Inverness CT 3-0 Partick Thistle - Scottish Cup
It was Morais instead of Malaise that was the order of the day at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness coming out as victors in the 'Battle of the Thistles'.
The Morais double and a strike from Vigurs put the game beyond a Partick team that could find no response.
ICT Fans, and team alike, will be hoping to carry over todays fortunes to the proverbial 6 pointer next week when we travel to face Hamilton.
10th January 2009 - 15:00 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC
3 - Morais (28, 56), Vigurs (46)
Team: Fraser, Tokely, Mihadjuks, Munro, Djebi-Zadi (Hastings 36), Cowie, Duncan (Gathuessi 73), Vigurs⚽, McBain, Morais⚽⚽ (Rooney 81), Barrowman
Subs - Esson, Wood
HAMILTON AC. FC
0
Team: Tuffey, Archibald, Harkins, Storey, J Robertson (Roberts 25), Paton, McKinlay (Doohlan 75), Rowson, Twaddle, Donnelly, Buchanan (Chaplain 46)
Subs - Hinchliffe, M Robertson
Referee E Smith Attendance 1803 Man of the Match
Under pressure Caley Jags boss Craig Brewster handed starts to new signings Pavels Mihadjuks and Filipe Morais, with Lionel Djebi-Zadi also getting a rare outing. Mike Fraser was the preferred option in goals for this Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Partick Thistle, so often a thorn in the ICT side having eliminated Inverness twice in this tournament in recent years.
The players making way for these inclusions were Esson who may have been carrying a slight injury, Hastings, Hearts bound Ian Black and the suspended Phil McGuire, who for good measure was unwell, and or Proctor who had a hamstring injury.
The game started in a downpour and with severe gale force winds lashing the Moray Firth it was no surprise that the crowd would be somewhat subdued, although the away support were determined to make a day of it, whatever the weather and whatever the scoreline, so fair play to them.
Inverness started brightly with Roy McBain playing in the right midfield looking re-juvenated and he was first to test Jonathan Tuffy in the SFL1 sides goal when he fired a long range shot which the keeper tipped over. McBain was prominent in most of the early play before MotM Morais took control of the game. He made ground on the right before placing a cross on Andy Barrowmans head, or so it seemed, but Barrowman was unable to make contact and the danger was cleared. Barrowman was out of luck moments later when he pounced on a loose ball close to the Partick goal but although he slid the ball past the advancing keeper, he also slid the ball agonisingly wide of the far post. Little was seen of Partick in the early stages although Liam Buchanan, a former target for ICT, fired an effort towards Fraser but he collected the ball comfortably. Harkins also tried his luck but dragged a twenty five yarder wide of the mark.
ICT made the breakthrough they deserved in the 28th minute when the lively Morais broke on the right and tried his luck from the angle at around the twenty yard distance, the ball deflecting off Twaddle before nestling nicely in the bottom corner of the net. So there it was, half time came along and 1-0 it was to the home side.
What lay in store for ICT was something unusual, we scored a goal at the start of the second half before you could say Lionel Djebi-Zadi had been substituted. Lionel had tried maybe too hard to impress in the first half and his touch seemed to desert him at times. He looked useful going forward, but wayward passing and clumsy touches were his downfall. Anyway, back to the football and Vigurs latched onto an excellent Cowie through ball and the youngster smashed a left footer high into the net behind Tuffy from around fifteen yards and left of centre inside the area. Unusual start for ICT, as we have been prone to losing early second half goals, but yep, inside a minute after the break and we were two up. We appeared to hand Partick the initiative for a spell after this and Scott Chaplin made returning keeper Mike Fraser pull off a good save low to his right to deny him as Partick searched for a foothold in the match. However, we weathered the mini storm and Morais sealed the victory with his second goal of the game with thirty five minutes remaining. He never gave up after Barrowman had knocked a header forward and as he closed down the defender on the edge of the box the ball broke kindly and rolled into the unguarded net. This seemed to deflate Partick and the game was played out without any more scoring. Donnelly did have the ball in the ICT net between the two second half goals but the flag was up well before he knocked it home, and Partick will point out that John Robertson’s substitution weakened them, such is life.
Gathuessi made his debut with around half an hour to go and looks tidy on the ball and Rooney replaced new hero Filipe Morais late on allowing him to take a well deserved standing ovation from the home fans.
No more scoring as the game petered out and a welcome home win for ICT, albeit against first division opponents, but nevertheless still a win which ensures us of a home tie in the next round against the winners of the Ayrshire derby. Partick were a bit disappointing to be honest, but we have failed to knock them out of the cup before and you can’t do any more than get to the next round, this we achieved.
TM4TJ MotM:- Without question goes to Filipe Morais. Pace, quality, trickery and goals as well, something we have been missing for some time. The former Portuguese under21 international also has impeccable English, how handy is that. Special mention to some others who played their part, new boy Pavels Mihadjuks slotted in nicely in the centre back role and his no nonsense approach was welcomed, and he also tried to play the ball out of defence at times. Mike Fraser looked confident and played as though he had been the number one choice all season. Roy McBain is getting younger I am sure of it, started the game very brightly and lashed a couple of good efforts on target. Ian Vigurs played well and scored with that sweet left foot we know he possesses. On the downside, another blank for Andy Barrowman and Lionel may have played himself out of the reckoning. Russell Duncan needs to get some more practice in with his passing, as yet again he constantly misplaced passes leaving the recipient of the hospital pass a little aggrieved.
Many fans will see this as an opportunity to maybe progress in the cup as Killie are the only other side to fail in Inverness this season and who can forget a couple of memorable games against Ayr United. The 4-3 cup game is still one of the all time greats as was the 7-3 game. Here’s hoping for a good run in the cup and a smile on the supporters faces as the relegation battle heats up nicely with the trip to Hamilton next Saturday.
Remember, free buses to Hamilton and £10 entry should ensure a bumper away day.
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