Craig Brewster scores twice in the league match against Kilmarnock but it finishes all-square. Dennis Wyness returned to the club and was a surprise inclusion on the bench, but made an immediate impact when he set-up Brewster's second goal
Saturday 20th August 2005
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE
2 (Brewster 39,72)
Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson, Fox, Black (Duncan 90), McBain, Dargo (Wyness 71), Brewster (Hart 90)
Subs – Proctor, Parratt, McAllister & Fraser
KILMARNOCK (Jim Jefferies)
2 (Nish 70, Boyd 73)
Team: Combe, Fowler, Hay, Lilley (Invincible 46), Greer, Ford, McDonald (Murray 63), Locke, Boyd, Johnston, Naismith (Nish)
Subs – Dodds, Dillon, Campbell, Smith
Referee
I Brines
Attendance
4119
Man of the Match
Craig Brewster (ICT)
A pulsating match played with all the passion and pace of a cup tie. There was a major boost for the home camp when Dennis Wyness was named in the squad following his arrival on loan from Hearts. He played for 19 minutes and his first touch set up Craig Brewster's second strike – a strong contender for ‘goal of the season'. The player/manager was once more the local hero when he doubled his season's tally to four goals.
Caley Thistle drove forward from the start and in the second minute an Ian Black cross just failed to set up Brewster. Two minutes later Brewster surged through but his low shot was cleared despite a deflection. Ex Killie man Craig Dargo sent an excellent cross from the right in ten minutes towards Brewster – a neat flick over the first defender was promising but a second defender cleared. ICT had a real chance to go ahead in the 16th minute when a penalty was given. Barry Wilson's ball into the box was handled needlessly by Gary Hay but it took the intervention of the referee's assistant before the award was made. Ross Tokely hit it low and to Alan Combe's left but the ‘keeper guessed correctly and pushed it away. The pressure on the Killie defence continued and the breakthrough came in the 39th minute. Tokely crossed from the right, Brewster tried to head it then recovered to side-foot the ball neatly past Combe. Just on the break a low ball from the goal-line by Tokely was beaten away by Combe.
Half Time: 1-0
Kilmarnock were clearly given a severe ear-bashing at half-time as they were a different side in the second half. Their cause was helped by the introduction of Danny Invincible who caused all sorts of problems down the right. A four minute spell settled the outcome of the points but not before a Colin Nish run was stopped by Darren Dods, Combe came out to collect ahead of Barry Wilson, Killie's Alan Johnston sent a curling 25 yard shot wide and both Nish and Black saw low shots held by the respective ‘keepers. In 70 minutes Invincible sent a cross from the right and Nish controlled it before hitting high into the net from the back of the box. A minute later Wyness came on to loud cheers and his first move ended with a pass to Brewster on the left edge of the box – with barely a check in his stride the player/manager hit an unbeatable shot past Combe and the home crowd roared their appreciation. Killie took just one more minute to reply when Gary Hay crossed from the left and Kris Boyd headed the equaliser with the defence posted missing. With five minutes left a Wilson pass reached Ian Black inside the box and Combe produced a terrific save to deny the young midfielder. Play was stopped for four minutes close to the end when Black took a serious knock and, after medical treatment on the pitch, he was stretchered off. Liam Fox let fly from 25 yards two minutes over time but it cleared the bar. Five minutes over the 90 it was Kilmarnock who threatened but the combined efforts of Nish and Hay could not find a way through to shoot.
Full Time: 2-2
The final whistle sounded on a match to remember and ICT retained fifth spot. A fine advert for the SPL - if all football was like this grounds would be bulging around the country for every game.
