Smokies Smoked

The visitors opened the scoring midway through the first half while Pixellot were looking elsewhere. Apparently Kris Doolan scored somehow. In the middle of a hurricane, Daniel Mackay levelled matters with a header early in the second half. Scott Allardice scored a thumping goal from near thirty yards out to put the hosts ahead. Nikolay Todorov secured the points with ten minutes left for our first win of the season. Well done to both teams for weathering the storm.....

Still without a host of regular picks, John Robertson put his faith in the young guns to continue the good work they have put in over the opening two games of the Championship season despite the lack of a win. Arbroath come North searching for their first point after a difficult first two games for the Lichties. They had the measure of Inverness last season with two wins out of the three games played, one of those at the Caledonian Stadium. PPV streaming was available and with covid19 restrictions in place an empty Stadium would greet the teams, Inverness emerging from the tunnel, The Smokies coming from the tradesman's entrance at the South end of the ground. Here's how it played out on another damp and blustery afternoon in the Highlands.

Robbo had a couple surprises up his sleeve with Sean Welsh and Robbie Deas starting with Aaron Doran on the bench alongside James Keatings and Daniel Devine.

A horrendous afternoon greeted the sides and this impacted on the whole game.

There would be only one winner on a windy afternoon in the Highland Capital, and that was Aiden, whose 50mph swirling gusts ensured it would be a difficult afternoon for both sides.

The Lichties opened the scoring midway through the first half making the most of any advantage Aiden would provide. It was engineered and executed by two veterans. Bobby Linn broke on the left after Aiden intercepted the ball and when bin man Linn crossed into the box Kris Doolan was on hand to knock it home.

The hosts struggled to make much headway as Aiden repelled every attack. The visitors would experience the same problems after the break.

Half Time 0-1

It only took a couple of minutes for the Lichties to realise whose side Aiden was on in the second half as Daniel Mackay headed in the equaliser after good work by Kai Kennedy and Wallace Duffy. 

Aiden and abetting would then combine to give Scott Allardice the chance to sidefoot home effortlessly from nearly thirty yards, the ball flying high past a startled Gaston in goal. What a way to open your account in a Caley Jags strip.

The visitors were rarely seen in the second half and it was no surprise when it opened up for Nikolay Todorov to stroke the ball into the net to seal the points ten minutes from the end.

If truth be told, Arbroath were blown away in the second half as Inverness claimed their first win of the season, the Smokies still looking for their first points.

Credit to both sets of players for staying on the park for 90 minutes in the middle of a storm.

One of the main highlights was the sight of Aaron Doran on the pitch for the final five minutes. Great to see him back and hopefully he will build up to full speed in the next few weeks.

FULL TIME 3-1

OFFICIAL REPORT from ICTFC

Here's the managers talking on BBC Sport

Inverness manager John Robertson: "That game should never have been played. It was impossible to find our rhythm in a 50mph wind in the first half."

Arbroath assistant manager Ian Campbell: "We were on top and at half-time we went in 1-0 up deservedly. Second half, the wind caused us a lot of bother and John's game plan worked."

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