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Inverness pay the penalties The tax man may well be looking to recover £1.4 million pounds in fines from Rangers, but it was Inverness that were left to pay the penalties on the park as refereeing in the SPL reached a new level of incompetence. The sheriff was knocking on the door at Ibrox last week but it was a cowboy that went by the name of Norris that decided the outcome of this tense shootout. Two second half penalties were the deciding factor in this one as current SPL champions Rangers benefited from two crucial decisions by the referee that kept Inverness rooted to the foot of the table, with manager Terry Butcher calling in to the ref's locker room for a wee chat after the game. Jelavic buried the first penalty after Ross Tokely was deemed to be the perpetrator of a heinous crime; he tackled Steven Naismith in the box and the ref pointed to the spot, much to the bewilderment of three quarters of the stadium. To add insult to injury, Ross Tokely was sent packing for making the tackle. A second penalty followed soon after and Esson made a fabulous one handed save but Edu reacted sharpest to slide the rebound home to secure all three points for the Gers. This was a disappointing way to let the points slip away as Rangers, for all their possession, found the Inverness back line much more robust than the previous weeks sloppy performers. With the game finely poised and Inverness beginning to venture up the park the hammer blows were delivered on the hour mark and eight minutes later. Up to that point, neither keeper had been called upon to make any telling contributions as defences were on top, and Rangers squandered any half chances that came their way. The linesman chalked off a goal early on for the visitors as Jelavic knocked home an Edu touch, a bit like Tade last week, had he not interfered the goal would have stood, but the flag brought the away fans celebrations to an abrupt halt. 13th Aug 2011 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium I.C.T. 0 - TEAM: Esson, Piermayr, Tokely, Hogg, G.Shinnie, Tudur-Jones (Ross 65), Hayes, Tansey, Doran (Sutherland 73), Foran, Tade (Aldred 60) SUBS: Tuffey, A.Shinnie, Morrison, Laing Booked: Piermayr (5), Foran (59), Tansey (81) Sent Off: Tokely (59) RANGERS 2 - Jelavic (pen 60), Edu (68) TEAM: McGregor, Goian, Broadfoot, Bartley (Perry 33), Wallace, Edu, Ness, Davis, Ortiz (Wylde 74), Naismith, Jelavic SUBS: Alexander, Fleck, Healy, Hutton, Hemmings Booked: Bartley (26), Edu (44) Sent Off: Edu (75) Referee Euan Norris Attendance 6623 The rain earlier in the week had relented and gave way to a wonderful sunny afternoon with a slight breeze to keep the fans cool as the game kicked off early. Rangers enjoyed the bulk of the pressure with Inverness sticking to a game plan, and everything was going to plan. The fact that neither keeper was involved in the game was down to both defences restricting the attackers to half chances and long range efforts. Aaron Doran rushed a first time effort after a quick break forward by the home side but his limp effort was easily gathered by McGregor in the Rangers goal. Tade almost poached a goal after a short back pass by Bartley but McGregor reacted quickly to smother the attempt. The closest Inverness came to breaking the deadlock was when Foran slid towards a ball fizzed across the Rangers box by Doran, but he was just short of connecting with the ball. Rangers tried in vain to convince the referee they were due a penalty as arms seemed to get in the way of the ball, but the ref ignored their pleas for now. The game had been scrappy at best, but it was poised on a knife edge as half time came and went with the home fans happier with the score so far. Half Time 0-0 The second half continued along the same lines, Rangers being handed the ball, Inverness taking it back off them, and so it continued right up until the hour mark when Mr Norris decided enough was enough and took the law into his own hands. Naismith scampered into the box as the villain Rossco approached him. He slid into the challenge and that was enough for the ref as he pointed to the spot, and promptly dispatched the aforementioned villain. Jelavic made no mistake from the resultant penalty as he whistled the ball past Esson, 1-0 to the visitors and worse was to follow. In sixty eight minutes Aldred came in behind Goian as he made his way towards the byeline, but still within the confines of the penalty box. His dying swan act caught the eye of the official and once again he pointed to the spot. Esson did hand off the initial attempt brilliantly and could feel aggrieved that his defenders were second to the rebound as Edu knocked the ball home. The game looked beyond Inverness although they never gave up as the ref then evened the numbers on the park by having Edu withdrawn for a second booking as he hit Nick Ross late. The introduction of Shane Sutherland almost produced a goal but he was snuffed out in the box as he pulled the trigger. He looked to be a more potent attacking option than the preferred Tade who had earlier been replaced by Aldred as Butcher shuffled the pack in light of Tokely's dismissal. Naismith could have totally cheesed everybody off had he poked home a third, but he dragged his shot across the goal from the same spot Tokely had interupted his previous run; maybe he should have let him try his luck. That was about it as Rangers held off a spirited Inverness challenge, but the story of the day was the penalty kicks that decided the outcome. Full Time 0-2 Best for Inverness were along the back line with Ross Tokely dominant until his early bath. Graeme Shinnie was superb and Chriss Hogg was back to his best. Owain Tudur-Jones was posted missing along with Greg Tansey today, surprising really as they were on a big stage and given the glimpses so far this season they certainly underachieved today. Penalties apart, the other disappointing aspect of the game is our continuing lack of ability at throw-ins ......................... sort it. Basement battle already next week as Inverness head to Aberdeen in what will now be seen as a crucial game by both sides this early in the season.

Inverness labour to make a point at Dunfermline. Inverness came from behind twice and then eventually let the lead slip from their grasp to earn their first point of the season in a six goal thriller at East End Park. Andy Kirk opened the scoring for the Pars in the first half but Greg Tansey levelled immediately after the break. Kirk again put the Pars ahead only for Hayes to equalise and then Tansey nodded the visitors in front, but a scorching free kick from Martin Hardie gave the Pars a share of the points in the 90th minute. Gregory Tade showed his eagerness to score by knocking Richie Foran's header into the net, unfortunately for Gregory, because he got the last touch on the ball this ruled him offside and the goal was chalked off. This endeared the big striker more to the Dunfermline fans as he was a target for the boo boys having played for local rivals Raith Rovers last season. At the end of the day a draw was probably a fair result as the more the game wore on the more Inverness looked to be taking control of the game, but it was Dunfermline that looked the likeliest in the first half and deservedly went in ahead at the interval. On the plus side for both teams, they both scored goals today and for Inverness it's the first point on the board. As expected, Aaron Doran took over from Nick Ross and Chris Hogg would start ahead of Tom Aldred at the back pairing up with Ross Tokely. Tade was again tasked with the job of scoring the goals alongside captain Richie Foran. Piermayr and Gillet were the wing backs with Hayes, Tudur-Jones, Tansey and Doran the midfielders. Utility player David Proctor had an unlucky day. He had replaced the injured Kenny Gillet before half time but he was himself replaced by Aldred after taking a knock with an hour played. Our roving reporter Proctor will have a full match report ready for you when he has time to draw breath after this high scoring tussle............. 6th Aug 2011 East End Park, Dunfermline Dunfermline 3 - Kirk (26,52), Hardie (90) TEAM: Gallacher, Thomson, McCann, Keddie, Potter, Mason (Graham 84), Cardle, Hardie, Burns, Barrowman, Kirk (McDougall 75) SUBS: Smith, Dowie, Willis, Thomson, Young Booked: Thomson (30), Barrowman (79) Sent Off: none I.C.T. 3 - Tansey (46,83), Hayes (76) TEAM: Esson, Tokely, Hogg, Gillet (Proctor 39 (Aldred 60)), Piermayr, Tudur-Jones, Hayes, Tansey, Foran, Tade, Doran (Ross 74) SUBS: Tuffey, A.Shinnie, Morrison, Sutherland Booked: Tokely (13), Piermayr (49), Tansey (90) Sent Off: none Referee Stephen Finnie Attendance 3378 Inverness Caledonian Thistle secured their first point in the SPL this season with a six goal thriller against Dunfermline. The Caley Jags may however be frustrated at their defence, having conceded another last minute goal. It only took three minutes for Ryan Esson to be tested. The goalkeeper saved a powerful point-blank Andy Barrowman shot following a corner. It was perhaps a sign of things to come. Esson was kept busy as Cardle slipped a ball wide to Thomson who stung the keepers palms as he beat away the powerful drive from the right side of the box. Cardle was causing problems and he was denied a scoring touch as Chris Hogg magnificently blocked his attempt from 10 yards with Dunfermline firmly in the driving seat. Caley Thistle had started slowly. A weak Greg Tansey shot from inside the box was all that challenged Paul Gallacher in the first ten minutes. It would take until the 25th minute for the Dunfermline keeper to be properly tested. As Gallacher saved a brilliant Greg Tansey free kick, palming away the curling effort; Martin Hardie would show him how to do it properly in the 90th minute. It wouldn’t be long before the ball was at the other end of the park. Andy Kirk received a pass into the box from former Inverness player Andy Barrowman and slipped it past Ryan Esson to make it one nil. The Inverness defence badly exposed as weak challenges by Tokely and Hogg let the Pars in on goal. ICT were forced to make a change 40 minutes in as Kenny Gillet was stretchered off the park. David Proctor came on to replace him. As the half time whistle went The Caley Jags were losing and it looked like it might stay that way. Half Time 1-0 Inverness equalised just after half time. Quick feet by new signing Greg Tansey saw his shot deflected off Alex Keddie as he turned his back on the shot and the ball looped high into the net. The Scouser’s first competitive goal for the club, thankfully not his last of the game. The level score was not to last. Several minutes later Andy Kirk headed in a Cardle cross to regain the lead, again the visitors defence were all at sea as Kirk was left isolated when he nodded home unchallenged from six yards. Gregory Tade was ruled offside when attempting to tap in a Richie Foran headed chip that was destined for goal in the 67th minute - much to the delight of the Dunfermline fans who mocked Tade all game. Foran was not best pleased. Thankfully Jonny Hayes was in the box to score a real poachers effort after the keeper spilled a Tudur-Jones 25 yard effort. Hayes was first to react to slip it past Paul Gallacher. Nick Ross, who disappointed last week entered the contest and he was unfortunate to see his drifted shot narrowly miss the Pars goal as Inverness were now beginning to turn the screw. It wouldn’t be long before the visitors would take the lead. In the 82nd minute Greg Tansey scored his second by crashing into the net after Foran had headed the ball back across goal. Tansey was unable to celebrate his goal as he was lying motionless in the Pars net. All it took was a hard slap from Captain Richie Foran to wake him up. Eight minutes later Martin Hardie was fouled by Chris Hogg about thirty yards out. Hardie took a blistering free kick that Ryan Esson had no chance of saving. For the second week in a row ICT conceded a last minute goal for the Pars to secure a point. Full Time 3-3 Inverness boss Terry Butcher was delighted to get a point, but he admitted they were lucky to get a point, “I will need a couple of drinks to have a look at that one again, that's for sure. We have been very lucky.” He said. “We've been nowhere near the standards that we set before, but have got a point out of the game and scored three goals” said Butcher. Caley Thistle secured their first point and score their first goals, however due to goal difference they still remain bottom of the league. Could they surprise Rangers next week for their first win of the season? Questions are being asked of the defence, it would appear that Terry Butcher will need to find his full time back four as that is six goals in two away games already, and with Gillet and Proctor struggling for fitness, more changes will be likely for next weeks early kick off against Rangers.

Hibs break their duck in the Highland Capital. A last gasp goal by Gary O'Connor saw Hibernian take all three points South after a disjointed game in Inverness. Whilst Ryan Esson was certainly the busier keeper early on, Hibernian will be grateful for the profligacy shown by the Inverness team as they squandered chance after chance. Esson began where he left off last season with two or three instinctive saves to keep the scoreline blank as Hibs hit on the break, but Inverness gradually asserted themselves on the game as Foran skied a shot from a threatening position. Like last week, the woodwork denied Greg Tansey and a serious of frantic attempts meant there was only going to be one likely outcome. A couple of penalty claims came and went, but fell on deaf ears, sorry Mr Conroy, I was told that was your name. However, with Jonny Hayes being scythed down in the Hibs half deep into time added on, and referee Conroy ignoring the pleas of 99% of the stadium, Hibs surged forward for O'Connor to slip the ball under Esson with a half hearted effort, and stun the home support. A result that never looked on the cards the longer the game wore on, but was always a danger as far as the home fans were concerned. The positives to take from this is that the team looked decent enough to compete this season, but we need a bit of time to gain some understanding. Unfortunately, in the SPL, tolerances are pretty short, let's hope the fans can wait for the team to form a partnership. Terry Butcher handed debut's to Austrian defender Thomas Piermayr and Welsh midfielder Owain Tudur Jones with Aldred, Tansey and Tade making their home debut's. Last seasons survivors made up the rest of the team with Esson, Gillet, Tokely, Ross, Hayes and Foran all starting. Chris Hogg was unavailable and Lee Cox will be missing for a few games. Aaron Doran found a place on the bench as did young striker Shane Sutherland along with a pair of Shinnie's, the replaced David Proctor and Morrison and Tuffey. Hibs had David Stephens replacing the injured Sean O'Hanlon and O'Connor and Sproule back in the greens side were to play a prominent part in the early proceedings. The day was set for an entertaining game, the weather was summery and the pitch looked healthy. The Innes bar without Colin still served up drinkies, the juke box was used and the taxi to the stadium was much appreciated, cheers Craig. The crowd was somewhat poor considering the anticipation of the first home game of the season with Hib's away end looking rather sparse................ Ginger Jaggy will provide us with a full report later.....................and it's ready for you now. Robbed, smash and grab raid and confused, are only a few ways to sum up Saturday's controversial encounter on a beautiful day in the Highlands. Garry O'Connor's late strike gave Hibs their first win in the Highland capital; but how, is a question which bemused Caley Thistle fans can't answer. It took a while but the football produced by the home side must have impressed the supporters, but for a second week a failure to finish off chances cost us dear. The first half started off slowly with both teams taking a while to settle. Both teams resorted to the long ball in the glorious sun shine. It was after 10 minutes when the first chance arrived as new signing Thomas Piermayr took a long range strike but dragged the ball well wide of goal. It was to be a long time until the next chance for the home side materialised. It was Hibs who settled and took control of the game with the two main danger men pointed out before the game causing the problems. It was Ivan Sproule who was fortunate to keep the ball under control with tackles lunging in and should have scored but took an age and that allowed Kenny Gillet to appear from nowhere to deflect the ball over the bar. Hibs continued to press with Garry O'Connor receiving a clever pass inside, taking a first time shot which Esson smartly beat away from danger. The player voted by the fans as the outstanding performer of last season was called upon again but in comical fashion – even though he wasn't laughing. Hibs build up play again was impressive with the ball being whipped in from the Hibs left by David Wotherspoon. Sproule leapt highest to nod back to O'Connor who made contact but only saw his shot rebound off Esson's face and again away to safety. That was it from Hibs in an attacking capacity in the first half as Inverness finally started to make an impression on the visitors goal. The first glorious chance fell to our skipper who should have done better after good build up play. Hayes put in a delicious cross which Tom Aldred - up from the back –flicked on to Foran at the back post but he snapped at the shot and sent it high into the Hibs fans behind the goal. Next was the first of the major talking points. More good play from the Inverness midfield set Gregory Tade through but his run was stopped by Hibs captain Ian Murray without the ball but the penalty claims were waved away by Steve Conroy. Then Tade was denied by a tight offside call when Foran was adjudged to have gone just too early but replays have shown it to be by the slightest margins. One of the few things the referee and his assistant managed to see all afternoon. Tade then had a golden opportunity but he failed to control a Foran cross, diving, but putting his header wide. The momentum was definitely with us and the hope was we could continue to create and go on to win in the second half. Half Time 0-0 The second half can only be described as phenomenal, gutting and baffling all at the same time. It was phenomenal because the football produced by our new side in spells was extremely pleasing, playing with width and pace which caused Hibs all sorts of problems. The first big talking point of the second half was the failed appeal for a second penalty when the ball clearly struck the arm of a Hibs defender. Steve Conroy again waved play on to the absolute derision of Terry Butcher who was going apoplectic on the touchline. Aaron Doran came on for the strangely ineffective Nick Ross and his craft on one side and the pace and trickery of Hayes on the other was something which the home fans have reason to be very excited by. The story of the game though was summed up after a few crosses by both men which just needed someone to be on the end of to tap in, alas there wasn't. When there was a man on the end of the crosses they some how baffled everyone watching. Greg Tansey twice got into scoring positions but failed to make the keeper work after latching onto the fabulous delivery's being served up. Foran was sent through and clearly bundled over for a third penalty shout but yet again Conroy waved it away. The one in the first half was debateable but the two second half shouts were stonewaller's and were dismissed without any hint that the officials were giving them a second thought. As for Hibs they became non existent as an attacking force but did force Esson into a wonderful save. Just before it Ian Murray suffered the same fate as Tade as his goal was chalked off by the flag. Esson made his second wonderful save. Caley Thistle on the attack were caught cold by the pace of Sproule from our own corner. He burst upfield but without support had to wait before putting in a great cross. O'Connors shot was blocked straight to Thornhill whose dipping volley was expertly tipped over by Esson. At the other end though Inverness were creating chance after chance like it was a conveyor belt on a factory floor. Hayes put in another scrumptious cross that only needed a touch, it did but unfortunately it wasn't the right touch as Tom Aldred was just the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time when he conspired to knock it wide from 2 yards. The scene looking around the ground was one of total bewilderment with hands on heads and the shaking of heads from fans that couldn't believe how the ball managed to go the wrong side of the post. That may have been a sign it wasn't going to be our day but if that wasn't then the next chance definitely was. Hayes again sent in another brilliant corner which Hibs failed to clear falling to the feet of Tansey, who slid his shot onto the post from point blank range. Yet again the supporters had that feeling of 'what do we need to do to score' as that was the 3rd time we have rattled the post in two matches. That was the final effort and a point seemed disappointing but acceptable until the late drama. Yet again Steve Conroy was involved when it appeared that Hayes was mugged in the midfield by two Hibs players. The ref had plenty practice of waving play on and therefore waved Hibs forward with Hayes punching the ground in frustration. The ball was knocked forward to O'Connor to run into the box and he miss-hit his shot towards the far post. Esson should have saved it but ended up helping the ball cross the line as Hibs and their fans celebrated in ecstasy at the late winner. That was it as the ref blew immediately as Caley Thistle kicked off to resume the match. The final whistle was met with howls of derision as the boo's were directed at the match officials as they walked off. Inverness played well enough to please the home fans but the lack of a cutting edge is a concern. Frustration though is the overwhelming feeling to play so well and miss those chances and also have some appalling decision thrown into the mix. Inverness are the only side pointless in the SPL, Dunfermline away next week, let's hope some team bonding happens this week. Inverness CT: 0 Start XI: Esson, Gillet, Tokely, Aldred, Piermayr, Tudur Jones, Ross, Tansey, Hayes, Foran, Tade Subs: Tuffey, Andrew Shinnie, Proctor, Morrison, Shane Sutherland, Graeme Shinnie, Doran Hibernian: 1 Start XI: Stack, Stephens, Hanlon, Booth, Murray, Palsson, Stevenson, Sproule, Thornhill, Wotherspoon, O'Connor Subs: Brown, Hart, De Graaf, Galbraith, Horner, Crawford, Caldwell Referee: Steve Conroy (Scotland) Crowd: 3600 Full Time 0-1 Scorer O'Connor (92) Where's Scotty when you need him with his nice neat boxes???