Skip to content

v Elgin City League Cup Group F


comment_577498

League Cup Opener

Inverness start the season in semi earnest as we enter the Premier Sports Cup Group F on Tuesday night against Elgin City at the Caledonian Stadium. We had Saturday off as the competition got into full swing at the weekend. It kicked off on Friday night with Partick Thistle beating Edinburgh City 1-4. On Saturday a full programme of ties saw one or two inevitable 'shock results' as teams find their way after a Summer of rebuilding. A couple of notable casualties in Stranraer beating Ross County on penalties (6-5) after a 1-1 draw and Airdrie beating Dundee 1-0 at Dens Park. Spartans were victorious over Queens Park whilst Killie had to battle hard to eventually overcome Brora Rangers 0-2. Arbroath took the bonus point after a 0-0 draw with St Mirren and Clyde missed out on penalties to Premiership Motherwell after a 2-2 draw. Hearts beat Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic 4-1 in the late game on Saturday with Charlie Gilmour making his competitive Pars debut with Keith Bray on the bench.

In our Group F: St Johnstone overturned an early lead for East Kilbride to come away with a 1-3 win whilst Raith Rovers put five past Elgin City at Borough Briggs in a 1-5 win. All teams still finding their feet after the usual closed season merry-go-round and we are no different as the results indicate from our indifferent pre-season form. However, I am assured that Liam Sole has pace to burn and could be a useful asset to the Caley Jags who have often been accused of being over ponderous at times. It's looking like we still need to source an out and out striker to save Billy's legs. Early days, we will just have to see what the next couple of weeks brings as we head towards the opening fixtures of the League1 campaign where we make our way to the Training Ground Derby at New Central Park, Kelty on 2nd August.

image.png

image.png

Inverness have brought in keepers Ross Munro and Logan Ross from County, David Wotherspoon, Joe Chalmers, Liam Sole, Ross Millen and Jordan Alonge to compliment those that extended their stay or already had contracts like Danny Devine, Luis Longstaff, Remi Savage, Paul Allan, Billy Mckay, Mathew Strachan, Adam Mackinnon and Robbie Thompson amongst others. I expect those I have named to make up the bulk of our squad for Tuesday night.

image.pngElgin were cuffed 5-1 last Saturday by Championship side Raith Rovers with Jack Murray scoring for Elgin. Ross Draper with the assist for that one, alas he also conceded a penalty. Notice that Lewis Hyde also started for City. They also have experienced marksmen in Kane Hester and Brian Cameron. Just over 1,000 fans attended this one.

TICKET INFO

Tickets are available from the Club Shop, open Mon-Fri, 9.30am – 4pm and online from eticketing.co.uk/ictfc

Tickets for ICTFC fans available in the Main Stand Only

Tickets for Elgin City fans available in South Stand sections J, K, & L

Tickets Prices: Adult: £15, Over 65s: £10, Under 16s: £6

Under 16s tickets available only from the ICTFC Ticket Office or over the phone on 01463 222880

Ambulant Disabled/Wheelchair age appropriate price with Carer included in ticket cost where required

Supporters Trust: Just a reminder that Bar 94 will be open and the matchday bus service will be operating for this week's cup games. drinking06

Members of the Trust Board will be in the bar before and after both games, so feel free to have a chat with any of us. Our desk is at the far end, close to the servery.

Elgin City: 1945 on Tuesday 15 July:

Bar 94 will open at 1730, with last orders at 1915 (the bar must be fully vacated by 1930).

The bar reopens at full time.

Buses will leave the Bus Station for the Stadium at 1745 and 1900.

Buses return from the Stadium to the Bus Station 10 minutes after the full time whistle and at 2245.

The bus fare is £2.70 single (contactless payments or cash accepted), and Over 60 / Disabled and Under 22 Concession passes are valid, giving free travel on the service to passholders.

Featured Replies

Looking forward to this game tomorrow night and hope for a good start and a home win.

As it is our first competitive game of the season I will start the Player of the Year so as long as you attend the game you can start voting for this season even if you have not taken part in the past. Last year's winner Keith Bray has moved on so it will be someone else this season.

  • Author

With Elgin City taking advantage of the loan partnership co-operation with Aberdeen, they have immediately bolstered their squad for tonight's Premier Sports Cup tie against the Caley Jags. Left-back Dylan Ross (17) and central defenders Jamie Mercer (17) and Noah McDonnell (17) have all now made the switch to Allan Hale’s Elgin and will be immediately available for selection in tonight's game.

image.pngimage.thumb.png.0630dd12b25ce27b4957126a5ca2051c.png

Elgin make four changes from the side that was thrashed by Raith Rovers at the weekend.

Booth, Hyde, Cameron and McDonald drop to the bench being replaced by Mark Gallagher, Josh O’Connor, Connall Ewan and Dylan Ross who is making his debut after the loan agreement with Aberdeen was finalised.

Full time 2-0

  • Author

Off to a winning start in the League Cup. (goals from Billy Mckay (35) & Luis Longstaff (39)

Scott Kellacher made a late loan signing with a familiar face returning to the Caledonian Stadium in young Alfie Stewart. He comes back to us on a six month loan along with another well known face in ex-player David Proctor; now a qualified physiotherapist, Welcome back guys. Alfie was on the bench with Doc Proc in the dugout.

With Elgin City taking advantage of the loan partnership co-operation with Aberdeen, they immediately bolstered their squad for tonight's Premier Sports Cup tie against the Caley Jags. 17 year old Left-back Dylan Ross started and central defender Noah McDonnell also 17 made the bench (He must be a joiner). No room for James Mercer though. Ross Draper took his place in the visitors starting XI with Lewis Hyde on the bench.

A warm night in the Highland capital saw the first chance fall to Calum MacLeod but his shot was wide to the left. His next effort was saved low down by the keeper. Shortly after this Mathew Strachan's cross found Luis Longstaff in the box but his header was too high. Ross Draper saw his header saved as Elgin came out of defence and Longstaff had another header blocked before Paul Allan's shot was cleared off the line and David Wotherspoon's follow up was blocked. Half chances at both ends and around the half hour Jack MacIver hit the woodwork from twenty yards with a fierce effort to deny Elgin the opener. However, Billy Mckay did open the scoring minutes later from a tight angle after the visiting defence failed to clear their lines properly when Wotherspoon was blocked by Ross Draper. Longstaff added a second five minutes before the break knocking in from Strachan's cross. Elgin forced a couple of corners as the interval approached but Ryan Sargent headed over as the first half came to a close. Not much in it at the break, but it's Inverness that have the goals.

HALF TIME: 2-0

Kane Hester got a shot away early in the second half with Ross Munro saving before a flurry of activity around the visitors box saw Billy Mckay's effort blocked with Wotherspoon firing over and Strachan also being blocked. Munro saved from substitute Lyall Booth, spreading himself well and Hester blasted wide when put through towards goal just before he was substituted. The inevitable spate of second half substitutions broke play up and play became untidy but with three minutes remaining two of the subs combined with Jordan Alonge heading over a tempting ball in from Liam Sole.

That ended the action and Inverness kick started their League Cup campaign with a hard fought but ultimately comfortable win over auld enemies Elgin City.

FULL TIME: 2-0

Elgin ft crop.jpg

Good test for the team. Lovely evening on a great looking pitch. Some nice flowing football across the pitch / team. Thought it would be an evening of not taking our chances when Billy scored with quick thinking and feet. Great strikers goal. The second was a beaut, with smart quick passing and great finish.

Second half was a bit of a lower gear from us, however overall a deserved win for me. Elgin were a decent outfit and had the shot in the first half when in instead of hitting the bar the game may have had a different edge to it.

Great to see the Elgin fans in town again. Been too long. I wish them well in the season to come. Only gripe for me was why their fans were pushed out to far wing of the south stand. If we want to bring back some atmosphere surely we can safely control them closer to our our fans.

bc

  • Author

That's some ending to the game at Stark's Park in our group. Raith Rovers went 2-1 ahead in the 86th minute. By the 94th minute they had lost 2-4 to East Kilbride.

Difficult games coming up methinks

After the scare when Elgin hit the post after we gave the ball away cheaply, that turned into a pretty routine win.

The two goals came at the right time and effectively killed the game.

MacLeod deservedly MoM and I thought Strachan had a good game too, whilst Sole looks to have potential.

If we can get a striker in to take the weight off McKay we will have a pretty strong squad.

5 hours ago, tm4tj said:

WTF

The videos have disappeared now...

Are the official ICTFC YouTube channel revamping as well???

Likely cleaning things up. All videos are now marked private and showing only 15 available. If they are simply re-arranging then the videos should resolve themselves once the channel is opened up. If they are making a fundamental change and choosing which to re-upload then previous links may be broken.

image.png

This is what I found on Twitter

  • Author

Yeah, I had a link or two already, but when the YouTube ones showed up I changed it for them as they are usually more reliable and better quality, but now they have disappeared...

On 7/15/2025 at 10:36 PM, tm4tj said:

That's some ending to the game at Stark's Park in our group. Raith Rovers went 2-1 ahead in the 86th minute. By the 94th minute they had lost 2-4 to East Kilbride.

Difficult games coming up methinks

Quite an entertaining game for the neutral. Worth a look to see what we’re up against.

Edited by bishbashbosh

Jeez, Raith Rovers! never seen a team miss so many chances, they should have been 5 up before the break!

On 7/16/2025 at 2:48 PM, tm4tj said:

WTF

The videos have disappeared now...

Are the official ICTFC YouTube channel revamping as well???

Videos should be back up and running again. There was a permissions issue, but working together, we've managed to resolve it.

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. : Terms of Use : Guidelines : Privacy Policy

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.