ictchris

------------------------Esson--------------------------- ---Proctor----Tokely-------Munro-------McBain------- ----------------Duncan------Cox------------------------- ---------Hayes-------Odhiambo-----Foran---------------- ------------------------Rooney-------------------------------

Tense first half - we had all the play but didn't really create any chances. I was far away from the two decisions on the 'goals' but the flag was up early for the offside and the handball was clear, according to those who were looking from a better angle. The fact that Phinn was booked for it suggests it was pretty blatent. Second half we stepped it right up and really blitzed the Pars. Hayes started tormenting McCann and the front players all looked to find more space. Odhiambo did well I thought, protected possession well and made a few good passes. Rooney did his usual ginger Torres act, what a player he has been for us - it's easy to forget that he didn't start starting regularly until November. Foran is just a beast, my vote for best player in the division. In midfield, the forgotten Roy McBain was absolutely magnificent, perhaps our best player. His tackling, workrate and distribution were excellent. Russell also had a good game for us, another giant in the run we've been on. The first goal was a great finish from Rooney - Tokely (magisterial at centre half again) sent a long ball forward and Rooney got onto it before the keeper and lobbed him from outside the area. It was an Iain Stewart special, with the ball seeming to spend half an hour in the air before hitting the net. The second came a few minutes later with Odhiambo moved forward before releasing Foran to slot home a neat finish. Rooney almost added a goal of the season effort when he hit a stunning volley from 25 yards, only for Woods to get a hand to it. Dunfermline looked OK going forward and had a couple of chances towards the end, but Esson dealt calmly with anything that came his way. In the end there was a slight sense of anticlimax as Dundee pulled it back against MOrton, after a party atmosphere when they went 2-0 down. Shame but I think it would take a miracle for us to lose it now.

He was absolutely brilliant. What a performance.

If we beat Dunfermline and Dundee don't beat Morton we can't be caught by Dundee. If we beat Dunfermline and County don't beat Airdrie we can't be caught by County.

County in 2010 are a much bigger, wealthier, more established team than ICT were in 2000. We had just come up from Division 2 with a team and manager largely from the Highland League, rather thanthe SPL origins that form the base of County these days. County have been battling for promotion, ICT back then were happy to be steering clear of relegation. Perhaps the question has been answered by the media coverage. County's win is the backpage headline today, whereas ours was the front page, everywhere. I note that on the BBC news last night, yesterday's result wasn't even the main sports story. Celtic losing, and losing to lower league teams is par for the course these days, and a first division team reaching the cup final isn't a novelty any more after Gretna and Queens managed it in very recent years. County raised eyebrows across the land, but there are no shock waves. Good point. Our XI that beat Celtic at Celtic Park were mainly drawn from the Highland League - Jim Calder, Mike Teasdale, Stuart Golabek, Mark McCulloch, Richard Hastings, Ross Tokely, Barry Wilson and Charlie Christie were all either signed from the Highland League or started out there, most played the majority of their careers there before signing for us. We also had Pele, who came from the Highland League. We were just into the First Division and were completely skint. County, while they've been a bit topsy turvy over the past few seasons, have spent nine of the last ten seasons in the First Division - they are an established presence in the top half of Scottish football. Of the players they had on Saturday around half had significant experience of the SPL: Michael McGovern, Scott Morrison, Richard Brittain, Steven Craig, Iain Vigurs, Andy Barrowman. So I'd say that our result in 2000 was a bigger shock than the result on Saturday but from the other perspective County are in Scotland's flagship cup final, so it's perhaps a bigger result. In the final analysis, it hardly matters to the fans as both will enjoy their own clubs results. I'm not hugely bothered about them getting to the cup final - winning the league is the main goal for First Division clubs and if we manage that then it'll have been a great season for us. However, I will permit myself a wee laugh if they get comopletely mangled in the final by Yinted.

It would be a rash move from Hibs or Aberdeen to get Adams in - he's unproven at that level. If County had another good season next term then sides like those, and perhaps Championship/League One level clubs in England, would probably be interested.

This is a zombie election - no party wants to mention the massive cuts in public spending that will be required because they will lose votes. The big arguments are incidental issues - the NI issue is less than 1% of GDP, toddler credits and a tax break for marriage (both stupid ideas) are even smaller. One possible issue is that if we end up with a hung parliament no party will have the mandate to implement the cuts that are required and we will end up in a worse economic situation (if that's possible). There's also the prospect of minor parties extracting pork barrell concessions, as Baron von Smugback has said he wants.

Does anyone actually use beachballs for seaside-based entertainment anymore? The only place you ever see them these days is when football fnas qualify for Europe or play a game near the coast.

WHA'S IN CHARGE?

Early start for this one - whats the best way to go from Edinburgh to Dumfries using public transport? Edinburgh-Glasgow-Dumfries or Edinburgh-Carlisle-Dumfries? Thanks in advance.

I can't make this game.

Many Ross County have noticed this. Many. They are currently building an effigy of him in Alness.

BinghamLegend, do you post on the 'Has Livingston changed much...' on LiviLions or the 'Has Kilmarnock changed much...' threads on their respective boards? When I go back I do think that the town centre is a bit run down. There are so many boarded up shops, the only places that can replace them are pishy pubs - it's sad. Inverness has outgrown it's town centre - it used to be a nice Highland town, now it's getting a bit identikit. I do still love some parts of town though - I like walking down Church Street, not sure why. One thing to remember is that CaleyStan makes a good point - compared to some of the shitholes in Central Scotland, Inverness is a very nice place. Imagine you grew up in Kelty or Croy or Larbert? The only good thing about these places is that you can get a quick train to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Margaret Thatcher is well known as a massive fan of Caley. In her retirement she often whiled away the hours in the main stand, disguised as that walrus beardy guy. I saw her at the 4-2 home win over St Mirren in 2002 and overheard her say "For fvcks sake Bagan, why can't you play like that all the time?". Dennis, as befits a crazed gin soaked businessman, preferred Rangers. George Osbourne slipped into the first derby of the season and made a point in leading the 'Dirty gyspy bar stewards' chant - the braying persecution of those who couldn't fight back took him back to the restaurant trashing high jinks of his times in the Bullingdon Club. In fact, it's rumoured that Osbourne was a leading light in the now mythical ICT Real, who brought the football section of NCIS to it's knees with their reign of terror in the mid 2000s. It was only after a stern talking to from Michael 'Govey' Gove and David 'Two Brains' Willetts that Ossie gave up the wild life of a Buckfast swilling casual to become Dave 'Dave' Cameron's wing man.

Saturday 3rd April We beat Raith Ayr beat Dundee Pars and County draw. ICT ARE 7 CLEAR OF DUNDEH, 8 CLEAR OF PARS, 13 CLEAR OF COUNTY Tuesday 6th We beat Morton County draw with Queens ICT ARE 10 CLEAR OF DUNDEH, 11 CLEAR OF PARS, 15 CLEAR OF COUNTY Saturday 10th We beat Queens Ayr beat Pars Partick beat Dundee ICT ARE 13 CLEAR OF DUNDEH, 14 CLEAR OF PARS, 18 CLEAR OF COUNTY PARS AND DUNDEH CAN NO LONGER CATCH US Tuesday 13th Morton beat County County now 18 points behind with four games left - can't catch us - we win title If this happens, I will give everyone on the forum a million quid.

The OTB forum mentioned someone getting lifted for calling Butcher an 'English cvnt'. Hopefully he gets convicted - disgraceful behaviour.

How's the weather holding up? I am nervous.

Full time now would be fine.

This is certainly the biggest Highland derby I can remember - none of the previous games in the First Division have been so pivotal to the title race at this stage in the season. Having said that, if we draw tonight I don't think that's a terrible result.

Who cares about Barrowman. If he scores tonight I'll be disappointed but only because of us conceding a goal.

Good article on the Pope (and the Prophet).

-----------------------Esson------------------------- ---Proctor------Tokely----Munro-----Golly------ ---------------Cox---------Duncan------------------ -----Hayes---------Sanchez----------Foran-------- -----------------Ginger Torres-----------------------

Travelling makes everyone drunk.

I am going.