal but it was all square at the break in a game played at breakneck speed end to end.
HALF TIME: 1-1
No changes at the break, but a blistering start for the Caley Jags saw us take a one... two... three... four... five goal advantage. Firstly Paul Allan (48) squeezed his shot in from an impossible angle followed by Luis Longstaff (51) with a superb strike. A low Calum MacLeod shot ended up in the back of the net (54) before Longstaff (57) ended the ten minute scoring spree with a brilliant lob. Or so we thought.....Alfie Stewart added a sixth with a tremendous free kick into the corner from the right side of the box just after the hour. David Wotherspoon hit the post after coming on as a substitute for Liam Sole with Mathew Strachan's follow up saved by the keeper. A spate of substitutions followed with the tie secured and with a couple of minutes remaining John Robertson scored the second of the night for the hosts with a free kick. Still time for an effort or two at either end before the whistle as Inverness recorded an impressive away win to move into second in the Group F table
FULL TIME: 2-6
Raining Goals at the K Stadium
On CTO: ictchris summed up: Overall, a fantastic performance - the start of the second half we literally looked like we'd score every time we had the ball, and pretty much did just that. I lost count of our goals, not sure I've ever done that at a game before. I thought Longstaff was outstanding in that spell - scored twice, set up one and (I think) won the free kick for the sixth. Alfie Stewart also had a great game, he was all over the place, looking dangerous and using the ball well every time he had it. Paul Allan covered so much ground and was available all the time as well. Liam Sole had a good start - his booking by the ref, former Ross County player Jamie McCunnie for diving was ridiculous.
Superb result for the Caley Jags away from home. With St Johnstone beating Raith Rovers 3-1, that puts us in with a chance of progressing into the next stages of the League Cup.
We are away to Raith on Saturday in the proverbial winner takes all encounter. In saying that, a draw would be sufficient for us which might mean a more cautious approach to the tie. Bring it on!
Table after last nights games
Pos
Team
Pld
Gd
Pts
1
St. J
3
5
9
2
ICTFC
3
5
6
3
E K
4
-1
6
4
Raith
3
0
3
5
Elgin
3
-9
0
The Goals
No Listen!
Date: 22/07/2025 Venue: K-Park Stadium, East Kilbride Attendance: **** Referee: Jamie McCunnie
East Kilbride: 2
Manager: Mick Kennedy
Lineup: Morrison; MacKenzie, 22, Ferguson, Mimnaugh (55), Spence (Lyon 56),
Leitch (Cleland 56), Flanagan, Healy, Foster, Robertson
Subs (not used): Owens; Main,
Scorers: Devine (17 og)
Booked: Lyon (67)
Sent Off: none
Inverness CT: 6
Manager: Scott Kellacher
Lineup: Munro; MacLeod (R Thompson 80), Devine, Savage, Strachan, Sole (Wotherspoon 61),
Allan (Alonge 61), Chalmers (Nixon 76), Stewart, Longstaff, Mckay (Keogh 75)
Subs (not used): Ross; Kerr, S Thompson, Gardiner
Scorers: Mckay (25), Allan (48), (51, 57), MacLeod (54), Stewart (62)
Booked: Sole (5), Wotherspoon (80)
Sent Off: none
