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Capital Punishment Caley Thistle travelled to Tynecastle in the hope that they could maintain the excellent form they showed in the game against Rangers and though they did produce another fine display, once again a defensive error was punished and the need to net at the other end let them down. Former ICT player Dennis Wyness was in the Hearts starting line-up and former Hearts star Juanjo Carricondo was in the ICT line-up as the teams kicked off on a beautiful afternoon. Caley Thistle immediately attacked the Hearts goal and in the early stages Stuart Golabek, Juanjo and Russell Duncan all had efforts at goal. Hearts took the lead in 15 minutes when Richard Hastings, making his first appearance of the season for the suspended Grant Munro, took too long to control the ball and Paul Hartley was onto the ball in a flash, moved forward and chipped over Mark Brown. The rest of the half was very even and entertaining and the half-time whistle went with the home side leading by the solitary goal. Half Time: 1-0 At the start of the second period Hartley’s corner was powerfully headed goalwards by Steven Pressley but Liam Keogh did an excellent job on the line and cleared the ball. Caley Thistle took the game to Hearts and Ross Tokely had the best chance of the game when he headed over from inside the six yard box from an excellent cross by Barry Wilson. Richie Hart had to come off with a back spasm after getting Patrick Kisnorbo's knee in the lower back and was replaced by Roy McBain and Steve Hislop replaced Juanjo on the hour mark. ICT continued to press for an equaliser and Tokely and Wilson both failed to hit the target. With 10 minutes remaining, substitute Hislop had to be stretchered off with a leg injury and he was replaced by Bryan Prunty. Caley Thistle kept pressing and Golabek shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. The last real chance of the game fell to substitute Prunty but he headed over from close range. Full Time: 1-0 Once again a tireless performance by the lads but nothing to show for it. Four home games in October will be critical for the team to move off the foot of the table. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hearts: 1 (Hartley 15) Team: Gordon; Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Maybury, Hamill, Kisnorbo, Hartley, McAllister (Janczyk 83), Stamp (Sloan 83), Wyness (Elliot 63). Subs Not Used: Moilanen; MacFarlane, Berra, Stewart - Booked: McAllister (32), Pressley (58). Inverness CT: 0 Team: Brown; Tokely, McCaffrey, Golabek, Hastings, Wilson, Duncan, Keogh, Hart (McBain 53), Bayne, Juanjo (Hislop 60), Hislop (Prunty 82). Subs Not Used: Fraser; Dods, Thomson, Black - Booked: McBain (60) Att: 10,340 Ref: Kenny Clark

Well spoil home visit A rare 2004/05 home match at Caledonian Stadium but, by SFA decree, only the stand was in use. Everyone was hoping to see Caley Thistle record another win in this season's CIS Cup, especially as the game was being played in Inverness, but the loss of two goals early in the second half meant it was another uphill struggle. ICT did manage to get a goal back but a late strike by the visitors meant they ran out 3-1 winners and into a place in the Quarter-Final draw. ICT began the game well and Richie Hart was first to threaten Marshall in the 'Well goal with a cracking free-kick but he clutched the ball very confidently. A minute later and Bryan Prunty looked to have been upended in the box but the appeals for a penalty kick were waived away by the referee. Barry Wilson was next to have a go after great work by Prunty and his 25-yard drive went just over the bar. The tempo of the game was quick and both sides looked to be evenly matched throughout the opening 45 minutes. Chances were created by Hart, Hislop and Wilson for Caley Thistle and McDonald (twice) and Foran had efforts for the visitors but it remained goalless at the half-time whistle. Half Time: 0-0 The home support were in shock at the start of the second half as Motherwell netted twice in seven minutes. Two minutes into the half Richie Foran picked up the ball just inside the box and fired home from 12 yards to give the Steelmen the lead. And worse was to follow when Grant Munro lost possession inside the penalty area and Phil O'Donnell had an easy chance to tuck the ball home from eight yards. The home side were stung into action and swarmed over the 'Well penalty area and were awarded a free-kick in 57 minutes. From Richie Hart’s kick, Gordon Marshall parried the ball out to Ross Tokely who struck it goalwards only to see the keeper block his effort. Tokely was on hand to take the rebound and score from a couple of yards. This brought Caley Thistle right back into the game. Tokely nearly levelled the game five minutes later but his shot from all of 25 yards went just over the crossbar. And if that attempt was close ICT captain Stuart Golabek was even closer when his ferocious 30-yard effort was tipped over by Marshall for a corner kick. At the other end Mark Brown pulled off a tremendous save from Scott McDonald before the tie was settled with seven minutes remaining, McBride tapping home from close range. Full Time: 1-3 A disappointing temporary return to Inverness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 1 (Tokely 56) Team: Brown; Tokely, Munro, McCaffrey, Golabek, Wilson, Hart, Keogh (Duncan 70), McBain, Prunty (Juanjo 56), Hislop (Bayne 56) Subs not used: Fraser; Dods - Bookings: McCaffrey (60) Motherwell: 3 (Foran 46, O'Donnell 52, McBride 83) Team: Marshall; Corrigan, Hammell, Kinniburgh, Craigan, McBride (Fagan 76), Leitch, O’Donnell, Foran, Clarkson (Paterson 74), McDonald Subs not used: Corr; Burns, Partridge - Bookings: None Referee: Kevin Toner Attendance: 1464

Klos, but no cigar A narrow victory for a nervous Rangers side. The first ever meeting at Ibrox with Rangers, and in the end a game that ICT certainly should have taken something from. It was getting that final ball into the back of the net that saw it ending pointless but it could have been so, so different had McCaffrey's lob beaten Stefan Klos Once again ICT fielded the same starting XI and throughout the 90 minutes took the game to Rangers. The only goal of the game came after 17 minutes from the head of Dado Prso when he took a Chris Burke corner kick and headed the ball into the roof of the net. ICT hit back and Juanjo Carricondo had a chance after good work by Roy McBain but the Spaniard dallied and his shot was blocked by the Rangers defence. ICT's best chance of the half came in bizarre circumstances when Ross Tokely's harmless-looking cross from the right was headed against his own crossbar by Maurice Ross and the ball was eventually cleared by Craig Moore. Just before the half-time break the unmarked Boumsong struck the ICT woodwork with a fine header. Half Time: 1-0 The home side kept up the pressure early in the second half through Prso and Novo but ICT then had a superb chance to score an equaliser through Richie Hart but the midfielder hit the ball just wide of the target. Boumsong again hit the woodwork and Ricksen came close with a free-kick which was superbly saved by Mark Brown but it was Caley Thistle who were enjoying most of the second half possession. Stuart McCaffrey then caused havoc in the Rangers defence. After a melee in the Ibrox penalty area the ball came out to McCaffrey who lobbed the ball goalwards only to see Stefan Klos turn the ball over the bar for a corner kick. Unfortunately, the referee decided the ‘keeper had not touched the ball and a goal kick was awarded. Coming into the closing stages of the game it was all Caley Thistle and the pressure was all on the Ibrox side to hold out. In the closing seconds of the game Grant Munro was booked for a second time and was sent off. It ended 1-0 and it is amazing to think that ICT came to Ibrox Stadium for the very first time and at the end of the game were disappointed to come away with nothing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rangers: 1 (Prso 17) Team: Klos, Ross (Khizanishvili 45), Moore, Boumsong, Vanoli, Burke, Ricksen, Mladenovic (Hughes 34), Lovenkrands, Novo (Arveladze 61), Prso. Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Vignal, McLean, McCormack. Booked: Vanoli Inverness CT: 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Golabek, Wilson, Keogh, Hart, McBain, Bayne (Hislop 60), Juanjo (Prunty 77). Subs Not Used: Fraser, Dods, Duncan, Proctor, Black. Booked: Keogh (50), Munro (60), Tokely (70) Sent off: Munro (90) Attendance: 47,063 Referee: C Murray

Hibees get one over Robbo... This first meeting with the Easter Road side ended in disappointment. ICT manager John Robertson kept the same team that had come close to getting a result down at Tannadice a fortnight previously and Hibernian welcomed back skipper Ian Murray into the defence. Caley Thistle began the game well and had most of the early pressure and came close on a few occasions but it was the Easter Road side who opened the scoring with a fine flowing goal after 11 minutes. Dean Shiels sent Derek Riordan away and his fine run down the left ended with him sending a swerving drive from just inside the box into the net, wide of Mark Brown. This stung the home side and Juanjo was in the thick of things and could easily have had a penalty when he was tumbled inside the area but the referee ignored away his protests. The Spaniard was giving the Hibees defence a torrid time of it and with nine minutes remaining in the opening half he was brought down by Gary Caldwell inside the area and on this occasion the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. For the third consecutive game it was Barry Wilson who stepped up to coolly slot the ball into the net for a well-deserved equaliser. Caley Thistle kept up the pressure in an effort to grab another goal before the half-time break but it did not happen and one-each was a fair reflection of a good opening half. Half Time: 1-1 ICT opened the second period strongly and Juanjo and Barry Wilson set up an excellent chance early on for Richie Hart but his flashing shot went just over the crossbar. The home side fell behind once again on the hour mark when Garry O'Connor¹s shot was partially blocked by the ICT defence but the ball spun up for Riordan who just managed to flick a header into the net. Barry Wilson and Graham Bayne both had chances and Bryan Prunty, a late substitute, nearly grabbed an equaliser, but once again the game ended in defeat and disappointment. Full Time: 1-2 Chances were created and with a bit of luck the scoreline could have been very different. They might have got one over Robbo..... but who put the ball in the Hibees net..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 1 (Wilson 37 pen) Team: Brown, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Golabek, Keogh, Wilson (Black 78), McBain (Hislop 68), Hart, Juanjo (Prunty 87), Bayne. Subs Not Used: Fraser, Dods, Thomson, Duncan. Booked: Bayne, Golabek, Tokely, Munro. Hibernian: 2 (Riordan 11, 60) Team: Simon Brown, Caldwell, Whittaker, Murphy, Beuzelin, Scott Brown, Riordan (Dobbie 81), Murray, Glass (Rocastle 64), O'Connor, Shiels (Shields 86). Subs Not Used: A Brown, Venus, McCluskey, Fletcher. Booked: None Referee: C Thomson Attendance: 2011

Tannadice set-back. The first half was very even with chances at both ends of the park. ICT began in excellent form and were playing a good passing game but it was at the other end of the pitch that the first real chance of the game came along when Jason Scotland ran on to a McIntyre pass and fired in an excellent shot which Mark Brown did well to turn away for a corner kick. Midway through the half, Caley Thistle nearly scored a stunning goal when Barry Wilson hit a glorious 20-yard drive but Tony Bullock was up to the challenge and made a superb save. The last real chance of the half fell to ex-ICT man Barry Robson but his effort was pushed over the bar by Mark Brown. Half Time: 0-0 United's new signing, Grant Brebner had an early chance in the second half but his 20-yard drive went just wide of the post. On the hour mark ICT stunned the home side when Juanjo latched on to a fine pass from Ross Tokely but he was brought down inside the box by Bullock and Ref. John Rowbotham pointed to the spot. Up stepped Barry Wilson, scorer the previous week against Celtic from the penalty spot, to make it two-out-of-two spot kicks. Barry then had the chance to increase the lead but he sliced his shot wide after good work by Graham Bayne. The home side were stung into action and five minutes later they grabbed an equaliser when Chris Innes slotted the ball home from all of six yards after Dodds' shot was brilliantly saved by Mark Brown. Caley Thistle continued to soak up the pressure but could they hold out for a well-deserved point? Unfortunately, the answer was to be no. With five minutes remaining McIntyre sharply turned his marker on the edge of the box before lashing home a tremendous shot into the bottom corner of the net. Full Time: 2-1 At the end of the day, disappointment at not taking anything from the game but once again maximum effort from all the players. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dundee United: 2 Team: Bullock; Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, Brebner, Kerr, McIntyre, Robson, Scotland (Grady 78), Dodds (McLaren 83) Subs not used: Hirschfeld, McInnes, Duff, Bell, Kenneth Booked: Dodds (61), Innes (65) Inverness CT: 1 Team: Brown; Tokely, Golabek, Hart, Munro, McCaffrey, McBain (Hislop 87), Keogh, Juanjo (Prunty 83), Wilson, Bayne Subs not used: Fraser; Dods, Duncan, Thomson, Black Booked: None

CIS joy in Shadowland SPL entry put paid to league derbies so this CIS cup clash was a bonus. The match was played amidst heavy rain and Caley Thistle were on top throughout. In the end the teams were only separated by a superb goal from ‘Man of the Match’ Ross Tokely. Roy McBain and Richie Hart were rested for ICT and their places were taken by Russell Duncan and Steve Hislop. Juanjo played pending an appeal against Sunday’s red card. In six minutes a Graham Bayne shot was held by Stuart Garden then a Barry Wilson effort cannoned off Hislop and ran past. Liam Keogh hit high from 25 yards in 10 minutes then County’s John Rankin did the same from a free kick at the other end. A Juanjo free kick curled wide in 12 minutes then Garden took a Wilson low shot at the post in 18 minutes. Sean Kilgannon had a chance for County in 22 minutes but he was off-balance and shot wide. Two minutes later a Wilson curling free kick from wide right reached Bayne but he headed wide. Mark Brown punched out in 27 minutes to set up Mark McCulloch but the ex-Caley Thistle captain drove wide. County’s best chance came in 37 minutes when a defensive slip let in Alex Burke but he hit past. In the run up to the break ICT had chance after chance – Wilson hit over, Keogh blasted high, Juanjo struck wide from an angle, Bayne headed off-target then Grant Munro shot over from the rebound. Half Time: 0-0 The pattern continued after the restart with Hislop chipping just over, Juanjo doing the same then Wilson and Bayne both hitting high. A poor pass back led to a sliced clearance from Garden and the concession of a corner on the right. Wilson’s kick was headed goalwards by Ross Tokely at the near post and it was 1-0. There was little else on target at either end with the closest effort coming four minutes from time. Wilson sent over a low cross from the right and Hislop’s low header was cleared at the back post. County had few chances but Sean Higgins did hit wide close to the whistle. Full Time: 0-1 A good night’s work and the hope of a home third round tie at Caledonian Stadium. Same old County, always in our shadow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ross County: 0 Team: Garden; Robertson, McCulloch, MacKay, Canning, Lauchlan, Rankin, Cowie, McSwegan (McGarry 59), Kilgannon (Higgins 74), Burke (Winters 59) Subs not used: McCunnie, McCafferty Booked: McCulloch, Rankin. Inverness CT: 1 (Tokely 65) Team: Brown; Tokely, Munro, McCaffrey, Golabek, Wilson, Keogh, Duncan, Juanjo (McBain 85), Hislop, Bayne Subs not used: Fraser; Dods, Hart, Prunty Booked: None

Neil Lennon - Shameless Cheat This was the big one - at ‘home’ to the champions in the SPL and live on Setanta TV. It turned out to be a day of drama and excitement but it ended in disappointment for the vast Caley Thistle support. John Robertson made one change to the line-up with Barry Wilson starting and Steve Hislop reverting to the bench. Chris Sutton was missing from the Celtic line-up through injury but new signing Senegalese striker Henri Camara made his first start. Celtic came out on top thanks to a wonder strike from Stan Petrov and a double from John Hartson but the defining moment of the afternoon was the 17th minute red card for ICT’s Juanjo. The home side started confidently and Juanjo hit over in the first minute. Mark Brown saved from Alan Thompson and Petrov then pressure on the Celtic goal ended with headed clearances by Bobo Balde and Petrov. Camara hit past the post then Celtic ‘keeper David Marshall had to come out of his area to head away from Juanjo in 16 minutes. The Spaniard’s game came to an end a minute later when he clashed with Neil Lennon. TV evidence confirmed that Lennon hit out at Juanjo after an accidental collision then Juanjo pushed Lennon’s chest. The Celt went down clutching his nose and fourth official Alan Freeland brought the incident to the attention of the referee – both he and his assistants saw nothing but a red card was produced for the Spaniard and Lennon received no punishment. Shameless cheating from Lennon. [note: the red card was later rescinded] Despite protests the decision stood and it was an uphill struggle for Caley Thistle after that. The team responded well and put up a great show but Celtic took advantage of the extra man in 25 minutes when Hartson headed in a Didier Agathe cross to make it 1-0. Mark Brown was in fine form and he saved from Thompson in 29 minutes and Camara three minutes later. At the other end Marshall saved from Barry Wilson in 40 minutes but it fell for Liam Keogh – he shot over from 18 yards. A Roy McBain corner in 42 minutes led to some confusion then a penalty award for hand-ball by Balde. It seemed a soft award but Wilson stepped up, sent Marshall the wrong way and it was 1-1. Stan Varga headed over at the other end and it remained 1-1 at the break. Half Time: 1-1 The second half was virtually all Celtic. Hartson headed wide in 52 minutes then a minute later Brown brilliantly tipped over an 18 yard shot from Hartson. The second soft penalty of the match came in 67 minutes when Grant Munro’s arm made contact with the ball but Brown dived to his right to deny Petrov. In the aftermath Ross Wallace crossed from the left and Petrov was there to score with a marvellous angled strike from the edge of the box. Hartson sealed it in 76 minutes when Brown parried a Joos Valgaeren shot and he was there to score from the rebound. A Richie Hart curling free kick in 83 minutes was missed by everyone and three minutes from time Thompson hit the bar with a 25 yard free kick. After three minutes of added time an Ian Black corner led to an old-fashioned stramash in the Celtic box, two shots blocked then a third saved by Marshall. Full Time: 1-3 Celtic deserved their victory but with ten men it was a hard task for Caley Thistle. The teams have now met four times in competitive games and it is two games each. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 1 Team: Brown, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Golabek, Wilson (Prunty 70), Hart, Keogh, McBain (Black 81), Juanjo, Bayne (Hislop 65). Subs Not Used: Dods, Duncan, Proctor, Fraser. Booked: McBain, Hart, Hislop. - Sent Off: Juanjo (18). Goal: Wilson 44 pen. Celtic: 3 Team: Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Balde (Laursen 84), Valgaeren, Petrov (Lambert 80), Lennon, Thompson, Wallace (Pearson 80), Hartson, Camara. Subs Not Used: Douglas, McGeady, Cuthbert, McManus. Goals: Hartson 25, Petrov 68, Hartson 76. Att: 8,736 Ref: D McDonald ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Golly opens our SPL account in Pars win Another historic day for the club – the first ‘home’ match at Pittodrie, the first SPL goal (from Stuart Golabek) and, most important of all, the first SPL win. The players were stung by the negative press coverage of last week’s defeat and they reacted in style to earn a well-deserved victory against the Pars. John Robertson made changes with Barry Wilson and Russell Duncan dropping to the bench and Richie Hart and Juanjo starting. In the event Barry Wilson came on in the 23rd minute to replace the injured Steve Hislop. Dunfermline had travelled to Iceland in midweek on UEFA Cup business but fatigue was never an excuse – Caley Thistle could, of course, have been the Icelandic travellers if last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final had gone the other way. Early shots from Juanjo put pressure on the Pars then Golabek scored a captain’s goal in the 12th minute. His fourth goal for the club came after a run from nearly the halfway line and an angled 20 yard shot – Derek Stillie could only push it onto the far post and watch it bounce into the net. Minutes later a Roy McBain curling ball gave Graham Bayne a chance but it came to nothing. Dunfermline began to press and Noel Hunt hit over Mark Brown and the bar. Brown made a number of good stops before the break but in the second half ICT ran the show. Half Time: 1-0 The all-important second goal came from Juanjo in 70 minutes. Barry Wilson ran down the right then cut the ball back into the box – it went beyond Juanjo but the Spaniard stretched to hit it past two defenders and Stillie from just outside the six-yard area. Full Time: 2-0 The long trip back from the far east was a happy one for the ICT fans. Inverness CT: 2 Team: Brown, Tokely, McCaffrey, McBain, Golabek, Keogh, Hart, Munro, Juanjo (Prunty 88), Bayne, Hislop (Wilson 23). Subs Not Used: Fraser, Dods, Duncan, Proctor, Black. Goals: Golabek (12), Juanjo (70). Dunfermline: 0 Team: Stillie, Shields, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Byrne (Darren Young 45), Dempsey, Nicholson, Mason, Scott Thomson, Hunt (Donnelly 71), Brewster (Mehmet 75). Subs Not Used: Langfield, Lyle, Labonte, McKeown. Booked: Scott Wilson. Att: 1,972 Ref: T Brown