Trust Trophy Triumph

It's a couple of years since we edged past Stirling Albion in a Scottish Cup tie at the Caledonian Stadium and they were back today for a Challenge Cup 3rd Round tie against a Caley Jags club in crisis and ravaged by injury. Wallace Duffy was fit enough to start as did our two recent loan signings of James Nolan and Connall Ewan. In a first half dominated by the hosts, Adam Brooks scored twice to give the Caley Jags a comfortable lead at the interval. After the break Adam Mackinnon added a third after an hour with another deflected effort to kill the tie as Inverness cruised into the fourth round.

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Reslpendent in our new away kit, Billy Mckay was first to make a keeper work when Derek Gaston saved his low effort. Inverness had a goal disallowed for offside before Adam Brooks backheeled to Mckay, but his shot from the edge of the box missed the target. Inverness had been knocking on the door in the opening stages and it was no surprise when Adam Brooks opened the scoring on the half hour after being fed through by Adam MacKinnon to slot behind the keeper. Musa Dibaga took a knock soon after but was able to continue after treatment as our medical staff held their breath. When Brooks was brought down thirty-yards out some ten minutes before the break he took the kick himself and with the aid of a deflection the ball nestled behind Gaston for his second of the afternoon.

HALF TIME: 2-0

Lewis Milne replaced Aaron Weir at the break for the visitors. However, it was the hosts that added to their lead through Adam Mackinnon with deflection now topping the assist list after James Nolan's shot had been brilliantly blocked by Gaston. After a spate of substitutions the game became a bit more disjointed and Ally Roy brought a save out of Dibaga ten minutes from the end before shooting over moments later. Brooks failed to get his hat-trick as Gaston saved in the final minute and that was it for the first outing of the 30th Anniversary shirt.

FULL TIME 3-0

With Duncan Ferguson red carded last week, Gary Bollan was in charge against the Bino's and a 3-0 win is a good way to hand the team back. Great for Brooks to grab a couple but my MotM was Adam MacKinnon who set up the first and scored the third goal. His general play between the boxes was one of our main driving forces and he capped it with the shot for his goal.

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First win for the Caley Jags

Another controversial week in the life and death of the Caley Jags culminated in a home fixture against Queen of the South at the Caledonian Stadium. A couple of new faces were acquired prior to kick-off with four faces missing, Newman, Longstaff, Bray and Cairns. In came Connall Ewan and James Nolan. Kai Kennedy was in the Doonhamers squad. A first half goal from Billy Mckay in a turgid encounter was enough to secure all three points. A bit of pinball around the visitors goal ended with Billy scoring from close range. Referee Gavin Duncan was the focal point of many a strange decision as he ignored two big penalty claims for the hosts, and a brilliant goalline clearance from an Adam Brooks effort kept Queens in with a chance. Despite a late flurry from Queens we held on for our first win of the League 1 campaign. The downside of these industrial challenges today was that both Duffy's left the field injured, Flynn on a stretcher. Duncan Ferguson was also redcarded for continuallly questioning the referee's decisions. One in particular when Brooks was booked for simulation instead of being awarded a penalty. Baffling incompetence from the ref! On the plus side, the pitch looked in fantastic condition.

Full Time: 1-0

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The points were more important than the performance. However, it was encouraging to kick-start our season today and put us only three points off the pace in the table. 

Billy Mckay beavered away on scraps and got his reward in the first half and Brooks was unfortunate a couple of times. Musa Dibaga did not have too much to deal with, but he seemed to read situations well and took the pressure off the defence with some good catches under pressure, especially when Queens were hurling massive throw-ins into our penalty box in the final quarter of the game.

Devine and Savage were solid in the heart of the defence but it was disappointing to lose both full backs to injury.

Todays scores on the doors in League 1

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Mar0-0ned

Table toppers Kelty Hearts welcomed the Caley Jags to New Central Park, and this was not just for a training session. Musa Dibaga retained the golves with Jack Newman possibly requiring surgery on his knee and Luis Longstaff is out for a month with a thigh injury. New signing Paul Allan was on the bench. Some 0-0 draws are not as dull as the scoreline might suggest. Well, unfortunately this was not the case here as both sides were reluctant to take the game to their opponents which resulted in a game as dull as dishwater. The visitors did look marginally more industrious, but it would be stretching the imagination somewhat to suggest that we should have won. Billy Mckay shot over from the edge of the box in our best only moment of the first half. Musa made a couple of routine saves and one from a fierce shot but he was not overly exerted. Adams in the Kelty goal had even less to deal with although part of that was down to our inability to get shots on target. In truth, neither side deserved to win, and in the same vein, neither side deserved to lose, so stalemate it was and a point apiece.

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Thankfully, the wee social club was the focal point of the Johndo Awayday as olde faces gathered to remember our fallen comrade. Great to meet up with Isla and Gareth and remember the past and also some well kent faces from better times, Iain Coia, the Wyness Shufflers and many more. 

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Nairn Cruise Into Round Two

An Inverness XI faced Nairn County in the North of Scotland Cup at Station Park Nairn tonight (Tuesday 20th August.) The Inverness side was mainly fringe players and youth players with Robbie Thompson and Mathew Strachan the most senior players in the starting XI. Not the best weather as rain came in during the day and a chilly wind to boot. As it was, Nairn romped home 4-1 against a very youthful Inverness XI.

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It didn't take Nairn long to get the scoring underway when Callum Maclean headed in from a corner in the 7th minute. Fraser Dingwall was booked after 15 minutes and according to the Nairn feed he was booked for a studs up challenge and you could hear a "dunt" followed by a "clack". Ouch! Nairn were in the ascendency creating some half chances over the opening quarter of the game. Dylan MacLean saved from Ben Corner after he was fed through on goal by Cameron Ferguson. Nairn added a second after a scramble following a corner and Fraser Dingwall found the net. A bit more even than the score would suggest at the break, but it's Nairn that have taken their chances.

HALF TIME: 2-0

Allan Pollock replaced Jonathan Bain at the interval. A Callum MacLean cross was knocked down in the box and Scott Lisle reacted first to it and lashed the ball high into the net from eight yards. Three minutes later Mathew Wright put the tie beyond doubt as he got a fourth for Nairn when he turned the ball in from ten yards at the back post. Shae Keogh benefitted after a headed backpass goes awry and he got the consolation after 64 minutes for the Caley Jags with a good finish from the edge of the box. A spate of substitutions but no further scoring and it ended at 4-1.

FULL TIME: 4-1

Good luck to Nairn in the next round.

NAIRN COUNTY 4-1 INVERNESS CT XI

⚽ Nairn: Callum MacLean (7)

 Nairn: Fraser Dingwall (15), ICTFC: ??? (56), Nairn: ??? (73), Nairn: ??? (86)

⚽⚽ Nairn: Fraser Dingwall (35)

⚽⚽⚽ Nairn: Scott Lisle (56)

⚽⚽⚽⚽ Nairn: Mathew Wright (59)

⚽ ICTFC: Shae Keogh (64)

The Inverness graphic designer must have had a night off, but here's the team lines from ICTFC.

1. Martin MacKinnon

2. Gavin Thomson 3. Matthew Strachan 4. Sam Thompson 5. Jack Walker

6. Leo Walker 7. Calum MacKay 8. Shae Keogh 9. Cameron Ferguson

10. Robbie Thompson 11. Ben Corner

Subs 13. Szymon Rebilas, 12. James Clark, 14. Ben Gardiner, 15. Hashem Alsharaydeh, 16. Lewis Luxton, 17. Matteus Robertson, 18. Matthew Pearce

REFEREE:  Stuart Randall - AR1: John Falconer - AR2: Kenny Martin

New Start Same Problems

The first game after the olde CEO was prized from his oligarchy bubble saw a decent crowd turn out in appreciation of the efforts of Alan Savage to right the wrongs. It won't happen overnight, but the first steps have been taken to put some life back into the ailing Caley Jags. On the park, Musa Dibaga replaced the injured Jack Newman in goal with emergency loan keeper from Clach Martin MacKinnon on the bench. Keith Bray kept his place with Adam Brooks on the bench. Montrose were the visitors and they are a more settled side although Michael Gardyne was suspended with former Inverness youth player Matheus Machado starting. Both teams were looking for their first win of the League campaign. Kane Hester scored after twenty minutes but on the interval Montrose were reduced to ten men when Sean Dillon was sent off. After the break it was one way traffic against the ten men and no surprise when Adam MacKinnon equalised. However the winning goal eluded us and it was a point apiece.

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It was an overcast, breezy and somewhat chilly afternoon with an Autumnal feel about it as the teams emerged from the tunnel, Inverness in their new strip, the visitors in white tops with black shorts. Prior to kick off Captain Billy Mckay was presented with a wee memento on reaching 300 appearances for the Caley Jags, not to mention his 112 goals for the club. The first action saw Keith Bray's shot deflected at the expense of a corner when he spun on the edge of the box and tried to get his shot away in the seventh minute. Twenty minutes in and what a finish for the opening goal. Former Elgin player Kane Hester opened the scoring with a tremendous strike into the top corner from a tight angle after his miscontrol seemed to deceive Danny Devine to give the visitors the early advantage. Machado was booked a minute later. Billy Mckay came close to levelling the scores after half an hour when Cammy Gill turned his shot across the keeper onto the post with his fingertips. It was a half littered with fouls and Luis Longstaff shot over ten minutes before the break. Sean Dillon headed over at the other end before he received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Billy Mckay. How dare he on his 300th appearance! That was on the interval to leave the visitors to face the second half a man short but a goal to the good.

HALF TIME: 0-1

Mathew Strachan replaced Flynn Duffy at the start of the second half and Gill denied Longstaff shortly after. The other Duffy was hooked for Callum MacLeod ten minutes into the half and Mckay was again foiled by Gill as he shot from inside the box. It was turning into a procession towards Cammy Gill and Longstaff and Gilmour had a go before Adam Mackinnon equalised just after the hour, drilling home from outside the box. He almost scored a second momnents later. Mckay would not find that elusive strike as Gill saved again and Gilmour was blocked before Davidson should have done better at the back post. MacKinnon had another couple of attempts ten minutes from the end and Mckay was denied for the 300th time by the keeper in the top corner. We plugged away until the end but try as we did, the winning goal eluded us and it ended all square.

FULL TIME: 1-1

A disappointing result but we did create enough chances to win three games. However, as has been our downfall over the last few seasons, we struggle to get the ball in the net.

Great for Adam MacKinnon to get his first goal, and with a bit of fortune he could have scored another couple.

Overall the concensus of opinion is that it is a bit of improvement on recent dire performances but we still have a long way to go. Let's not forget we played against 10 men for the whole of the second half.

Doofers Dad summarised neatly:  Of course it is very disappointing to not to beat a 10 man part time team at home, but I felt there were a lot of positives yesterday.  We laid siege to their goal for lengthy periods in the second half and created more chances than we have for a long time.  It got the crowd going and was quite exciting to watch.  (Dunc, please take note.). A mixture of very narrow misses and weak efforts meant we couldn't find the winner but it could just have easily have been a victory by 3 or 4 goals.  How that would have changed the mood!

If you can make out what is being said, you are better than me... Sort this out, the wind did the same last time.

Can just about make it out in the interview, but it sounds like keeper Jack Newman has gone back to Tannadice for treatment. Sounds like he could be out for some time.

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Too Little Too Late

Inverness added their two new signings to their squad which meant Keith Bray was benched with Wallace Duffy returning to the starting XI and Musa Dibaga as back up keeper on the bench. Annan had one change with Josh Dixon replacing Paul Smith in midfield. Jack Newman had the only notable save of the first forty-five denying Aidan Smith after ten mintes. Other than that it was Annan on top without overly threatening. After the interval Annan were awarded a penalty after fifty minutes and Tommy Goss duly scored from the spot. That was the difference between the sides as Annan took all three points despite a late charge from the visitors.

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Plenty of early posturing and the first action for the keepers saw Jack Newman save brilliantly from an Aidan Smith header in the tenth minute as Annan came close to the opening goal. Inverness' first effort followed soon after as Adam Brooks shot over from a tight angle. Annan were controlling the pace of the game in the first quarter and forced three corners to no avail. Smith again went close on the half hour when he shot just wide. Josh Dixon shot over from the edge of the box ten minutes before the break and Wallace Duffy picked up a yellow for abruptly stopping an Annan attack.

Half Time: 0-0

Danny Devine gave away a penalty five minutes after the restart when he fouled Tommy Goss who got up to slot home the spot kick into the bottom corner. Luis Longstaff fired a free kick over the bar and Billy Mckay was denied by the keeper after a turn and run from Longstaff. Almost a tap in for Smith but for a great interception by the defence. Devine headed wide from a Charlie Gilmour free kick as we tried to get back on level terms. A double denial for Inverness as Gilmour's effort was well saved then Devine hit the underside of the bar from the recycled ball as we entered the final ten minutes. Bray shot wide as we pushed for an equaliser with Annan looking for the final whistle. Annan were by now hanging on by a thread and a couple of late corners for the visitors came and went before the final whistle ended the siege.

Full Time: 1-0

More detail to follow>>>

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Game of Two Halves

A rousing round of applause rang out from the crowd on the sixth minute in appreciation of the dedication of John Mackenzie, AKA the Immortal Howden Ender who sadly passed away last week. A fitting tribute as cheering and clapping broke out around the ground and one in which he would have loved to have led the way. Rest in Peace my well travelled friend. You would have enjoyed the first half. The second I'm sure you would have had some choice words for in your aftermatch summary. 

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It was the proverbial game of two halves. Inverness were miles ahead in the first half and rubbish after the break. Plenty of possession and slick movement with new signings Flynn Duffy and Adam Mackinnon prominent in attacking moves. Charlie Gilmour brought out a tremendous reflex save from keeper Long, however most of the good work petered out when we got into the final third but we took the lead on the stroke of half time when Danny Devine sneaked in behind the defence to nod in unchallenged at the back post from a corner. Hey ho we all thought, lifes not so bad after all. Wrong!!! We allowed Dumbarton to dominate the next half hour and they deservedly levelled through Carlo Pignatiello as we seemed to go back into our shell. Niang was booked a second time for persistent fouling and reluctantly left the field when he was red carded. Billy Mckay cracked one off the bar and Charlie Gilmour and Remi Savage were denied by the keeper but it was a bit of an anti climax after a promising first half. Jack Newman also had to make a good save five minutes from the end to keep the score level when he denied Mumbongo.

FULL TIME: 1-1

Flynn Duffy and Adam Mackinnon ran the show in the first half but we were strangely subdued after the break and got what we deserved. We reverted to sideways and backward passing and one can only assume the players were under orders to hold onto the ball rather than look for more, especially once Dumbarton were reduced to ten men.

We really need our senior players to lead by example, but the likes of Longsraff and Mckay were not at the races today. This League should be the catalyst for Longstaff to take on defenders. Sadly he was guilty of backwards thinking instead.

It was a mirror image of the League Cup game against Bonnyrigg. Three up at the break then absolutely nothing after the interval and playing second fiddle.

The trialist keeper for Inverness was believed to be twenty-four year old Spaniard Musa Dibaga who has previously been at Whitehill Welfare and Boness United.

Robert on CTO summarised thus: I thought we were pretty good in the first half and deserved to lead, and it could have been more if players had seen the runs on the shoulder Brooks was making. Gilmour came very close but the goalie somehow kept it out. We didn’t turn up after the break until we’d conceded, then we woke up a bit but couldn’t get a goal, Mckay coming closest when he hit the bar, and both goalies pulled off good saves late on. We also had a clear penalty turned down, with everyone seeing the handball apart from the officials. It was really a repeat of last season. Plenty possession but lacking the cutting instinct and taking the safe option too often. MacKinnon looked good and Duffy had a decent first half but faded after the break. He should have been subbed at the same time as MacKinnon. I’d like to think we will at least be competitive in this league, but we need to be more clinical than we were today.

💪 Danny Devine's goal against Dumbarton this afternoon! pic.twitter.com/PdKHSJdNxu

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) August 3, 2024

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