The day we went to Harry's Bar:
Caley Thistle and their fans went out and had fun today... 7 goals from 7 different scorers meant ICT recorded the biggest victory in the SFL for the season as the large travelling support partied in style.
Apparently, there was a match yesterday that briefly interrupted a day long travelling party. A thousand or so highlanders settled(!) down at 3pm. to be treated to as fluent a display of celebration football as you are ever likely to see, and it was important that they did get there at 3pm, because the game was effectively over by quarter past. Ayr United played their part by providing one of the best playing surfaces that I've seen at this end of a season and leaving their defence somewhere else in Ayrshire. They also gave our fans a huge terracing playground that was utilised to the full.
Harry's Bar, we'll be back!
Wow! as tm4tj recalled the greatest ever day out: That day is right up there with the best of them. What a ball was had by all. We ran rings round Ayr. In fact, you could say that Ayr were not at the races. In between the good natured mayhem there was a football match. The party begun early on the trust bus, yep, trust bus, not truss bus. Harry's pub was stowed out when we breezed into town. The bar staff were rushed off their feet as the the party atmosphere was upped. Chatted to a couple of despondent Ayr fans who said we would gub them. In my diplomacy I thought they might sneak a draw as they would be right up for a relegation battle. Wrong, ten minutes gone and it was all over. Pocket rocket leprechaun and shamrocker little Jonny led the way. What a find he has been. Bumped into two guys wearing the Ireland tops and they turned out to be little Jonny's dad and brother I think it was. The inevitable question sort of stumbled out of my mouth. Will he sign on, his dad seems to think there's a pretty good chance and it was thumbs up all round. Like most, I lost count after four, who cares we simply rolled Ayr over. What a fantastic atmosphere and the fans and stewards were one, all just beaming. Excitement got the better of us and a couple of pitch trips by some was repelled until the final whistle when fandemonium broke out and the away support raced over to the main stand. It was now like a rock concert as the fans waited for the encore. Terry appeared, looking like the pope on a world tour and ingratiated the watching masses. The man is just awesome, spellbound hordes hung on his every word, he had us in the palm of his hands, yes, we were at his mercy and cheered ourselves hoarse. Final stage of the party to come next week and Roy's do at night. This has simply been the best season ever and thanks to all who have made it that way.
Met some nice young men from Dornoch, good to meet you, who's the coolest dude?
zogg has just woken up and he agrees, best day ever.
24th April 2010
Somerset park, Ayr
AYR UNITED
0 -
TEAM: Samson, Mitchell, Easton, Gibson88, Campbell, McGowan, Connolly64, Keenan44(Bowey 78), McManus (Roberts 78), McKay, Lafferty40
SUBS: Grindlay, Mendes, Woodburn
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE
7 - Hayes (2), Rooney (9), Foran (12), Odhiambo (42), Sanchez (75), Eagle (85), Morrison (89)
TEAM: Esson, Proctor, Tokely, Munro, McBain (Bulvitus 26), Morrison⚽90,
Odhiambo⚽(Eagle 71 ⚽86), Duncan, Foran⚽(Sanchez 64 ⚽), Rooney⚽, Hayes⚽
SUBS: Allison, Stratford
Referee
Stephen O'Reilly
Attendance
1804
To the events onfield:
Hayes first, scooting in to finish a rebounded Rooney effort (3 mins.) then a typical quality Jonny cross returned the assist for a Rooney header. By the time Foran ghosted in at the back post for a neat header of yet another beauty of a cross from Hayes, it was time for the referee to declare a mismatch and let the party recommence. He was having nothing of it, even when Eric Odhiambo slotted number 4. You'll never guess who made the goal. By this time, Royster had departed (no luck, just back in the team, playing really well) to be replaced by a happy looking Nauris Bulvitis.
Half Time: 0-4
The second half passed largely unnoted to the hour mark or so, and Ayr had come back into it a bit. Russel Duncan was in the right place to batter one Ayr shot off the line, but that was as close as it ever came to the party being interrupted, never mind spoiled. Dani Sanchez had appeared by this time, and seemed to sense the collective will for him to score, obliging in 69 minutes. Rob Eagle followed and Gavin Morrison prompted minor mayhem on the terracing right at the death with a cheeky wee shot under the wall at a free kick. Cue the final whistle, 7-0 and major mayhem.
Full Time: 0-7 (seven)
The only person that you couldn't consider for man of the match was Ryan Esson, who could have watched the game from the stand. In the end, I would go for Jonny Hayes. The sheer number of quality crosses that he puts in after another stunning run is remarkable, and prompted yet more industrial challenges yesterday as Ayr got more and more sick of him. Raith did the same, as did County and it's a sore way to have respect tattooed on your legs. Respect is due though, especially when you factor in his finishing. Take a bow, Jonny, you were immense and the SPL will really allow you to play.
Poor Ayr must have dearly wished that they hadn't turned up yesterday. Their fans, who were magnanimous to a man hung around blinking in the sunshine right up to the end. I don't think they quite believed it either.
