Scotty

Brink of Glory Inverness stand on the brink of glory after all but confirming their European status with a 2-1 victory over arch rivals Dundee United. A miserable day weatherwise turned into an even wetter night as constant rain dampened the atmosphere and the playing surface became saturated. That would bring about the opening goal after only two minutes as a passback stuck in the water, and when Esson rushed his clearance it fell to Robbie Muirhead some 40 yards out and he saw his opportunity to put the ball into the empty net. Inverness got to grips with the conditions and levelled seven minutes before the break, Edward Ofere knocking home after good work down the left side opened the goal for him. The winner was a spectacular Volley from Danny Williams when a clearance fell to him on the edge of the box and he volleyed a dipping shot over the keeper. Despite a late flurry from United, Inverness held on to move tantalisingly close to clinching third place, a great achievement for Manager of the Year John Hughes and everybody at the club. Twas a damp night in the Sneck and the atmosphere got even damper when United scored before some folk had taken their oilskins off. Deputising defender Danny Devine stroked a ball back towards Ryan Esson, but it floundered in a small loch outside of Esson's box. Ryan did his best to reach the ball first as he paddled outside his area, but as he cleared a tackle came in from Ciftci and the ball only skidded to Robbie Muirhead nearly forty yards from goal. He did what he had to do and chipped the ball calmly into the unguarded net for an early opener for United. Minor disaster for Inverness who were looking to stay ahead in the race for Europe. The constant rain made many wonder if the game should have started as water splashed off the park as the players treaded water around the ground. This spurred United on in the early part and they almost got a second fluke. Muirhead exchanged passes on the right side and he flighted a cross into the box. It curled over Esson but came back off the bar, much to the relief of the home support. Muirhead was the main threat at this moment and Esson had to react smartly to dive to his right and punch away a free kick as United penned Inverness in their own half for the majority of the first period. Ross Draper averted a certain second goal when a loose ball outside the box was latched onto by Ciftci. He nutmegged one defender and sprinted towards the six yard box, but Draper was alert to it and mopped up (no pun intended) with a tremendous last ditch sliding tackle to clear the danger. Inverness were starting to get to grips with the pace of the game and scored a wonderful team goal. Graeme Shinnie picked up in the middle of the park and fed Danny Williams. He turned and laid a brilliant ball into the path of Watkins who found the byeline before laying it on a plate for Edward Ofere to knock home. Super goal and just the boost Inverness were looking for. Watkins, Vincent and Shinnie were involved a few minutes later as Inverness turned the game on it's head. When Shinnie's right footed cross came into the box it was headed out to around twenty five yards where Danny Williams was standing. One touch on his chest and one bounce on the sodden turf before his sweet left foot volley flew up and over the keeper to put the homesters ahead before the break. Half Time 2-1 Ofere really should have added a second just after the break when Watkins got in behind the defence. He whistled a ball across the box but Ofere knocked it past the upright as he came in to the six yard box at the back post. Would we regret no taking advantage of our dominant spell? Williams was chief tormentor by now and did well to keep the ball in play down the left. His cross found Watkins rushing goalwards but the defenders challenge did enough to unsettle him and the ball narrowly missed the far post. Another bursting run from Williams saw Watkins stroke the ball home but a narrow offside decision robbed him of a third goal. Some great creativity on display but no further goals to show for it as United were put through the wringer, no pun intended again. With there only being one goal in it, United thought they might sneak a point and but for a couple of rash slashes at the ball they might have taken something from the game. However, they were reduced to swinging balls into the box in the hope that our solid defence would falter . Substitute Henri Anier had a shot blocked by a wall of bodies and then fired the rebound over the bar, and Meekings' luck continued as he sliced a clearance fairly close to his own goal; and breathe. However, we held firm to see out the game, despite this late flurry. Full Time 2-1 Great result for Inverness after going behind so early on a night suited for ducks. United finished the game strongly after realising they were still in the game but Inverness did just enough to earn the points and edge closer to Euro footie. Danny Williams was darting around like a man possessed and he gets my nod for MotM. Another great performance from Graeme Shinnie as well and he showed his captains credentials when he squared up to the massive United defender Jaroslow Fojut after a bit of afters with Ofere. Nice one Graeme, we will miss you. So, seven points ahead of our two nearest challengers. It's all to play for next weekend in Tayside as we go to Dens Park and United take on St Johnstone. Bring it on. Date: 05/05/15 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2426 Referee: Calum Murray Inverness CT: 2 Lineup: Esson, Meekings, Warren, Devine, Shinnie, Draper, Tansey, Watkins (Doran 90), Vincent (Ross 87), Williams (Christie 81), Ofere Subs (not used): Mackay, Tremarco, Polworth, Kink Scorers: Ofere (38), Williams (43) Booked: Ofere (63) Sent Off: none Dundee Utd: 1 Lineup: Cierzniak, McGowan (Dillon 52), Fojut, Morris, Dixon, Telfer (Anier 71), Rankin, Souttar, Spittal (Erskine 59), Ciftci, Muirhead Subs (not used): Szromnik, Butcher, Connolly, Smith Scorers: Muirhead (2) Booked: Dixon (58), Fojut (63) Sent Off: none This post has been promoted to an article

Point taken Inverness had to settle for a point as St Johnstone came from behind to share the points in a tousy game at McDiarmid Park. Aaron Doran side-footed the visitors ahead with an excellent finish off the bar from fifteen yards. Perth levelled the game near the end when Brian Graham rose above Josh Meekings to head home Tam Scobbie's cross. Inverness finished the game with ten men as cup hero David Raven was sent packing by card happy referee Andrew Dallas after picking up his second yellow card, one of nine waved around. Ten league games since we last won is the disappointing statistic that is threatening to undo our season as we stumble towards the finale. John Hughes rested Ryan Christie and Aaron Doran got a rare start. James Vincent also played from the kick off with Ross Draper missing out due to serving his second match ban as Inverness tried to end their drastic league slump and clinch the third Euro slot ahead of St Johnstone and Dundee United. It was a low key event with little for the fans to get excited about in the freezing conditions. Danny Swanson almost broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when he curled a brilliant shot from outside the box that beat Ryan Esson but crashed back off the bar and James Vincent and Danny Williams hit decent thirty yard efforts that warmed Mannus' palms. Michael O'Halloran burst free in the box but was unable to work the keeper. Raven picked up his first booking on the stroke of half time after being scythed down by two Perth players. After remonstrating with them referee Dallas intervened and harshly booked Raven, something he would regret later in the game. Half Time 0-0 St Johnstone should have scored at the start of the second half but O'Halloran scooped a shot over from five yards after the ball would not leave the Inverness box. They paid for that eight minutes later when a Raven cross rolled out to the edge of the box and Doran met it first time to side foot the ball home off the underside of the bar. Josh Meeking burst forward past four or five tackles and when the ball eventually reached Doran, he could only direct his long range effort over the bar this time. Yogi tried to hold what we had and introduced Danny Devine at the expense of Aaron Doran but the move back-fired as St Johnstone snatched the equaliser with nine minutes left. Great work down the left side saw Scobbie curl an inviting cross onto the head of Brian Graham and he flashed a powerful header into the net with Meekings unable to put any pressure on him. Raven went for the proverbial early bath three minutes later after a rash challenge on the halfway line which saw him collect his second yellow and ultimately red, but Inverness saw out the game to earn their point. Full Time 1-1 A draw was probably the right result, but it's still frustratingly disappointing to miss another opportunity to seal the third spot and with United beating Aberdeen it is getting a bit congested at the top end of the table below Champios Celtic and runners up Aberdeen. Doran, bar, goal - Boom! Date: 02.05.2015 Venue: McDiarmid Park, Perth Attendance: 2986 Referee: Andrew Dallas St Johnstone: 1 Lineup: Mannus, Mackay, Anderson, Scobbie, Miller, Swanson, Davidson (Graham 75), Millar, O'Halloran, Wotherspoon, MacLean (McFadden 72) Subs (not used): Banks, Lappin, Wright, Caddis, Kane Scorers: Graham (82) Booked: MacLean (36), Davidson (61), Anderson (77), Wotherspoon (88), Swanson (91) Inverness CT: 1 Lineup: Esson, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Doran (Devine 75), Vincent, Tansey, Williams, Ofere, Watkins Subs (not used): Mackay, Ross, Tremarco, Polworth, Christie, Kink Scorers: Doran (55) Booked: Vincent (26), Raven (45), Ofere (52) Sent Off: Raven (84)

Heroes to Zero's Cup heroes Inverness were once more upstaged by Aberdeen, despite taking the lead. Last weeks heroes turned to zero's with David Raven being credited with an own goal and Marley Watkins missing a sitter, but he was not alone as profligacy allowed Aberdeen to stay in the game before they eventually stole the points.......... again. Edward Ofere did it lying down as he despatched a rebound into the net but second half goals from Raven and Niall McGinn sealed the points for the Dons who are on an impressive run at the moment. They have been difficult to break down and are not in the habit of losing many goals. Today they rode their luck at times aided by poor finishing and this result confirms Aberdeen as second best with Inverness needing to pull their socks up if they want to remain in third. 　This report comes to you courtesy of RIG Massively disappointing result. Felt like a bit of a smash and grab by Aberdeen to be honest who looked poor for much of the match until we shot ourselves in the foot by conceding two shoddy goals again from set plays (something that needs to be sorted out). After they went ahead Aberdeen comfortably saw out the rest of the match. It may be clichéd by the sign of a good side is when they are playing poorly but still winning and that appears to be true for Aberdeen today. We started brightly enough. Some of our passing play in and around the Aberdeen area was fantastic. Clever and intricate one touch passing which carved open the Dons defence on a few occasions. Watkins and Ross both found themselves one on one with the keeper only a few yards out but each time they were denied by superb stops by Brown in the Aberdeen goal. Watkins had another good chance before half time when he scurried in behind the Aberdeen defence but blazed his effort well over. Whilst the Aberdeen defence wasn't looking too clever, the Dons attack, whilst quiet on the whole, still looked threatening on occasions. A clever lobbed ball by Hayes found Rooney in some space but, under pressure, he dragged his shot wide. Rooney then headed past the post from an Aberdeen corner as he ghosted in unmarked and fortunately ICT escaped on that occasion. Half Time 0-0 ICT took the lead shortly after the break when Watkins was able to send a cross in from the left flank which Ofere headed towards goal. Scott Brown failed to hold onto the ball and fumbled it to Ofere who, whilst lying on the ground, hooked his foot round the ball to fire it into the net to give Inverness the lead. The equaliser for Aberdeen was an exceptionally poor goal to concede from an ICT point of view. A McGinn free kick on the Inverness right side was whipped across goal and it seemed to evade everyone in the box before ending up in the back of the net. No idea if it came off Raven (confirmed) as some are reporting regardless it was still a very disappointing goal to give away. Worse was to follow five minutes later when Aberdeen took the lead. Esson had initially saved well from a Rooney effort but the ball fell to McGinn who netted the winner from a few yards out. I might be wrong but I think McGinn actually took the initial corner and he followed the ball in with no ICT player picking him up. Again, very poor defensively from ICT on a set piece. After that Aberdeen easily controlled the rest of the game and looked comfortable for the remainder. Full Time 1-2 Definitely not their finest performance but it says something that they can play poorly and still emerge with the three points in a 2nd v 3rd battle. ICT showed some great attacking play at times but poor finishing let us down badly today along with our well known problems defending set plays. The subs by Hughes were odd. I thought Ross and Christie were playing well when they came off but perhaps they were struggling after last weekends exploits. Definitely feels like a point or three thrown away as we now move on to eight league games without a win a run of form that drastically needs to be reversed if we want to finish third this season. The Scottish Cup run is fantastic but we can't lose focus on what we are trying to achieve in the league. There were two big(-ish) penalty shouts for handball in this game. The first was when an ICT player slid across goal to block a shot and, with his arm trailing along the surface behind him as he slid, blocked the shot / pass. Logan then looked like he may have moved his arm to control a bouncing ball in the box. Neither was given and the referee was, coincidentally after last weekends shenanigans, Crawford Allan. Cheers RIG, great report as always. Date: 25/04/15 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 4530 Referee: Crawford Allan Inverness CT: 1 Lineup: Esson, Raven (Kink 86), Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, Williams, Tansey, Ross (Vincent 71), Christie (Doran 71), Watkins, Ofere Subs (not used): Mackay, Devine, Tremarco, Polworth Scorers: Ofere (48) Booked: none Sent Off: none Aberdeen: 2 Lineup: Brown, Logan, Considine, Taylor, Reynolds, McLean (Smith 46), Flood, McGinn (Daniels 90), Hayes, Jack, Rooney (Goodwillie 78) Subs (not used): Langfield, Pawlett, Low, Shankland Scorers: Raven (og.69), McGinn (74) Booked: Considine (51) Sent Off: none