Scotty

The Darkness Cometh North Once Again Inverness surged past a luckless Morton eventually, but it took a power failure, two penalties and three second half goals to ensure their safe passage into the fifth round draw. Nick Ross scored the opener from the spot, on the stroke of half-time, comfortably stroking home the penalty. A terminally looking power cut darkened the skies around the stadium but over half an hour late, the second half kicked off and Inverness were lurking with more intent around the visitors box. A brace from McKay and another penalty at the death, this time from Doran, saw Inverness progress and Morton go back to Greenock in search of a new manager and looking to stave off the threat of relegation. Good luck to them with that. A minutes silence was impeccably observed in memory of those who lost their life in the tragic helicopter accident in Glasgow less than 17 hours earlier. It was a blustery day in the Highlands and the chill wind would get even colder as the day went on. A decent away support greeted the Ton onto the pitch at the start and their danger would come from the vertically challenged but still sprightly legs of Nacho Novo and former Inverness man Dougie Imrie. Inverness started with Liam Polworth replacing the suspended Richie Foran and Raven on the bench once more. Nick Ross had his teeth sorted and he took his place in the starting eleven. AJS will have a full match report after he gets over his latest gig............................. ICT booked their place in the draw for the 5th round for what was ultimately a comfortable victory of Championship prop up boys Morton. For the 2nd time this season we had the bizarre experience of watching two teams without managers in the dugout. All being well ICT's managerial search should draw to a close by the end of next week while Morton's search is just beginning following the dismissal of Allan Moore in the week building up to their trip North. It left Duncan Shearer in charge for another week, assisted by Scott Kellacher, while Moore's assistant, former Leeds and Bradford midfielder David Hopkin took caretaker charge of the visitors. Amongst Morton's team was former ICT player Dougie Imrie and former Rangers star Nacho Novo. Both of whom would have brought some vital experience to Morton's starting X1. A Highland winter is never a pleasant experience, particularly at TCS but nothing better than a win to warm you up. It took a long time for ICT to find any rhythm in the game though, lots of misplaced passes and mistimed runs. Morton were doing their bit to close any attacks out and hit ICT on the break. The first real chance of note fell to our man in form Billy McKay. Some neat play between Ross and Doran exchanged play before Doran played a neat through ball to McKay. The angle was tight and was on his weaker left side, with those against him he was unlucky to see his shot go wide. Morton keeper Nicolas Caraux was probably the away sides stand out player and with some of the saves pulled off it was easy to see why. Aaron Doran stung his gloves with a fierce drive from the edge of the area while he also did well to hang on to several corners won in quick succession by ICT. Nick Ross, who was a stand out player throughout the afternoon was also thwarted by Caraux with a similar effort following a neat exchange of play between himself, Doran and Marley Watkins. The away side enjoyed a decent spell of pressure midway through the first half. Nacho Novo was a quality player back in his day and he almost rolled back the years with what was almost a stunning goal. Some slack play from the ICT defence saw the ball bounce up well and Novo showed terrific control to try the speculative volley from about 25 yards, it was fast and it was dipping but Dean Brill produced an excellent, fingertip save to deny him. ICT's defence was at sixes and sevens again when confusion from a throw in saw the ball fall to Novo and with the little Spaniard bearing down on goal Brill had to stay big to deny him while Shinnie thwarted a return effort with an excellent slide tackle. Ross Draper was next to come close for the hosts. The big man showed he had a graceful side when he showed good skill to clip the ball over Taggart, allow the ball to bounce and try the half volley from distance. Caraux had to react quickly to tip it past his near post, a well improvised effort from Draper though, it would have been a great goal. And another great goal was almost scored by Billy McKay, his acrobatic overhead hitting off the keeper at speed for what would have been a tremendous strike. With half time looming ICT were handed a golden opportunity to strike first blood in the cup tie. At the time virtually nobody in the ground had any idea what the penalty was given for, with most speculating that it was for some sort of handball. Having seen it back on TV it was actually a great spot by the referee as Craig Reid brought down Draper as he was breaking into the area off the ball. Nick Ross was given the chance from the spot and took it, sending Caraux the wrong way in the process to send The Caley Jags into the interval with the lead. Half Time 1-0 Most of us were bricking it (literally) when the lights went out at half time. Lightning never strikes twice but power cuts can strike as many times as they like and after giving County pelters for their Smash cut to black in October I thought karma was going to deal us a slap. Most of us thought we'd be heading home early again but credit to Scottish Hydro who got the lights back up and running in the time they did, wouldn't have happened with out their fast and efficient work. By the time we were into the 2nd half most results from other cup ties were just coming through. Laughs were pouring out following Albion's shock result over Motherwell, cup magic producing its usual goods as well as Queen of the South keeping a fighting chance of going through after their hard fought draw against St Mirren. With the game still at 1-0 it was still anyone's game but space was beginning to open up more for the home side as Morton began to tire. ICT won a corner which was swung in by Liam Polworth. The youngster was making just his 2nd start of the season in the absence of our suspended skipper Foran. His corner came back out to him and he showed good skill to ghost past his man, cut inside and unleash a powerful strike that hit the side netting as it whistled just wide of the near post. Aaron Doran then missed a guilt edged chance to double the advantage. Marley Watkins was instrumental throughout the 2nd half and his teasing cross fell nicely for Doran at the back post, the little Irishman was on the stretch but with the goal gaping his effort scooped up and went high over the bar. Billy McKay also had an opportunity when Watkins found him at the edge of the box but he tried to cut it back to the advancing Shinnie but he was well challenged by Stirling. Morton's best chance of the 2nd half was a speculative effort from Dougie Imrie that deflected in off a Morton player but the flag was raised for offside. Dean Brill also had to stay strong as he caught the ball amongst a goalmouth scramble from a corner. As the game entered the last 20 minutes ICT finally doubled their advantage. The ball was fed out to Marley Watkins who chipped a lovely ball into the box which was met by the head of Billy McKay, his effort seemed to move in slow motion as it dipped into the corner and nestled into the net as he recorded his 3rd goal in as many games. Morton were beginning to tire and space was beginning to open up more and more but it wasn't until the final minute that the match was put well and truly to bed. Morton were hit on the break and Aaron Doran was given time and space on the wing and had people queuing in the box ready to convert, his low ball across the face of goal was met by McKay who had the simple task of rolling it into the net, doubling his own tally for the afternoon. Danny Williams and Toby Agdestein were brought on as injury time was added on. The latter making an immediate impact. Billy McKay played a fantastic pass over the defence and Toby was one on one with the keeper, the big Norwegian saw a great chance to get his first ICT goal as he raced through but he was pulled back by Taggart as he shaped to shoot and for the second time in the game ICT had the chance to convert from the spot, while Taggart got a straight red for denying a goal scoring opportunity. With Nick Ross subbed for Williams, Aaron Doran took responsibility and his effort also saw Caraux go the wrong way. With that the game drew to a close and ICT booked their place in the 5th round of the cup. Full Time 4-0 To summarise :- It wasnt pretty at times but given other results yesterday it was a potential banana skin. Fitness and gulf in quallity showed in the end but were it not for some good work from Brill at times it could have been a different story. The advanced three of Watkins, Doran and Ross seem to be striking a good understanding, left Morton standing at times while young Liam Polworth also impressed. Had Foran being playing I think it would the game would have closed off earlier but we coped well enough in his absence. The strong line up suggested that we were not taking this lightly, and that was proven by the result. AJS MotM - Nick Ross: Was at the heart of everything, linked up well with Watkins and Doran, carved out chances for himself and others and dispatched his penalty with good composure. Probably our most improved player of last season, getting better with every game. Date: 30.11.2013 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: ???? Referee: Don Robertson Inverness CT: 4 Lineup: Brill, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, Tremarco, Watkins, Draper (Williams 90), Polworth, Doran, Ross (Agdestein 91), McKay Subs (not used): Esson, Raven, Devine, Greenhalgh, Pepper Scorers: Ross (pen.45), McKay (71, 90), Doran (pen.92) Booked: Draper (59), Meekings (63) Sent Off: none Greenock Morton: 0 Lineup: Caraux, Fitzpatrick, Imrie, Reid, Stirling (McKee 83), Nicholson (O'Brien 75), Novo, Bachirou, O'Ware, Russel (Campbell 61) Subs (not used): Gaston, Page, McNeil, O'Neil Scorers: none Booked: Reid (44), Novo (45), Sent Off: Taggert (92) This post has been promoted to an article

Butcher Who? Inverness ended a dismal seven game streak against the bogey boys from Perth with a hard fought 1-0 win in the Highlands. Terry Butcher had not picked a side to beat St Johnstone since April 2011, eight games ago, but Shearer and Kellacher ended that grim sequence by taking all three points in a tension packed game with neither side playing at their best. Carl Tremarco brilliantly set up the goal which Billy McKay duly scored, a gem of a strikers goal. Inverness could not build on that early lead but defences were on top and Brill was not troubled throughout as Inverness held on for another vital win. Well, this was it, the first game without Terry and Mo and it did not take long for the fans to have something to smile about after the disruptions of the last couple of weeks. Only four minutes on the clock when Inverness won a throw-in on the left. Tremarco took it to Ross who in turn laid it back to Tremarco. The full back burst between two defenders on the left wing and sped towards the goal line where he unleashed a wicked cross between the defenders in the box. Billy McKay reacted brilliantly to turn the ball into the net from five yards, splitting the defenders and notching his tenth goal of the season. It was a blistering start by the home side who looked eager to impress with Nick Ross displaying some delightful flicks to entertain the crowd. Sadly, the fun soon petered out as St Johnstone got to grips with the midfield after the first twenty minutes but they lacked penetration as the Inverness back four mopped up everything they had to offer. Graeme Shinnie, still deposing fit again David Raven at right back, made one of his now familiar runs forward but this time his rising shot cleared the bar. Doran did manage to keep one down but it lacked power and was easy meat for Mannus. Billy McKay made Mannus work from a tight angle but the keeper was always favourite to claim that one, diving low with an outstretched arm to stop the ball finding the net. McKay was a thorn in the Perth side making darting runs and chasing into channels and his hold up play was a joy to behold. By half time, St Johnstone were enjoying more of the ball as they started to chase the game, but Meekings and Co were denying them any clear cut chances. Meekings did charge down one such raid from Hasselbaink as he capitalised on some shoddy clearances, but that was about as good as it got from the visitors. Half Time 1-0 The second half continued where the first half ended, St Johnstone trying to push forward and floundering on the rocks of our back line. This suited us and Draper fired one narrowly over from inside the box when he really should have made the keeper work. Watkins found himself some space in a similar position but his effort floated over the bar as well, another wasted opportunity to kill off the game. What were Perth doing whilst we did this. Well, erm, nothing really. For all their possession, they could not make Brill work, other than a couple of routine catches and the odd punch here and there. Nick Ross faded in the second half after a bright opening but his job was done. I could tell you more, but to be honest, the second half was an anti-climax with both sides cancelling each other out, and chances few and far between, especially for the visitors, the dangerous front pairing of Hasselbaink and May being well marshalled by Meekings and Warren. Richie Foran was inspirational on the park, helping out in defence and attack, nothing passed him all day and by the time the 94th minute came, St Johnstone had run out of ideas and Brill celebrated another clean sheet. Full Time 1-0 tm4tj MotM:- A few candidates for this. Tremarco was superb in the opening half as an attacking option, and defended stoutly in the second. Richie Foran was everywhere putting in tremendous tackles across the length and breadth of the park. Meekings and Warren; thou shalt not pass attitude was evident, Meekings pace shackling Stevie May's prodigious talents. However, my contentious award goes to poacher and striker extraordinaire, Billy McKay. His ball retention was superb, allowing us an outlet from defence when needed and his close control simply frustrated the Perth defenders all day, his goal just reward for his afternoons effort. Date: 23.11.2013 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3255 Referee: John Beaton Inverness CT: 1 Lineup: Brill, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, Tremarco, Watkins, Draper, Foran, Doran (Greenhalgh 90), Ross (Williams 84), McKay (Devine 67) Subs (not used): Esson, Raven, Polworth, Agdestein Scorers: Mckay (4) Booked: Shinnie (86) Sent Off: none St Johnstone: 0 Lineup: Mannus, Miller (Jahic 80), Mackay, Scobbie, Easton, Millar (Edwards 67), Wotherspoon, Davidson, McDonald, May, Hasselbaink Subs (not used): Banks, Cregg, Wright, Caddis, Kane Scorers: none Booked: Hasselbaink (39), Edwards (83), Scobie (90) Sent Off: none