Jags draw a blank

A day of frustration and missed chances for ICT as the home season starts with a no score draw against Ayr United.

ICT were in the ascendency for much of this game but could not put the ball in the back of the net ... something we will need to do if we are to have any hopes of a quick return to the SPL.

After securing a precious 3 points with victory over Dunfermline at East End Park last Saturday hopes were high that ICT could secure another victory as they took on Ayr United in the opening SFL1 game in Inverness this season. Terry Butcher, back from Scotland duty midweek, made just two changes to the side that grabbed a last second win over the Pars by replacing Rooney and Imrie with Foran and Hayes respectively. With Imrie out for up to 3 months with a medial ligament injury, recent signing Hayes was keen to show what he could do deputising for the former Clyde midfielder whilst Foran was keen to get off the mark and on his way to his pre season target of 20 goals over the course of the season. Ayr fielded former Dundee United and Aberdeen striker Robbie Winters as a trialist up front. Inverness started the stronger of the two and the first attack came down the Ayr right as Lionel Djebi Zadi powered forward, bursting between two Ayr defenders and scampering towards goal but the Frenchman was unable to deliver a telling cross as the ball sailed high above the heads of all his team mates and didn't trouble Samson in the United goals. Ayr's first chance of the game arrived via a cleverly worked free kick which saw the ball lifted over the static ICT wall but thankfully Esson was alert to the danger and raced from goal to block the attempted shot which resulted in a few Home fans shifting uncomfortably in their seats realising that Ayr were going to be no pushovers this afternoon. Despite this temporary scare, ICT lifted the tempo again and began to find themselves in the ascendancy and creating chances to take the lead. A corner from the right was swung in and landed right on top of a group of players in the six yardbox but despite a desperate attempt by David Proctor to force the ball goalwards the ball trickled wide of target. the next half chance was to the fall the way of winger Hayes who chased and harried the Ayr defence until they very nearly gave the ball away just outside their own penalty area but despite the nippy midfielders tenacious attempts to force a mistake, the Ayr defence stood firm again. Last weeks match winner Lee Cox then looked to slide a ball through to Foran but the Irishman was adjudged by the far side linesman to have made his run too early. More clever wing play by Hayes saw the Irishman skip past his marker and lift the ball into the box where it eluded the flailing arms of Samson and between the feet of Foran and Eagle neither of home could force the ball home. The roles were then reversed as Foran darted down the left wing and squared the ball to the feet of Hayes to give the 22 year old the chance of the match so far but his shot was weak and Samson smothered it easily. Ayr had been on the back foot for some time now but nearly gave their supporters something to shout about as Mark Roberts seized on a loose ball and powered through the middle of the Inverness pack but he was tackled strongly by Bulvitis to end any chance of a United opener. A corner from Eagle was met firmly by the head of Proctor and forced Samson into a fine save to keep the scores level and Ayr were let off the hook again when fine set up play from Foran gave Eagle the chance to bag his first goal for Inverness but the former Norwich player appeared indecisive when shooting and attempted to curl one in with his right foot but lifted it high over the bar. As the second half got under way Ayr made a substitution with Connolly replacing Borris as they looked to try and stem the wave of Inverness attacks during the second period. Hayes again was proving to be a tricky customer for the Ayr rearguard when he found space down the left and sent in a high, hanging ball towards Foran whose attempted header lacked any real conviction and was easily saved by the keeper. Lionel Djebi Zadi then nearly set up the opener for Ayr when he played a woeful backpass for Esson who had to be quick off his line to clear the danger. Butcher brought on Duncan for Proctor which saw Stratford move to the right back slot whilst Ayr replaced Robbie Winters with Kevin Cawley. In the 65th Ayr had a strong claim for a penalty turned down as Easton went to ground under pressure from Stratford. Despite strong appeals from the Away fans and Ayr players, referee Brian Winter turned down their calls for a spot kick and waved play on to the relief of the Home support. Djebi Zadi went on another rampaging run down the left and puled back a cross to Sanchez who looked to fire in a first time shot to test Samson but the Spanish play maker didn't connect well with the ball and it screwed off to the right past the post. The game was beginning to get more scrappy as Inverness resorted to long balls out of defence which the enormous figure of Kevin James dealt with apparent ease. Eagle was hooked for young Nick Ross and a clever exchange of passes between the 17 year old and Sanchez nearly gifted Rooney with the chance to put Inverness in front but again Samson was alert to the danger sprinting off his line to claim the loose ball. Ayr were beginning to look dangerous on the break as Inverness pushed for the crucial goal and Esson had to look smart to prevent an effort from Easton sneaking in whilst Djebi Zadi cut out a cross that, had it not been blocked, would have surely seen United take the lead and the three points. The last chance for Inverness to get anything from the game disappeared as a heavy looking cross from Stratford hung in the air before falling on the wrong side of the bar. A number of boos greeted the final whistle from the Home fans whilst the Ayr support cheered their well earned point. After a hard earned, and perhaps unexpected, three points last week it could have been argued that todays game was seen as an "easy" three points for ICT but in the end Ayr proved they were no pushovers. Whilst Inverness had the best of the chances, the inability to finish off these opportunities when presented to them will be of a concern to both manager and fans.