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Caley Thistle club historian Ian Broadfoot provides the official report from East End Park - A no-score draw that could certainly not be described as a classic !! DUNFERMLINE 0-0 ICT 23rd December 2006 East End Park, Dunfermline DUNFERMLINE (Stephen Kenny) 0 Team: De Vries, Shields, Wilson, Bamba, McGuire, Ross (Daquin 60), Young, Mason, Muirhead (O Morrison 66), Crawford, Hamilton (Tod 90) Subs: S Morrison, Woods, Williamson & McKenzie INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Black (Duncan 75), Rankin, McBain, Wyness (Bayne 69), McAllister (McSwegan 82) Subs: McCaffrey, Morgan, Sutherland & Fraser Referee William Collum Attendance 4216 Man of the Match With Dunfermline at the foot of the SPL this was a realistic target for three points but it did not happen. Both sides had to settle for a point in what was rather a bad-tempered match. The final crime count was eight yellow cards plus a red for the home side's Stevie Crawford - but others could easily have followed Crawford for an early shower. Referee Willie Collum was not slow with the yellow cards but was clearly reluctant to issue upgrades to red. The Pars are now under the management of Stephen Kenny and in midweek he was successful in persuading Mark Burchill to extend his contract the striker was however unfit and missed this match. Caley Thistle were without the injured Craig Dargo and Rory McAllister started up front with Dennis Wyness. This was not a match to write home about with Dunfermline upfor the challenge and the ICT defence holding firm. Crawford was through in seven minutes but Mark Brown was equal to his shot. A minute later GaryMason was poised to shoot from 12 yards when Darren Dods stepped in to block and in 15 minutes Ian Black tested Dorus De Vries. There was little to report up to the break apart from Ross Tokely denying Crawford a shooting opportunity (resulting in penalty claims from the home support) and John Rankin hitting the side netting. Half Time: 0-0 In 52 minutes De Vries blocked a BarryWilson shot and defenders charged down Wyness's follow up shot. The most notable event of the second half was a clash between Ian Black and Gary Mason just after the hour mark in the centre circle with the result that tempers flared all round. When order was resumed Black and Mason were booked when red cards were a distinct possibility. Russell Duncan replaced Black in 75 minutes which did not go down well with the outgoing player but he was clearly in danger of a second yellow card. Stevie Crawford's foul on Richard Hastings in 77 minutes resulted in a second yellow card and an involuntary departure then a minute later De Vries tipped over substitute Graham Bayne's header following a blocked Roy McBain shot. Gary McSwegan replaced McAllister with eight minutes left but there was to be no breakthrough. A disappointing 0-0 draw, ninth place retained and Dunfermline five points adrift at the foot of the table. All thoughts now turn to the post Christmas visit of Rangers to Inverness in front of a sell-out crowd.

Caley Thistle Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium where Caley Thistle come out the losers as seven goals are shared in this match. ICT 3-4 KILMARNOCK 16th December 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 3 Dods (6,38), Dargo (pen45) Team: Brown, Tokely (Bayne 74), Dods, Munro, Hastings (McCaffrey 46), Wilson (Sutherland 66), Rankin, Black, McBain, Dargo, Wyness Subs: McAllister, Duncan, Morgan & Fraser KILMARNOCK 4 Naismith (29, 68pen), Nish (35, 50) Team: Smith, Greer, Wright, Murray, Hay, Fowler, Invincible, Johnston (Ford 85), Nish, Naismith, Di Giacomo Subs: Wales, Leven, Dodds, Campbell, Hamill, Harpur Referee John Underhill Attendance 3728 Man of the Match Darren Dods (ICT) The home fans have been crying out for goals and this week they got them – sadly the best out of seven went Kilmarnock’s way. It was a cracking match and quite an afternoon for ICT central defender Darren Dods - he returned for ICT from suspension, resumed the captaincy and scored twice. Dennis Wyness also came into the starting line-up with Graham Bayne dropping to the bench. The pitch was in excellent condition despite days of heavy rain – the return of cold weather over the preceding 24 hours gave valuable time for some drying out. Caley Thistle had a tremendous first half spoiled only by losing two soft goals. Killie played some good football in the second half but were still fortunate to come away with all three points. With five minutes gone Craig Dargo turned Gordon Greer and watched as his shot deflected and nearly fooled Graeme Smith – Smith recovered well to touch it over for a corner. The home side took the lead a minute later when a Barry Wilson free kick from the left curled into the box and Dods volleyed it past Smith from a few yards out. The ‘keeper turned a Wyness shot past for a corner in 13 minutes then did the same from a John Rankin free kick two minutes later. A Greer cross in 28 minutes was headed by Richard Hastings for a corner and this led to the equaliser. Gary Hay’s kick was flicked on by Greer and Steven Naismith was well placed to head home from close to the line. Killie took a 2-1 lead in 34 minutes with a simple goal as the home defence was once more caught out. A Naismith ball from the left reached Colin Nish via Paul Di Giacomo and it was hit in from six yards out. The excitement continued and in 38 minutes Dods scored his second just moments after a Wyness header beat Smith but came off the post. A Rankin free kick from long distance was spilled by Smith and Dods was in the box to touch it home. Just before the break Dargo earned a corner on the left and Wilson’s kick into the box resulted in a handball verdict as Dods challenged. Dargo stepped up to take the penalty and blasted it high into the net to make amends for his miss last week. The crowd was buzzing from the first half excitement and all the speculation was on how high the score would go. Half Time: 3-2 At half time the injured Hastings was replaced by Stuart McCaffrey and the back four reorganise. With just four minutes of the second half gone it was 3-3. Another simple effort saw Di Giacomo race past Dods down the left, whip in a low cross and Nish touched it in. At the other end Smith pushed an Ian Black shot for a corner in 53 minutes then in 58 minutes a strong Ross Tokely shot hit off Wyness and ran to safety. Zander Sutherland replaced Barry Wilson in 66 minutes and within a minute the youngster conceded a penalty with a push on Naismith. Naismith took the kick himself and hit it cleanly past Mark Brown to give Killie a 4-3 lead. A Rankin free kick in 71 minutes was dummied by two ICT players but Smith continued his up and down afternoon by pushing it for a corner. Wyness was booked for an alleged dive in 77 minutes as the home side pressed hard to take something from the game. Dargo went down inside the box with three minutes left as he latched onto a Sutherland cross but nothing was given despite strong penalty claims. Full Time: 3-4 Pressure over the closing minutes from the home side produced no reward and it ended a remarkable 4-3 to the visitors. As a result Caley Thistle slipped to ninth with Dunfermline still propping up the rest.

Noel Hunt scores twice and David Robertson wraps it ups as Craig Levein continues his good start at Tannadice. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot provides this report from Tannadice Stadium. DUNDEE UTD 3-1 ICT 18th November 2006 Tannadice Park, Dundee DUNDEE UTD 3 (Hunt 22 & 65, Robertson 78) Team: Stillie, Duff, Mair, Archibald, Kalvenes, Conway, Kerr, Robertson, Robson, Samuel (Cameron 63), Hunt (Goodwillie 84) SUBS: McLean, McCracken, Robb, Kenneth & Smith INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Wilson 15) Team: Brown, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Wyness 76), Black, Rankin, McBain, Dargo, Bayne SUBS: Morgan, Duncan, Soane, Sutherland, McAllister & Fraser Referee Stuart Dougal Attendance 5294 Man of the Match Noel Hunt (Dundee Utd) Dundee United’s revival under new manager Craig Levein continued at the expense of Caley Thistle, despite the visitors taking a 15th minute lead through Barry Wilson. By half time it was 1-1 and United scored two second half goals to seal the victory. With Darren Dods suspended Stuart McCaffrey came in for his second league start of the season for ICT and Barry Wilson was made captain for the day. Injuries restricted Charlie Christie’s options but he did bring back John Rankin with Russell Duncan dropping to the bench. Alan Morgan also took a bench slot, his first squad appearance since September. United dominated the opening period and a strong run by Collin Samuel in the second minute was stopped by Grant Munro. The home side could easily have taken the lead in nine minutes were it not for a superb save by Mark Brown from a Noel Hunt close-range header. A Craig Conway header then flashed past Brown’s post to safety. The opening came at the other end in 15 minutes when Wilson was brought down by Samuel just outside the box and the captain-for-the-day curled the 25 yard free kick expertly round the wall and into the top corner. This ended Caley Thistle’s goal drought but United equalised seven minutes later when Hunt headed home a Craig Conway cross from seven yards out. The away camp thought Hunt was offside but the goal stood. The crime count was rising by the minute and seven names finished up in Stuart Dougal’s book by the end of the match. Five minutes from the break a John Rankin free kick was dropped by Derek Stillie but he recovered in time to block Graham Bayne’s follow-up. Brown kept it to 1-1 just before the interval when he saved from Barry Robson. Half Time: 1-1 Into the second half and more pressure from United. They went 2-1 up in 65 minutes when a Robson corner reached Hunt via David Robertson and he had an easy job to touch it home from virtually the goal line although it was probably going in anyway. Hunt then came close to a hat trick but his header went past the post. Hunt turned provider in 78 minutes when he sent a ball from the bye line which Robertson hit home from six yards for 3-1. With four minutes left Caley Thistle were awarded a penalty for a Stuart Duff foul on Dennis Wyness but Craig Dargo’s kick sailed over the bar. Full Time: 3-1 It ended 3-1 to United and Caley Thistle remain eighth – but on goal difference from Dundee United.

Motherwell make it 3 wins in their last 3 visits to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. However, it took until the 90th minute for that victory to be achieved when Darren Dods made a last man challenge that was judged as a foul meaning a red card for him and a penalty for 'Well. Richie Foran made no mistake from the spot. Ian Broadfoot reports. ICT 0-1 MOTHERWELL 2nd December 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods , Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Rankin 82), Duncan (Hart 68), Black, McBain, Dargo (McAllister 63), Bayne Subs: McCaffrey, Wyness, Sutherland & Fraser MOTHERWELL 1 (Foran 90pen) Team: Meldrum, Quinn, Craigan (Kinniburgh 89), Reynolds, Paterson, McGarry, Lasley (Corrigan 74), Kerr, Foran, Clarkson (Elliot 72), McDonald Subs: D Smith, Connolly, Fitzpatrick, & G Smith Referee Eddie Smith Attendance 3668 Man of the Match Darren Dods (ICT) Not a game to write home about and with neither side showing any real cutting edge it looked like ending goalless. All that changed two minutes from the end of normal time when Darren Dods upended Scott McDonald and Richie Foran netted from the penalty spot to give Motherwell three precious points. Dods received a second yellow card and headed for an early shower, just minutes after being named ‘Man of the Match’. It was no consolation that Foran was booked for his celebrations in front of the small but vocal travelling support. Charlie Christie made just one change to the starting line-up with Dennis Wyness making way for Graham Bayne. There was heavy overnight rain, and more in the hour leading to kick-off, but it was dry overhead for the match although the surface was slippy. Scott McDonald was always a threat for the visitors and he had two chances from kick-off. First he shot miles wide from 25 yards then he ran for half the length of the park before hitting over the bar. In the fourth minute an excellent ICT move nearly paid off. A Richard Hastings header reached Craig Dargo via Graham Bayne and it was knocked on for Barry Wilson to chase. He did enough to ensure that ‘keeper Colin Meldrum missed it and it fell for Dargo. He hit it across goal from wide left and, with Meldrum stranded, a defender cleared off the line. It was to be a rare moment of excitement in a lacklustre game. A Hastings cross in 14 minutes was volleyed first time by Dargo but Colin Meldrum held it confidently. Meldrum dived to hold a Bayne header in 21 minutes then the move and result were repeated on the half hour mark. Two Dods shots were blocked five minutes from the break then came the best chance of the half. A poor ball out of defence was pounced on by Wilson and, with just Meldrum blocking his route to goal, he hit an angled shot from the right. Meldrum did well to scramble it clear. Motherwell shots were rare in the first half and most were off target. They did create danger seconds before the half time whistle when a low ball from the left skidded across goal and was missed by everybody. Strangely a corner was awarded. Half Time: 0-0 Into the second half and a flurry of activity from the visitors. They still rarely found a route to goal but a David Clarkson header did go just wide in 49 minutes. At the other end Meldrum dealt with anything that came his way and there was little to enthuse about. In 70 minutes Keith Lasley fouled Ian Black and was injured in the process. After a four minute delay, during which Motherwell made two substitutions, Lasley was booked and stretchered off. By now ICT had introduced Rory McAllister and Richie Hart but still nothing came off. Motherwell came close in 78 minutes when McDonald shot over from close range. With two minutes left McDonald was bearing down on Mark Brown’s goal with Dods in pursuit when the defender tackled him and he went down spectacularly. There were half-hearted protests but it was a penalty. Richie Foran gave Brown no chance and the goal proved to be the winner despite five added minutes. Full Time: 0-0 A worrying four games without a goal but seventh spot retained.

It finished honours even at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium after a more recognisable Hearts team - with Pressley restored to it as captain - held Caley Thistle at bay. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the match. ICT 0-0 HEARTS 25th November 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Duncan, Black (Hart 73), McBain, Dargo (McAllister 87), Wyness (Bayne 79) Subs: McCaffrey, Rankin, Sutherland & Fraser HEARTS 0 Team: Gordon, Neilson, Fyssas (Wallace 68), Pressley, Aguiar (Mole 83), Hartley, Barasa, Brellier, Mikoliunas (McCann 86), Berra, Velicka Subs: Tall, Zaliukas, Jankauskas & Banks Referee Iain Brines Attendance 5603 Man of the Match Darren Dods (ICT) A good point earned against Hearts but with a rub of the green it could have been three. The unrest and management confusion at Hearts did not stop them from being dangerous opponents but Caley Thistle matched them in every department. Mark Brown came back from suspension to take his place in the home goal with Mike Fraser reverting to the bench, Ian Black came in for John Rankin and Dennis Wyness replaced Graham Bayne in the starting line-up. The big news from Hearts was that Stephen Pressley was back in the team and as captain. As the teams ran out the cameras were all trained on the Directors’ box to see the arrival of Vladimir Romanov and returning manager Valdas Ivanauskas, team matters were however still in the hands of Eduard Malofeev for one more match. Caley Thistle strode upfield from the kick-off but Hearts immediately counter-attacked and Paul Hartley sent an angled shot over the home bar from the right of the box. With five minutes on the clock a long Grant Munro free kick was met on the volley by Craig Dargo six yards out and he forced a good save from Craig Gordon – it all looked good but the offside flag was up. Another Munro free kick four minutes later led to a blocked Wyness shot and a cleared Roy McBain header. It all went rather quiet until the 26th minute when a Dargo pass set up Barry Wilson just outside the box. Wilson sent a strong bouncing shot goalwards but Gordon showed his class to divert it for a corner. On the half hour mark Saulius Mikoliunas robbed Ross Tokely but his on-target shot was parried by Brown. In 35 minutes a Wilson chipped free kick led to danger that was only ended when Gordon bravely smothered the ball under pressure. Gordon produced his best save of the match in 41 minutes when Black headed a Richard Hastings cross towards the top corner and the ‘keeper tipped it up in the air before catching it on the way down. Half Time: 0-0 Hartley was in a dangerous position five minutes into the second half but he slipped before he could shoot. With an hour gone Pressley volleyed well wide then a Mikoliunas shot from 18 yards was blocked. Bruno Aguiar tried a spectacular shot in 75 minutes but it safely cleared the bar. Caley Thistle substitute Richie Hart sent in an excellent cross a minute later but Dargo’s header was saved by Gordon. The closing period was almost all Caley Thistle and in 79 minutes a long Dargo run was set up by a neat Russell Duncan pass. Dargo headed straight for goal but his final shot went wide. Graham Bayne came on for Wyness and his height and strong presence caused the Hearts’ defence additional problems. Seconds after he arrived on the scene he latched onto a Munro free kick and headed across goal for Dargo – Gordon stepped in to save. In the closing ten minutes Hart hit wide from long range, Ross Tokely also struck wide, Gordon saved from McBain and Darren Dods headed off target. Brown had been rarely troubled but with three minutes of normal time left Hartley sent in a long shot which the ‘keeper expertly tipped for a corner. In added time Julien Brellier slid in to deny Wilson a shot then a Bayne effort was cleared. The last action was a bouncing shot from Hart that ran wide. Full Time: 0-0 A fine ICT performance but just one point and seventh spot retained.

CELTIC 3-0 ICT Caley Thistle were soundly beaten by Celtic but in truth didnt play at all badly. Mike Fraser, replacing the suspended Mark Brown in goal had a good game and made several crucial saves especially in the first half, and ICT had plenty of chances at the other end before the game was lost. Club historian Ian Broadfoot reports from Celtic Park. 18th November 2006 Celtic Park, Glasgow CELTIC 3 (Dods og43, Vennegoor of Hesselink 71, Jarosik 85) Team: Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell (O'Dea 60), McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon, Graveson (Jarosik 76), Maloney (McGeady 87), Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski SUBS: Riordan, Sno, Wilson, Marshall INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 0 Team: Fraser, Tokely, Munro, Dods, Hastings, Wilson (Wyness 69), Duncan, Rankin McBain, Bayne, Dargo SUBS: Sutherland, McSwegan, Soane, Black, McCaffrey, Smith Referee Kenny Clark Attendance 56637 Man of the Match A disappointing afternoon in Paradise for Caley Thistle but a good performance – particularly in the first half. It took until close to half time before Celtic broke down the resolute defence but it was not all about defending. There were good moves going forward and chances created. With Mark Brown suspended Mike Fraser came in for only his second start and he had an excellent game – early stops gave him confidence and he had no chance with any of the goals. Teenage keeper Jonathon Smith took Fraser’s usual bench spot. Russell Duncan was captain for the day to mark his 200th appearance since joining the club in the summer of 2001. The August 1-1 draw between the teams in Inverness was the last SPL point dropped by Celtic and they went into this game looking for a clean sweep over the other eleven teams. They succeeded but victory was only assured when the second goal went in. The visitors pushed hard from the kick-off and nearly gave Celtic a fright in the second minute. Ross Tokely crossed from the right and Roy McBain had two shots blocked with Graham Bayne and Barry Wilson fighting hard to latch onto the rebounds – eventually it went over for a corner. Mike Fraser was called into action in the fifth minute when Maciej Zurawski raced down the left and shot – the keeper parried it for a corner. Five minutes later Fraser dived to take a header from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. A long Fraser clearance in 14 minutes was headed down by Bayne for John Rankin but the midfielder was fouled 23 yards out. The free kick by Wilson was touched back to him by Rankin but his shot was held by Artur Boruc. Bayne headed a Shunsuke Nakamura corner off the line in 21 minutes then a break upfield led to a cross from McBain which just eluded Craig Dargo. In 25 minutes there was an old fashioned stramash in the Caley Thistle goal following a header from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. It took Fraser plus two defenders to clear the danger at the third attempt. A minute later a Wilson corner from the left at the other end was headed back across goal by Grant Munro and a Bayne diving header looked in – in the event it slid just wide. Fraser saved from Maloney and Boruc from Rankin before the opening goal came in 43 minutes. A Nakamura corner from the left was touched on by Zurawski and Darren Dods went for it along with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – it skidded past Fraser and was credited as a Dods own goal. Half Time: 1-0 This was a blow from which ICT really never recovered. Straight after the break Dods blocked a Maloney cross and the home fans claimed a hand was used. Kenny Clark was having none of it. Caley Thistle continued to give as good as they got until the 72nd minute when a second goal put the game beyond them. Paul Telfer played a clever one-two with Nakamura then crossed from the right - Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink slid in to net from eight yards out. With ten minutes left Maloney tried one of his trademark free kicks from 25 yards out. It went over the wall and dropped just above the bar as Fraser could only watch. Goal number three came with five minutes left when Maloney sent a corner from the right and substitute Jiri Jarosik rose high to head into the top left corner. In added time Fraser held a Nakamura low shot and time was up. Full Time: 3-0 The defeat took ICT back to seventh place with Celtic streets ahead at the top.

The thing about streaks is that they have to come to an end. Caley Thistle lost a couple in this game - 8 SPL matches unbeaten, and 5 games without defeat against the Hibees - after going down 2-0 at Easter Road and having Mark Brown red carded. Ian Broadfoot reports from the Easter Road encounter. HIBERNIAN 2-0 ICT 11th November 2006 Easter Road, Edinburgh HIBERNIAN 2 (Fletcher 65, Killen 83pen ) Team: Malkowski, Whittaker, Martis, Jones, Stewart, Murphy, Brown, Thomson (Beuzelin 59), Sproule (Benjelloun 46), Zemmama (Fletcher 22), Killen SUBS: Shiels, Glass, Hogg, McNeil INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Munro, Dods, Hastings, Wilson (Fraser 82) , Duncan, Rankin (McSwegan 78), McBain, Bayne, Dargo (Wyness 74) SUBS: McAllister, Sutherland, Black, McCaffrey Referee John Underhill Attendance 12868 Man of the Match A disappointing end to Caley Thistle’s eight-game unbeaten run at Easter Road. The loss of Mark Brown to a red card ten minutes from the end made it very hard and at that point the game was effectively over. Chris Killen’s goal from the resultant penalty sealed Hibs’ victory after substitute Steven Fletcher had given them a 64th minute lead. It was a disappointing end to Brown’s week after he had been named in the Scotland B squad for their visit to Dublin. Charlie Christie fielded an unchanged side from Monday’s draw with Aberdeen - Ian Black’s two-game suspension was over but he could only make it onto the bench. Hibs also made no changes despite an injury doubt over Michael Stewart. Steven Whittaker proved to be the main threat for the home side in the first half and he had three good efforts. The first went wide in eight minutes but Mark Brown had to be alert to push away the second just two minutes later. In 11 minutes a Craig Dargo shot was charged down by Rob Jones and there was a forlorn penalty claim from the visitors. Malkowski saved from John Rankin in 15 minutes and Dargo was booked for a follow-up push on the keeper. Whittaker’s third first half shot could have led to a contender for goal of the season if it had come off. He set off from the half way line and ran past a series of defenders but his final shot was blocked by Rankin. Caley Thistle’s best efforts of the half came a couple of minutes before the break when a Russell Duncan cross from the right was volleyed goalwards by Craig Dargo, touched away by Malkowski, stabbed towards the line by Graham Bayne and saved once more by the keeper. Half Time: 0-0 Into the second half and Hibs took the lead in 64 minutes through substitute Steven Fletcher. Beuzelin and Scott Brown combined to set up Fletcher via a David Murphy lay off and he netted at the back post. Dennis Wyness replaced Dargo in 74 minutes then four minutes later Rankin made way as Gary McSwegan made his first top team appearance. The three-striker formation nearly paid off immediately when McSwegan’s first touch brought out a fine save from Malkowski and his follow-up was blocked. The game went beyond Caley Thistle with ten minutes left when Killen was one-on-one with Mark Brown and the striker went down as he rounded the keeper. A penalty was awarded (the first against ICT since last March) but there were loud protests from the players who thought that contact had been minimal. John Underhill did not change his mind, Brown saw red and Barry Wilson was sacrificed for substitute keeper Mike Fraser. Fraser’s first action was to face the penalty and he could do nothing to prevent Killen making it 2-0. The ten men battled on and with seconds left Caley Thistle nearly managed a consolation when Graham Bayne headed across goal and Darren Dods headed over the bar from a few yards out. Full Time: 2-0 The defeat meant a slip to sixth but it is still very tight.

Inverness CT 1-1 Aberdeen Caley Thistle are now unbeaten in 8 games but a last gasp equaliser from Steve Lovell means that ICT have still to record a win over the Dons as the spoils are shared at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium 06th November 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Bayne 78) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Duncan, Rankin, McBain, Dargo (Wyness 81), Bayne, SUBS: McCaffrey, McSwegan, Soane, Sutherland, McAllister, & Fraser Aberdeen 1 (Lovell 90) Team: Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Severin, J. Smith, Nicholson, Mackie (Maguire 82), Clark (Considine 67), Dempsey (Lovell 79), Miller, Foster SUBS: Diamond, D. Smith, S. Smith & Soutar Referee Dougie McDonald Attendance 5744 Man of the Match John Rankin (ICT) The first Monday night Setanta TV match involving Caley Thistle ended in a disappointing draw in front of a better crowd than had been anticipated. That elusive win against Aberdeen was just a minute of the regulation ninety away when substitute Stevie Lovell cancelled out Graham Bayne’s 79th minute opener. It was not a classic match but, despite the lack of clear shots, both sets of supporters were vocal in their encouragement and seemed to enjoy the spectacle. With Ian Black still suspended Russell Duncan continued in midfield for ICT and Gary McSwegan made his first squad appearance. Aberdeen’s Jamie Smith came back from injury to replace Zander Diamond. There was little to report in the opening period but there was some fun when the far side assistant referee dropped his flag while awarding Caley Thistle a 13th minute corner. Two successive corners were cleared after some panic in the Aberdeen defence then Darren Dods had a header blocked and a follow-up shot saved. Aberdeen’s first real effort was a 19th minute snap shot from Gary Dempsey but it went wide. A minute later Craig Dargo sent a long range shot goalwards at the other end and it spun just wide left with Jamie Langfield struggling. The visitors were awarded a free kick 22 yards out in 27 minutes but Jamie Smith’s chip came off the wall for a corner. Close to the break Langfield held a low John Rankin shot but otherwise there was little on target. Half Time: 0-0 Chris Clark hit well wide in 56 minutes and an off-balance Dargo shot was saved by Langfield in 63 minutes. The home side were creating more than Aberdeen but the pressure was not translating into shots on target. In 72 minutes Richard Hastings did well to rob Darren Mackie in the home box and three minutes later Michael Hart chipped over. The long-awaited opening goal came in some style in 79 minutes. A clever Dargo pass from just outside the box found Roy McBain racing down the left and his inch-perfect cross was headed home by the diving Graham Bayne from seven yards. A minute later Barry Wilson was through into the Aberdeen box when he went down as Michael Hart slid in – the home camp claimed a penalty but there was no award. Hopes of sealing the victory diminished as Aberdeen pushed upfield and two minutes from time a Chris Maguire acrobatic kick came off the bar. Andrew Considine was following up but he could only head over. The Dons continued to press and a minute later a Hart cross from the right reached Lovell via Lee Miller and the substitute hit it home with his knee from a yard out. Full Time 1-1 The three added minutes produced nothing and it ended 1-1 with Caley Thistle remaining fifth.

ST MIRREN 1-1 ICT Craig Dargo scores in the first half and John Sutton equalises in the second as the spoils are shared at Love Street. Caley Thistle Club Historian, Ian Broadfoot reports on the game. 28th October 2006 Love Street, Paisley ST MIRREN 1 (Sutton 64) Team: Bullock, Millen, McGowne, Broadfoot, van Zanten, Brittain, Murray , Sutton, Lappin, Mehmet (Kean 59), Reid (Burke 59) Subs: Brady, Molloy, Mackay, McKenna & Smith INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Dargo 34) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Hart 70), Duncan, Rankin, McBain, Bayne (McAllister 87), Dargo Subs: McCaffrey, Wyness, Soane, Sutherland & Fraser Referee M Tumilty Attendance 4432 Man of the Match info not supplied It is a sign of the times that Caley Thistle came into this match as favourites and went home disappointed with a draw. Saints had taken all three points in Inverness on the opening day of the season but the visitors were now the form team. It all started brightly for Caley Thistle, and they took a first half lead through Craig Dargo, but as time went on they were forced onto the back foot. Saints’ pressure led to an equaliser but after that the defence held firm and the 1-1 draw extended the unbeaten SPL run to seven matches. Ian Black started his two-match suspension and Russell Duncan won the battle to replace him in midfield. Youngster Stuart Soane took a bench spot but otherwise the starting line-up matched the one that beat Falkirk last week. Graham Bayne nearly gave the visitors a first minute lead with a 20 yard shot but it flew past the far post with ‘keeper Tony Bullock nowhere. John Sutton was a constant threat for the Buddies and in eight minutes Grant Munro did well to block as he shot goalwards. Veteran Andy Millen should have done better for the home side in 16 minutes when he took a Billy Mehmet cut-back and somehow hit off target from little more than six yards. In 28 minutes a long Mark Brown kick-out was flicked by Dargo into the path of Barry Wilson - he ran on and lobbed Bullock from the edge of the area but it went wide. Caley Thistle took the lead in 34 minutes when Duncan took the ball off Hugh Murray in the centre circle and found Wilson on the right - his cross deflected off Millen to Dargo and the striker celebrated his 50th appearance for the club by sending a tremendous shot past Bullock for his fifth SPL goal of the season. Half Time: 0-1 Caley Thistle had held their lead up to and after half time then a double substitution in 59 minutes gave St Mirren fresh impetus and set up strong pressure on the visitors’ defence. Stewart Kean and Alex Burke replaced Alan Reid and Billy Mehmet with Saints playing three up front. The pressure paid off in 65 minutes after a free kick was cleared for a corner and Simon Lappin’s curling kick into the box from the right was headed home by Sutton. While Saints continued to push forward it was not all one-way traffic and in 69 minutes Roy McBain and Dargo combined to set up John Rankin, but his shot deflected off Wilson for a goal kick. Richie Hart came on to replace Wilson and provide fresh legs for the final 20 minutes. David van Zanten hit wide of Brown’s goal in 77 minutes and the same player shot over the bar with a minute left. Otherwise little troubled the Caley Thistle goal and Brown dealt comfortably with anything that reached him. In the dying seconds substitute Rory McAllister became the fifth ICT player to be booked in a game that was anything but dirty. Full Time 1-1 It ended with honours even and Caley Thistle moved back up to fourth place – a spot they held last week for 24 hours.

Inverness CT 3-2 Falkirk Caley Thistle looked down and out after Anthony Stokes had scored either side of half-time but a second half goal from Craig Dargo and a two excellent free kicks from John Rankin meant it was Caley Thistle who snatched all three points. ICT Club historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium 21st October 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3 (Dargo 70, Rankin 81, 85) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings (Wyness 56), Wilson, Black, McBain (Hart 56), Rankin, Dargo (Duncan 88), Bayne Subs: McCaffrey, Sutherland, McAllister & Fraser Falkirk 2 (Stokes 40, 51) Team: Higgins, Ross, Barr, Milne, Twaddle, Cregg, Thomson, O'Donnell (Stewart 90), Dodd (Gow 90), Stokes, Latapy Subs: Lambers, Scobbie, Lima, Craig & Mountinho Referee Stuart Dougal Attendance 3749 Man of the Match Craig Dargo (ICT) John Rankin’s first senior goals for Caley Thistle proved decisive as they helped turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win. Not surprisingly Charlie Christie stood by the same side that beat Rangers but things did not go right until major personnel and formation changes in 56 minutes. With three at the back and three strikers it was all-out attack and this paid off. Not much happened in the first half but Falkirk, with Russell Latapy’s electric pace, looked more likely to score. Latapy hit over from 22 yards in eleven minutes then in 18 minutes he drove a 30 yard free kick just wide left. At the other end Ian Black shot over the bar in the early minutes, Graham Bayne did the same and Craig Dargo headed high in 33 minutes. Falkirk’s Anthony Stokes looked to have put Falkirk in a winning position with goals either side of the break. In 40 minutes he raced in on goal from the right, Grant Munro slipped and he hit the ball under the advancing Mark Brown. Half Time: 0-1 In 51 minutes Stokes did it again after a great Latapy build-up – Latapy ran across the box leaving defenders helpless then slipped it to Stokes who scored easily at the left post. Five minutes later came the decisive changes. Richard Hastings was sacrificed for Dennis Wyness, making his 200th appearance, and Richie Hart provided fresh legs to replace Roy McBain. The new formation settled down and ICT started to make inroads on the Falkirk defence. It all paid off in 70 minutes when Scott Higgins scrambled a Grant Munro shot for a corner on the right. John Rankin’s kick led to an almighty scramble and a Graham Bayne shot which Craig Dargo headed onto the bar. It bounced down over the line, the goal was given and Darren Dods hammered the loose ball into the net to make sure. The crowd were now treated to one of the best 20 minutes of home action seen in a long time. With nine minutes left Dennis Wyness was brought down a yard outside the box and John Rankin took the free kick. He curled it low to the left, round the wall and in for 2-2. This was the midfielder’s first goal for the club and his second was only four minutes away. Ross Tokely was brought down on the right some 30 yards out and this time Rankin sent the free kick high and left into the net for 3-2. There was no way back for Falkirk but they did throw on two substitutes for the two minutes added time. Full Time: 3-2 Stuart Dougal blew the final whistle and the home team was cheered off the pitch. Three wins in a row and up to a heady fourth.

Recently, we challenged our users to volunteer as match reporters so that we could relaunch the 'fan report' section. Div1309 was the first to take up the challenge and reports from today's match at Ibrox. 14th October 2006 Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow RANGERS 0 Team: Letizi, Bardsley, Rodriguez (Novo 73), Papac, Smith, Hemdani, Ferguson, Adam, Buffel, Prso (Boyd 59), Sebo Subs – N'Diaye, Rae, Hutton, Svensson & McGregor INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Bayne 71) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Hart 87), Black, Rankin, McBain, Dargo (Duncan 83), Bayne Subs – McCaffrey, Duncan, Wyness, Sutherland & Fraser Referee Ian Brines Attendance Man of the Match UNOFFICIAL REPORT - Supplied by DIV1309 Until October 14th 2006, Rangers were one of only two teams in the current SPL that ICT had not beaten in a competitive match (league or cup). [editors note: we have still to beat Aberdeen too !] Leading up to the match Rangers were expected to win quite easily, but some amongst the away support suggested that an upset would be on the cards. What a result that would be on my first game of the season (I live in Glasgow so hard to get to games, plus some work commitments prevent me as well) The starting line up was announced with only Richie Hart making way for Ian Black in an otherwise unchanged line up. The match started out with Rangers content to knock ball the ball around putting the away defence under some pressure although never enough to trouble Brown. Sebo had a chance but lashed it across the front of goal. The first piece of action at the other end saw Rankin's shot spilled by the fumbling Letizi and Mcbain unlucky to see his follow up effort go just over the bar. Rangers were unable to make any inroads to the ICT defence and were reduced to Bardsley shooting from around 35 yards although Brown was behind it all the way. The best chance of the half then came when Adam played in Buffel who looked destined to score but once again Brown stood up and produced a brilliant save to stop them. Rangers enjoyed some possession towards the end of the half but nothing came of it. The only downside to the half was Black picking up a yellow card that means a suspension for the youngster for a tackle on Smith, who twenty seconds prior to the incident was rolling around in agony on the ground (dig a hole, dig a hole, dig a hole, dig a hole, dig a hole). Half Time Rangers 0-0 ICT Second half started the same as the first with Rangers knocking the ball around, although ICT seemed more intent on getting the ball up the pitch this half, main target being Bayne with Dargo and the midfielders running off the knock down balls. A chance came to Buffel but Hastings threw himself in the path to block it. Rangers had some more chances but they came to nothing. ICT came more into the game with Black having a chance after beating a player although his shot took a deflection and was cleaned up by Letizi. Then the moment came that we took the lead. The ball was played into Dargo who turned in acres of space and struck a left foot shot - which Brown would have mopped up easily - that Letizi fumbled and Bayne, having continued on into the box, slid in to squeeze the ball into the net before running over to the corner to celebrate. The away support tucked away in the corner went crazy, as the Rangers fans were in disbelief. Rangers started to pile on the pressure after this with Smith lashing a shot wide. ICT tried a couple of break away moves that lead to Bayne collecting the ball and looking for runners off him but came to no avail. Christie changed things with less than 10mins to go taking Dargo off for Duncan to shore up the midfield and Wilson off for Hart, who had ran all day. Rangers sub Novo had a chance late on that could have gone in but went past Brown's right hand post. A couple of penalty shouts for Rangers came and went and the last three mins seemed to take forever until we managed to keep the ball in the corner for a while until the referee blew the whistle to start the bedlam in the away support. FULL TIME Rangers 0-1 ICT Man of the Match – Graham Bayne- isolated at times but contested every high ball, chased lost causes, ran himself into the ground and scored that all important goal. No wonder he is a favourite amongst the ICT fans. Ratings Brown – 7 – never really had much to do although when called upon produced the goods. Tokely – 7 – Solid as usual, never under any pressure from who ever Rangers put on the left. Munro – 8 – solid as ever, cleaned up any long balls that came his way. Good to hear CC thinks he is progressing to Scotland squad material. Dods – 7 – never let the Rangers strikers have a chance. Hastings – 8 – solid again and brilliant last ditch tackle after his mistake nearly lead to a goal. Wilson – 8 – ran all day for the team. Excellent performance. Black – 8 – brilliant today. Proving he is a match for the best in the league. Battled for everything and never let Ferguson control for a minute. Rankin – 7 – good performance. Decent effort in the first half. McBain – 7 – good effort, had a chance to run onto a Bayne through ball in the 2nd half but stopped. Apart from that good distribution and tried to support Bayne whenever possible. Dargo – 7 – one of his quieter days, although did hit the shot that led to the goal. Bayne – 9 – brilliant. Challenged everything, fought for every ball, ran after everything and scored. Highlights of the Day – Rangers fans booing Letizi when he touched the ball after the goal, one ICT fan holding up his bookie form to the home support and kissing it (obviously had 1-0 win or Bayne to score or both) and the way the away support never stopped singing all day and went absolutely nuts when we scored.

RANGERS 0-1 ICT A Graham Bayne goal in the 71st minute was enough to earn Caley Thistle all three points against Rangers. This was Caley Thistle's first win against the Glasgow side in eight attempts. Caley Thistle Historian Ian Broadfoot supplies the official report from Ibrox. 14th October 2006 Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow RANGERS 0 Team: Letizi, Bardsley, Rodriguez (Novo 73), Papac, Smith, Hemdani, Ferguson, Adam, Buffel, Prso (Boyd 59), Sebo Subs – Rae, Svensson, Hutton, N'Diaye & McGregor INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Bayne 71) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Hart 87), Black, McBain, Rankin, Dargo (Duncan 83), Bayne Subs – McCaffrey, Wyness, Sutherland, McAllister & Fraser Referee Ian Brines Attendance 49494 Man of the Match Grant Munro (ICT) A dramatic first ever win over Rangers for Caley Thistle after a tremendous defensive performance and a Graham Bayne goal on the counter attack. The Scottish Cup victories over Celtic and Hearts may be the pick of the club’s history but this is right up there with the best – most certainly the club’s best SPL result. The final whistle was greeted with loud cheers from the small away support and boos from those Rangers’ fans who had not left early. Rangers’ stand-in goalkeeper Allan McGregor was the SPL ‘Player of the Month’ for September but he was still dropped in favour of fit-again Lionel Letizi. The media criticised this change in advance and Rangers’ manager Paul Le Guen must have regretted the decision when Letizi gave away the goal that cost them the points. For Caley Thistle Ian Black came back into the side at the expense of Richie Hart and Liam Keogh missed out through suspension. With Dennis Wyness now fully recovered from his shoulder injury he took a bench spot. Rangers started at pace and in the first five minutes they had three corners. They rarely found the route to Mark Brown thanks mainly to sterling defending by the back four. Grant Munro in particular was praised by all the media for his fine performance. Caley Thistle did press towards the Rangers’ goal but mainly on the break. On the half hour mark Caley Thistle were awarded a free kick when Dado Prso fouled Barry Wilson on the right. Wilson played it short to John Rankin and he forced a punch save from Letizi – it fell to Roy McBain’s ‘wrong’ foot and he hit over the bar. With three minutes of the first half remaining Rangers finally found a way through to Brown but he kept the Inverness side in the game when Thomas Buffel turned, shot on target and Brown saved it with his legs on the six yard line. A minute later Ian Black was shown a rather soft yellow card which means he has earned a one game suspension. Half Time: 0-0 The second half was much like the first with the Caley Thistle defence repelling all that Rangers could throw at them. In 58 minutes Buffel nearly managed a shot from a Prso pass but Richard Hastings managed to block it. Buffel hit over the bar in 62 minutes then in 71 minutes came the defining moment of the game. A break from defence led to Craig Dargo racing through the middle and shooting from 20 yards. It looked a safe catch for Letizi but the reinstated ‘keeper spilled it and Graham Bayne was there to knock it in. Rangers were shocked but continued to press. Steven Smith hit wide in 79 minutes then captain Barry Ferguson shot over. The home crowd started to leave as they saw no way back for their side. Rangers had a strong penalty claim when Nacho Novo was seemingly fouled with a minute of normal time left – he regained his balance, shot wide and nothing came out of it. Full Time: 0-1 The final whistle went and Caley Thistle had once more ‘Gone Ballistic’. The fantastic result led to a three-place climb to fifth in the league. A day to savour and another chapter in the remarkable history of the club.

Inverness CT 1-0 Dunfermline Caley Thistle have never lost to Dunfermline in the SPL and thanks to Ross Tokely that record remains intact. In a game that looked destined to finish as a no-score draw the big man popped up in the last minute to grab all three points. 30th September 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Tokely 90) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Rankin, McBain (Keogh 81), Hart (Sutherland 75), Dargo (McAllister 70), Bayne. Subs: McCaffrey, Black, Duncan & Fraser. Dunfermline (Jim Leishman) 0 Team: De Vries, Shields, S. Wilson, Young, Mason, Morrison (Muirhead 58), Hamilton (Tod 73), Woods, Ross (Daquin 65), Bamba, Crawford Subs: McCunnie, Labonte, C.Wilson, & McKenzie Referee Calum Murray Attendance 3517 Man of the Match Barry Wilson (ICT) Caley Thistle’s fine SPL record against Dunfermline continued with this 1-0 victory but it took a 90th minute Ross Tokely goal to secure the points. Tokely has a remarkable talent for popping up with goals at vital moments and this 28th career goal was as well timed as it gets. It may have been late September but nobody told the weather gods and the Moray Firth could have easily passed for the French Riviera. The football was not quite as good as the weather. Charlie Christie made one well-publicised change from last week’s side with the relegation of Ian Black to the bench. Richie Hart came in and had a fine game. Dennis Wyness was not quite fit so Graham Bayne and Craig Dargo continued up front. Dunfermline manager Jim Leishman was almost unrecognisable without his trademark moustache – he was happy with the £2000 raised for charity by shaving it off, but he was clearly disappointed that his side did not go back south with a point. Caley Thistle had the best of the match but the Pars held out until they were finally broken down by intense late pressure. Dunfermline had a fast start and in just 15 seconds Greg Ross sent over a dangerous cross from the right and Darren Dods had to head it for a corner. Roy McBain was the architect of a good move in six minutes when he broke down the right and into the Dunfermline box. His shot was blocked, as was Craig Dargo’s follow-up, then a Richie Hart effort was sent for a corner. Steve Crawford hit an angled ball over the bar at the other end then Darus De Vries held a Dargo low shot. Chances were rare until just before the break when Bayne latched onto a Hart cross and headed just past. Half Time: 0-0 Mark Brown held a Jim Hamilton header just into the second half then Crawford once more hit over the bar. As time wore on it looked like a stalemate but the fresh legs of ICT substitutes Zander Sutherland, Rory McAllister and Liam Keogh helped to up the tempo and the home side pressed hard They were all over the Dunfermline defence for the last 15 minutes but the best chances came in the final five minutes. First a McAllister flick and a Bayne lob set John Rankin on a race for goal with a defender at his shoulder and De Vries advancing – in the end his shot disappointingly trundled past for a goal kick. With two minutes left Bayne shot on the turn from 12 yards but De Vries produced the save of the match to touch the ball for a corner. Then came the final drama with Caley Thistle once more attacking in numbers and the Dunfermline box crowded. The ball broke to Tokely just outside the area and, after a neat turn, he hit a low ball goalwards and it ended up in the corner of the net. De Vries was deceived by a slight deflection but it was most definitely Tokely’s goal. There was still time for a final fast run down the left by the impressive Sutherland but he was brought down by Freddy Daquin – his yellow card allowed time to run out and the points were secure. Full Time: 1-0 Despite wins by Motherwell (am amazing 5-0 against Kilmarnock) and St Mirren, ICT moved up to joint seventh but eighth on goal difference.

KILMARNOCK 1-1 ICT Last season there were 3 entertaining draws between the sides and it has started in a familiar fashion this season. Colin Nish scored for Kilmarnock in 7 minutes and Craig Dargo levelled it in the 19th. Although Dominating the second half, Caley Thistle had Mark Brown to thank for a world class save in the final minute that would have undeservedly won it for Killie. 23rd September 2006 Rugby Park, Kilmarnock KILMARNOCK 1 (Nish 7) Team: Smith, Fowler, Lilley, Hay, G Murray, F Wright, Invincible (S Murray 75), Nish, Johnston, Wales, Fernandez (Di Giacomo 83) Subs – O’Leary, Leven, I Campbell, Adams & Harpur INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Dargo 19) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Black (Hart 46), Rankin, McBain, Dargo (McAllister 90), Bayne Subs – McCaffrey, Duncan, Keogh, Sutherland & Fraser Referee Mike McCurry Attendance 4809 Man of the Match Colin Nish (Kilmarnock) With three league draws last season between these sides those of a betting persuasion could justifiably have put money on a share of the points – and they would have been right. After the midweek cup defeat to Falkirk Charlie Christie reinstated John Rankin and Ian Black to the starting line-up although Black was substituted at half time to avoid a possible second yellow card. Craig Dargo returned to haunt his old club with the equaliser and he came very close to scoring a winner. He was initially castigated for a bad miss 20 minutes from time but his claim of a fine Graeme Smith save was upheld by TV pictures. In the opening minutes Black hit just over the Killie bar then a Gary Wales strike at the other end was deflected for a corner. Killie took a seventh minute lead when Colin Nish pushed through a packed defence to head in a David Fernandez corner. Dargo’s goal came in nineteen minutes when a long throw from Grant Munro on the right was headed on by Darren Dods and Dargo netted from a difficult angle beyond the far post. In 37 minutes Graham Bayne appeared to be sandwiched in the Killie box but referee Mike McCurry did not agree. Half Time 1-0 Richie Hart replaced Black in the second half and the visitors pressed hard. Graham Bayne headed wide from 12 yards then Dargo headed over and hit the post. The Inverness side’s best chance of a winner came in 70 minutes when a low Richie Hart drive was spilled by Smith and Dargo nipped in to hopefully touch in the rebound – somehow Smith recovered enough to push the ball onto the post and the danger was averted. Hart then had a 12 yard shot deflected for a corner. The save of the season came in the final minute when Frazer Wright took an Alan Johnston cross and his downwards header seemed destined to bring the winner – Mark Brown dived to save with an impressed BBC radio commentator comparing it to Gordon Banks at his best. Full Time: 1-1 A good point on the road but a minor slip to ninth spot.

Inverness CT 0-0 Dundee Utd After a summer of transfer trauma between the clubs this was billed by the media as a Christie versus Brewster grudge match. It was nothing like that and the only heat generated was from the strong sun. Apart from a few boos it was just another SPL match between two lively teams but it could have done with some goals. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium... 16th September 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Keogh 71), Black (Morgan 78), Rankin, McBain, Dargo (McAllister 84), Bayne. Subs: McCaffrey, Duncan, Sutherland & Fraser. Dundee Utd 0 Team: Stillie, Proctor, Kenneth, Archibald, Kalvenes, Robson, Kerr (Brewster 53), Duff (Robb 71), Cameron, Conway, Samuel (Hunt 46) Subs: Mair, Easton, Robertson & McLean. Referee Kenny Clark Attendance 3586 Man of the Match Roy McBain (ICT) After a summer of transfer trauma between the clubs this was billed by the media as a Christie versus Brewster grudge match. It was nothing like that and the only heat generated was from the strong sun. Apart from a few boos it was just another SPL match between two lively teams but it could have done with some goals. United’s new captain Barry Robson returned from suspension and received his share of heckling from his former fans and the visitors also included recent signing David Proctor, returning for the first time to his former home. Caley Thistle retained the same team as last week with Dennis Wyness still on the sidelines. Caley Thistle had most of the play in the first half but Craig Conway came closest to a goal at the other end when he rattled the crossbar in the ninth minute. Before that Derek Stillie saved a Craig Dargo header and a first-time shot on the turn by Graham Bayne. Stillie dived to save from Bayne in the twelfth minute then two minutes later Bayne headed wide. A John Rankin bouncing shot from 20 yards went wide in 31 minutes then Bayne had his best chance of the game in 37 minutes. He was set up by a Rankin interception but his on-target effort was blocked by Stillie. Seconds later a strong Ross Tokely run set up another chance. Tokely’s shot was off target but Dargo latched onto it and scored from six yards – the offside flag was up however before the ball hit the back of the net. Half Time: 0-0 Another Rankin effort from just outside the box went wide just after the break and United then began to push forward. Lone striker Collin Samuel was replaced at the interval by Noel Hunt and he was joined up front in 53 minutes by Craig Brewster. This added some spice to the game – particularly as he was in direct opposition to his signing target Darren Dods. Dods came out on top most of the time and Brewster had few sights of goal. He was close to a shot in 61 minutes but Grant Munro stepped in with a trademark timely tackle. Brewster did net in 67 minutes but he was well offside. In 73 minutes he latched onto a Robson bouncing ball but his flick was easily taken by Brown. Brewster robbed Dods seven minutes from time then found Hunt in the box – Hunt went down claiming a penalty but Kenny Clark did not agree. The defining moment of the match came with five minutes left when Steven Robb crossed and Barry Robson dived to head goalwards. It looked net bound but Mark Brown dived to produce the save of the match and push the ball away. It would have been a bitter blow to the home side. An Alan Morgan free kick flew just over Stillie’s bar as time ran out and it ended zero-zero. Full Time: 0-0 The two teams are now level on seven points but Caley Thistle edged up to eighth spot on goal difference.

Motherwell 1-4 ICT Barry wilson has a great day as he sets up all 4 of Caley Thistle's goals against Motherwell. Ross Tokely opened the scoring in a tight first half but second half goals from Craig Dargo, Grant Munro and Rory McAllister's first league goal - which was also ICT's 100th goal in the SPL - sealed the match in style. 9th September 2006 Fir Park, Motherwell MOTHERWELL 1 (McDonald 71) Team: Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson (MacLean 18), McBride (McGarry 53), Kerr, Lasley, Foran, Elliot (Coakley 65), McDonald Subs – Fitzpatrick, Connolly, McCormack & Meldrum INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 4 (Tokely 25, Dargo 48, Munro 78, McAllister 88) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Black (Morgan 81), Rankin (Keogh 80), McBain, Dargo (McAllister 83), Bayne Subs – McCaffrey, Duncan, Sutherland & Fraser Referee William Collum Attendance 4091 Man of the Match Barry Wilson (ICT) The Hearts’ result at Tynecastle equalled ICT’s worst defeat in the SPL but a fortnight is a long time in football – this fine win at Motherwell equalled the club’s best SPL score. Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas may not have been happy with his strikers or his defence but Charlie Christie was delighted to gain the first SPL victory of the season. With Dennis Wyness still sidelined Craig Dargo came back from injury to partner Graham Bayne up front. Otherwise the team from Tynecastle remained intact. Ian Black, fresh from signing an extended contract, made his 50th appearance. His name may not have appeared on the score sheet but the Highland hero of the day was Barry Wilson who set up all four goals and was always a threat with his pinpoint crosses. After exchanges at both ends Motherwell should have taken the lead in 20 minutes when Kevin McBride failed to connect with a Scott MacDonald cross in a good position. The first goal came five minutes later at the other end when a Wilson free kick was punched away by Graeme Smith but only as far as Ross Tokely. The big defender scored with a looping header to open his account for the season. In 36 minutes the Steelmen came close when a Brian Kerr 20 yard free kick rebounded off the bar. With the break looming Smith parried a Wilson drive and Bayne was robbed of the ball by Brian McLean as he seemed certain to score. Half Time: 0-1 The second goal came just three minutes into the second half when Wilson robbed Paul Quinn and squared the ball to give Dargo a close-range chance which he did not turn down. The Motherwell camp began to realise this was not their day when in 54 minutes Richie Foran missed the easiest of chances from just two yards out. They did pull one back in 71 minutes when Scott McDonald headed home a Keith Lasley free kick. Smith made an excellent save from Dargo in 78 minutes but the resultant corner from Wilson proved fatal. Bayne flicked it on and Grant Munro was in the right place to hammer home his second goal of the season. It was now all over for Motherwell and their fans started to head for home. Youngster Rory McAllister finished the scoring two minutes from time when he headed in another Wilson corner. Full Time: 1-4 A good day’s work, three valuable points and a small but significant climb from tenth to ninth.

Hearts 4 - 1 ICT "Mother said their would be days like this" - Hearts ran out 4-1 winners in todays encounter at Tynecastle. Unfortunately the score doesn't reflect the game in which ICT battled hard, played well and created the chances... 26th August 2006 Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh HEARTS 4 (Pinilla 20, Mole 42, Driver 80, Aguiar 91) Team: Gordon, Costa, Pressley, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Wallace, Mikoliunas, Hartley (Aguiar 79), McCann (Driver 76), Pinilla (Makella 86), Mole Subs: Beslija, Lithgow, Fyssas, Banks INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Bayne 31) Team: Brown, Tokely (Duncan 82), Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Black, Rankin, McBain (Keogh 82), Wyness (McAllister 44), Bayne Subs: Sutherland, Keogh, Morgan, McCaffery, Fraser Referee Steve Conroy Attendance 15912 Man of the Match Jamie Mole (Hearts) While ICT were beating Dumbarton in midweek, a nine –man Hearts team was crashing out of the Champions League in Athens. It was hard to predict whether they would be tired, and therefore ripe for the taking, or would be determined to bounce back quickly. In the event five personnel changes resolved the tiredness problem and they won this match convincingly. It was not quite as one sided as the scoreline suggests and ICT had chances to take something from the game – at 2-1 there was always the possibility of ICT taking a point but two Hearts goals in the last ten minutes sealed the victory. Caley Thistle reverted to the regular line-up, but with Craig Dargo not quite recovered from injury, Graham Bayne partnered Dennis Wyness up front. This changed just before half time when Wyness left the field injured and Rory McAllister replaced him. The first real challenge on the ICT goal came from an unlikely source in seven minutes. A long Craig Gordon clearance bounced awkwardly and Mark Brown was forced to tip it over. From Paul Hartley’s corner Saulius Mikoliunas hit over the bar. A Hearts breakthrough looked like coming in 11 minutes when Jamie Mole latched onto a Neil McCann cross and headed low towards the bottom corner. The large home support began to salute a goal but Brown dived to expertly push it behind for a corner. Nineteen proved an unlucky number for Caley Thistle when number 19 Mauricio Pinilla opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute. After a period of Hearts pressure McCann sent a cross from the left and Pinilla sidefooted it low past Brown from a few yards out. The visitors pressed for an equaliser and Barry Wilson came close in 27 minutes – he cleverly twisted past Mikoliunas and shot but Gordon punched it for a corner. On the half hour mark the small travelling support had something to cheer about when Graham Bayne made it 1-1. Wilson crossed from the right and Bayne lost his marker before heading the ball past Gordon from a couple of yards out. Dennis Wyness, making his 199th appearance for the club, came very close to scoring against his old team in 39 minutes when he dived to head a Richard Hastings cross from the left. It went wide and Wyness dislocated his shoulder in the process. He left the field a few minutes later and McAllister replaced him. Half Time: 2-1 Four minutes in to the second half Bayne raced through the centre with two defenders in close formation but he could only send the final ball wide. Hearts regained control and it was nearly 3-1 in 66 minutes when McCann hit the bar with Brown beaten. At the other end in 75 minutes Barry Wilson dived to head a Ross Tokely cross but he failed to connect six yards out. Any hopes of an ICT revival died in 80 minutes when Mikoliunas crossed from the right to the back post and Ross Tokely’s attempted headed clearance fell for Hearts substitute Andrew Driver – he sent an angled ball past Brown for 3-1. In the final minute another substitute Bruno Aguiar slid onto a low ball from the left and scored to make the final result 4-1. Full Time: 4-1 Disappointment for ICT after a good performance and they remain in tenth place.

Grant Munro scores a late equaliser at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium to cancel out Stephen Pearson's first half strike. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot supplies the official report. Inverness CT 1-1 Celtic 16th September 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Munro (80) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Keogh, Black, Rankin (Duncan 90), McBain (Hart 79), Dargo, Wyness (Bayne 69). Subs: Fraser, McCaffrey, Sutherland, McAllister. Celtic 1 (Pearson 26) Team: Boruc (Marshall 45), Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Wallace, Nakamura, Jarosik (Zurawski 60), Lennon, Pearson (Beattie 85), Miller, McGeady. Subs: Telfer, Sno, Varga, Cuthbert. Referee Craig Thomson Attendance 7332 Man of the Match Grant Munro’s fourth club goal, ten minutes from time, earned Caley Thistle a well deserved draw – particularly on their excellent second half performance. The match was live on Setanta TV and Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was forced to watch it from the stand as he started a two-match banishment. Charlie Christie made one enforced change with Liam Keogh making his 100th appearance in place of the injured Barry Wilson. As usual the visit of either of the Old Firm leads to a capacity crowd and this was no different. 50 freeloaders also enjoyed the match from the A9 embankment. Celtic had the better of the first half but could not make their superiority really count. The first serious chance of the game came in 15 minutes when Celtic’s Jiri Jarosik turned and shot from 20 yards. Mark Brown was equal to the task and made a good save. In 23 minutes a John Rankin 30 yard free kick rebounded off Neil Lennon and safely back to Artur Boruc. The opening goal came three minutes later from a long clearance following an ICT attack. Shunsuke Nakamura found Kenny Miller and, with the defence short handed, he flicked the ball low from the right of the box past Darren Dods and Stephen Pearson slid in to put the ball behind Mark Brown. Celtic looked well in control for the rest of the half but Rankin did have two good strikes as the half time whistle loomed. His first was a 25 yard rising effort which Boruc dived to touch over the bar. He then tried a low shot from the same distance but this time it went just wide. Half Time: 0-1 David Marshall replaced the injured Boruc at half time and he had to face a rejuvenated Caley Thistle. Kenny Miller did have the space and time to put Celtic two up in 58 minutes but he shot early from the left side of the box and Brown collected easily. A Dennis Wyness lob from 18 yards just cleared the Celtic bar in 64 minutes and this was the striker’s last touch before Graham Bayne took his place. Bayne was immediately put through by Rankin, after good build up play from Craig Dargo, but his angled shot was held by the diving Marshall. In 68 minutes a Bayne flick set up a Dargo chip which went over the advancing Marshall but just wide. Celtic substitute ‘Magic’ Zurawski took a Gary Caldwell pass on the right of the home box in 71 minutes but shot over the bar. A McGeady low shot was held by Brown in 77 minutes then the equaliser came three minutes later. Substitute Richie Hart’s first touch was a corner from the left which came off the head of Darren Dods and seemed destined to run for a goal kick. Bayne had other ideas and did well to keep it in play before crossing into the box. It deflected into the path of Grant Munro 18 yards out and he powered it past the helpless Marshall to set the home section of the stadium alight. The Celtic backlash was inevitable and it nearly paid off two minutes later – Miller stretched for a cross from the right just a couple of yards out but he was off balance and it went wide. Brown held a McGeady chip then into added time Pearson blasted wide from 20 yards. The home side could just have sneaked it in the final two minutes. Dargo and Hart combined to give Bayne a sight of goal but he hit wide. Then, with seconds left, a long ball out of the Caley Thistle defence was chased by Bayne and Marshall. Bayne stretched to get a touch 30 yards out but it had no power and the defence recovered to clear. Full Time: 1-1 Disappointment for Celtic, a fine point for the home side and tenth place retained.

ABERDEEN 1:1 INVERNESS CT Caley Thistle made another journey along the very familiar A96 to play former landlords Aberdeen and came back with a well deserved point. Ian Broadfoot provides the official report from Pittodrie Stadium 5th August 2006 Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen ABERDEEN 1 (Crawford 28) Team: Langfield, Hart, Byrne, Anderson, Foster, Clark, Smith, Nicholson (Dempsey 48), Touzani, Lovell (Mackie 57), Crawford (Severin 78) Subs – Stewart, Winter, MacAulay & Soutar INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Wilson 88) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson, Black, Rankin, McBain (McAllister 84), Wyness (Bain 72), Dargo (Keogh 90) Subs – McCaffrey, Duncan, Sutherland & Fraser Referee Calum Murray Attendance 11955 Man of the Match Stephen Crawford (Aberdeen) Caley Thistle made another journey along the very familiar A96 to play former landlords Aberdeen and came back with a well deserved point. Two well-matched sides duelled in the sun with Aberdeen having the edge in the first half and ICT fighting back in the second before scoring a very late (and bizarre) equaliser. Charlie Christie made three changes to his starting eleven with a fit-again Ross Tokely replacing Stuart McCaffrey at right back, Richard Hastings returning to the left back slot at the expense of Stuart Golabek and Roy McBain coming into midfield in place of Russell Duncan. Christie’s assistant Donald Park reached the milestone of 100 club games in the assistant manager role, including his time alongside John Robertson. Aberdeen started well and Grant Munro showed his mettle in the sixth minute with an excellent tackle on Stevie Crawford as he headed for goal. Two minutes later Tokely sent Barry Wilson clear down the right but his dangerous cross was cleared. Dennis Wyness then had a glimpse of goal but his angled shot from the right went wide. This good ICT spell continued and in ten minutes a Craig Dargo cross from the right reached Wyness and he went down in the box as he turned to shoot. The referee was right on the spot and he waved play on but the ICT camp felt it was a penalty. Aberdeen gradually began to exert pressure on the ICT defence but it held firm until the 28th minute when a Ricky Foster through ball reached Crawford seemingly offside. As Mark Brown narrowed the angle Crawford stretched to slide the ball home. The offside protests were waved away and the goal stood. A minute later Barry Wilson took a very quick free kick from 35 yards out as Langfield positioned himself but it flew just wide. Aberdeen pressed for a second goal with Jamie Smith prominent – he hit off target twice then a fierce drive rebounded off the back of Ian Black. In 36 minutes a low Barry Nicholson free kick from 25 yards was punched clear expertly by the diving Mark Brown. The half ended with flurries at both ends but no more scoring. Half Time: 1-0 The Aberdeen defence was put under pressure from the start of the second half and in 53 minutes Wilson was unlucky to see his on-target shot blocked by one of his own players in a crowded box. Dargo set up McBain in 64 minutes but his angled shot from the left was deflected for a corner. At the other end Brown did well to take a bouncing ball at the feet of Darren Mackie in 72 minutes. With ten minutes left a neat cut inside from Tokely found Dargo on the right of the Aberdeen box and in space – his rising shot went over the bar. Time was running out and it looked as if all the efforts had been in vain - that changed two minutes from the end of the regulation 90. The architect was Hastings as he robbed Gary Dempsey on the left and slipped it to Dargo on the edge of the box. His lob goalwards looked an easy catch for Langfield but he somehow dropped it under pressure (mainly from his own players) and it fell for Barry Wilson facing an open goal and just three yards out. Unable to believe his good fortune he calmly rolled the ball in for the equaliser. The five added minutes produced only frustration as the game degenerated into a series of fouls and bad tempered exchanges. Full Time: 1-1 A point apiece was fair and Caley Thistle move up a notch to tenth.

Caley Thistle fans could be excused for feeling confident that they would get a result, especially after going 5 games unbeaten at the end of last season, having had no major squad rebuilding issues in the close season, and facing the prospect of playing a side they hadn't lost to in 12 games. Unfortunately however, someone forgot to tell Gus McPherson and most of the ICT players that an ICT victory was expected as the Buddies deservedly won this match. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from Tulloch Caledonian Stadium 29th July 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Dargo 48) Team: Brown, McCaffrey, Dods, Munro, Golabek (Bayne 78), Wilson, Duncan (Keogh 65), Black, Rankin, Dargo, Wyness Subs – Hart, Morgan, Soane, Sutherland & Fraser St Mirren 2 (Kean 55, Sutton 75) Team: Smith, Van Zanten, Broadfoot, McGowne, Potter, Murray, Lappin, Sutton, Kean, Brady (Brittain 69), Molloy Subs – Burke, Corcoran, Maxwell, McCay, McKenna & Bullock Referee Alan Freeland Attendance 4267 Man of the Match John Rankin A very disappointing start to the season for Caley Thistle but SPL newcomers St Mirren were understandably delighted. Two goals from John Sutton (but with Stewart Kean still claiming the first) saw them come from behind to take the points in a match that only came to life in the second half. With Ross Tokely sidelined Stuart McCaffrey occupied the right back spot in the home side and new signing John Rankin started in left midfield. The Saints defence was under pressure for the first 15 minutes but nothing quite came off. Barry Wilson took a quick free kick from long distance in six minutes with ‘keeper Chris Smith out of position but he struck it over the bar. A high ball from Rankin in 15 minutes reached Dennis Wyness but he shot wide from 20 yards. Sutton almost broke through for Saints in 20 minutes but McCaffrey saved the day with a fine tackle. Wilson then cleared from David Van Zanten as he headed for goal before Craig Dargo went down 19 yards out at the other end. It was too theatrical for Alan Freeland and play was waved on. Play was generally scrappy with few moments of interest. One of these came in 37 minutes when Wilson did well to set Dargo on track – he crossed from the right for Ian Black but the defence cleared. An angled shot from Dargo just before the break was cleared for a corner by Kirk Broadfoot but otherwise the half petered out. Half Time: 0-0 The second half was much better and a minute after the restart a Russell Duncan sidefoot shot was diverted for a corner. Smith failed to hold Rankin’s flag kick and the ball broke back to him – he found Wilson but his chip went wide. The opening goal came in 48 minutes when an inch-perfect Rankin cross from the left was met by a fine Dargo header from close range. It was now looking good for ICT but that changed in 55 minutes. A ball sent left to right just eluded Stuart Golabek and Craig Molloy had a clear shot on goal from just inside the box. Mark Brown did well to push it away but Sutton and Kean between them scored from the rebound. An Ian Black acrobatic shot in 61 minutes was held by Smith then in 70 minutes Broadfoot headed over a Simon Lappin free kick. Saints’ winner came out of nothing. A long bouncing clearance from Smith looked harmless as it headed towards the ICT goal but with the central defenders hesitating Sutton stepped in to touch it past Brown. Caley Thistle fought hard to equalise after this blow but failed - Wilson hit a 20 yard shot at Smith, Wyness sent an angled ball over after a good Wilson/Dargo move then Smith held a Black chip. Into added time and Saints were content to hold the ball in the corner and count down the seconds. The final move was a Graham Bayne attempt to intercept a Smith clearance but it flew to safety. Full Time: 1-2

Club historian Ian Broadfoot reports from Fir Park, Motherwell as Craig Dargo scores his 15th league goal of the season in the 27th minute of this match to take all three points back up the A9. Alexander Sutherland was promoted from the reserves into the first team pool during the week and was on the bench. 15th April 2006 Fir Park, Motherwell Motherwell 0 Team: Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, Paterson (Kinniburgh 64), McCormack, O'Donnell, Foran (Clarkson 70), Hamilton (Kerr 59), McDonald Subs: Meldrum, Leitch, McGarry, McBride Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Dargo 27) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson (Hart 79), Duncan, Morgan (McBain 71), Keogh, Dargo, Bayne (McAllister 81) Subs: Fraser, McCaffrey, Fox, Sutherland Referee D McDonald Attendance 3438 Man of the Match Not Supplied Sent Off McCormack (Motherwell) A boring end-of-season encounter this most certainly was not. In December Craig Dargo scored twice at Fir Park to take the points and this time his 27th minute strike was enough to see off a determined Motherwell side. The Inverness side was shaken up a little with Liam Keogh, Graham Bayne and Stuart Golabek coming into the starting eleven. There was also a first bench appearance for eighteen year old Zander Sutherland. Motherwell had the first crack at goal in five minutes when Scott McDonald threaded the ball through for Phil O’Donnell but Mark Brown turned his shot past for a corner. The home side continued to press and a dipping Steve Hammell free kick in 22 minutes just cleared Brown’s bar. It was the visitors who took a decisive lead in 27 minutes when a high Grant Munro ball out of defence was aimed for Dargo and he outpaced two defenders to set up a one-on-one with Graeme Smith. Dargo neatly sent a low ball into the net for the game’s only goal. Three minutes later an Alan Morgan ball in from the left wing rebounded off Dargo’s back into the path of Russell Duncan – his 25 yard blast was well saved by Smith. A Jim Hamilton close-range shot was deflected for a corner by Darren Dods in 35 minutes then, close to half time, Dargo ran half the length of the park then set up Barry Wilson. Wilson’s shot was saved by Smith but it came back out to give Wilson another chance – once more Smith was equal to the task. Half Time: 0-1 Six minutes after the break the match flared up when Richie Foran fouled Duncan on the left. Alan McCormick waded in as Duncan expressed his displeasure and yellow cards were shown to both Duncan and McCormick. Inexplicably a minute later McCormick raced over to the right and clattered Ross Tokely. The rest was inevitable – a second yellow and a walk to the dressing room. ICT never managed to take real advantage of the extra man and it was the Steelmen who next came close. In 64 minutes a quick Brian Kerr free kick was sent into the box by McDonald and it came off both Kerr and Brian McLean – it could have gone anywhere but it went over for a goal kick. Brown dived to collect an O’Donnell header in 76 minutes then, with seven minutes left, ICT substitute Rory McAllister won the ball off William Kinniburgh to set up a couple of chances – McAllister’s shot was blocked then Keogh’s follow-up was well saved by Smith. Three minutes from time a dangerous curling Richie Hart effort from 20 yards was pushed away by Smith. FullTime: 0-1 A hectic three minutes of added time came to nothing and the points pushed Caley Thistle above Motherwell into seventh place. With 46 points on the board, and four games left, last season’s total of 44 has also been overtaken.

Caley Thistle make it three wins out of three against Hibs this season with a fine 0-2 victory at Easter Road. Goals from Darren Dods and a Barry Wilson penalty secured all three points. Saturday 25th March 2006 Easter Road, Edinburgh HIBERNIAN 0 Team: Malkowski, Whittaker, Caldwell, G Smith, Murphy, Sproule, Stewart (Dalglish 59), Thomson, Glass, Killen (Fletcher 56), Riordan Subs – Hogg, McCluskey, Shields, D Smith & S Brown INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 2 (Dods 58, Wilson 78pen) Team: Brown, McCaffrey, Dods, Munro (Golabek 69), Hastings, Wilson, Black, Duncan, Morgan (Bayne 72), Hart, Wyness (Keogh 86) Subs – Parratt, Fox, McAllister & Fraser Referee M Ritchie Attendance 12745 Man of the Match Info not supplied A fine away win and a clean sweep over Hibs this season. Charlie Christie made one change from the team that narrowly lost 2-1 to Celtic in midweek. Barry Wilson came into the starting eleven and Graham Bayne reverted to the bench. Craig Dargo remained sidelined and with Ross Tokely still suspended Stuart McCaffrey continued at right back. Hibs looked the better side in the opening exchanges but Caley Thistle’s Richie Hart was first to have a realistic sight of goal. He tested Zbigniew Malkowski in the Hibs goal with a low 25 yard free kick in 12 minutes. Derek Riordan then attacked the visitors’ goal but he shot wide and another 12-yard effort from Riordan was blocked by McCaffrey. With seven minutes of the first half remaining Ivan Sproule was denied by the feet of Mark Brown then Brown tipped over a Chris Killen header. A long Alan Morgan pass set Dennis Wyness on a run but he shot at Malkowski from 18 yards. Half Time: 0-0 The visitors started the second half well and within a minute Malkowski pushed an Ian Black long-range shot for a corner. The pressure was rewarded in 58 minutes with the opening goal. Grant Munro was the architect when a trademark long throw from the left came back to him and he headed the ball into the heart of the box. It fell for Darren Dods and he drove it low into the net from 12 yards. This was the unified club’s 900th competitive goal. Almost immediately Hibs came close when a Riordan corner was missed by substitute Paul Dalglish then the other substitute Steven Fletcher hit it wide. A Riordan free kick from 30 yards in 67 minutes came close but Brown tipped it over as it headed for the top corner. Malkowski saved from Wilson then, with twelve minutes left, Wilson was tripped by Gary Caldwell in the box and Mike Ritchie pointed to the penalty spot. Wilson rose to his feet, took the penalty himself and scored goal number 901. Many Hibs fans decided it was all over and started to leave. Their team tried to salvage something but Riordan hit wide, Gary Smith went down and failed to win a penalty then a Steven Whittaker shot was pushed for a corner by Brown. In the four minutes added time Fletcher sent in a poor shot and it trundled over for a goal kick. There was still time for a Hibs corner which was headed off target by Caldwell – it fell for Riordan then Fletcher headed over the bar. Full Time 0-2 The afternoon was made even better for the Caley Thistle camp when the score from Pittodrie came through – Aberdeen 2 Motherwell 2. Caley Thistle thus moved back into sixth place. With two games left before the split, next week’s home game against Aberdeen will be vital.

A goal-less draw against second placed Hearts keeps Caley Thistle in 6th place but Aberdeen and Motherwell are still in the three-way battle for the top 6 spot. Club Historian, Ian Broadfoot reports from this match at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Saturday 11th March 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Hart, Black, Duncan, Morgan, Bayne, Dargo Subs – Golabek, McCaffrey, McBain, Keogh, Fox, Jackson & Fraser HEARTS 0 Team: Gordon, Neilson, Fyssas, Webster, Hartley, Hackett (McAllister 66; Goncalves 85), Cesnauskis, Berra, Bednar, Elliot, Aguiar Subs – Johnson, Mikoliunas, Pospisil, Petras & Banks Referee K Toner Attendance 5027 Man of the Match Richie Hart (ICT) A fine performance by Caley Thistle and they could easily have taken all three points. Hearts were always on the back foot and Mark Brown had a quiet afternoon. Richie Hart starred for the home side and brought out two tremendous saves from Craig Gordon late in the first half. Both sides were missing key players for a variety of reasons. The Dennis Wyness loan agreement with Hearts specified that he should not play against his parent club so the Dargo/Wyness strike partnership was severed. David Proctor was injured and Alan Morgan started. With Rory McAllister suspended, and the absence of Wyness, Caley Thistle were short on front players. Graham Bayne started with Craig Dargo and new signing Ben Jackson took a seat on the bench. Hearts were without Rudi Skacel, Stephen Pressley, Edgaras Jankauskas and Julien Brellier – but with a squad the size of a small nation this was not a major problem. It was a bitterly cold afternoon and Caley Thistle played into the wind in the first half. The excitement started in the first minute when Dargo chased a high ball from Hart and Gordon came well out of his area to clear – it reached Russell Duncan but Gordon got back just in time to take his on-target lob. A minute later a Paul Hartley corner was headed goalwards by Takis Fyssas and Mark Brown pushed it away. A second corner to Hearts created some confusion but the whistle went for a free kick to the home side and the danger was over. Two Alan Morgan shots were blocked in the seventh minute then Hearts danger man Roman Bednar closed in on Brown and he pushed his angled shot for a corner. A fine Grant Munro curling cross/shot from the left whistled past Gordon’s post in 25 minutes. Gordon saved a 25 yard low shot from Richie Hart on the half hour mark after good set up play by Morgan and Dargo. Gordon earned his appearance money in 36 and 37 minutes when he denied Hart twice. The first came when Morgan set Hart on course for goal through the centre – he drew Gordon from his line but the keeper saved his rising shot from point blank range. Hart tried again when a neat Dargo pass gave him a sight of goal from wide right – his shot was heading for the far top corner but the keeper reached it. Half Time: 0-0 With the wind behind them Caley Thistle spent the second half camped in the Hearts half. A long range free kick from Hart in 49 minutes proved awkward for Gordon as it carried in the wind but he caught it at the second attempt. In 55 minutes an Ian Black through ball for Bayne was taken by Gordon at the striker’s feet. Gordon held a header from Bayne in 77 minutes then a very good move ended with Bayne heading just over. Hearts were dealt a blow with five minutes left when substitute Jamie McAllister was stretchered off and had to be replaced. When play resumed the home side continued to press for a deserved winner. Gordon held a 25 yard low shot from Morgan then in added time Gordon came out of his box to clear a Duncan lob. There was still time for Gordon to hold a bouncing shot from Hart and for a Morgan 20 yard drive to be blocked after excellent set up play by Black. Full Time: 0-0 Hearts breathed a sigh of relief as the whistle went and it ended goalless. The point gained, and Livingston’s defeat, guaranteed SPL football in Inverness next season. Sixth place was retained and Aberdeen’s defeat moves them back to eighth. Motherwell moved up to seventh, a point behind ICT.

ICT staff and supporters worked hard to make sure the pitch was playable, but it was Motherwell who took full advantage and all three points. A Richie Foran penalty was all that separated the sides. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium... Saturday 4th March 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC 0 Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings (Bayne 80), Proctor (Morgan 24), Black, Duncan (Keogh 70), Hart, Wyness, Dargo Subs - Golabek, McCaffrey, Fox & Fraser Motherwell FC 1 (Foran 51pen) Team: Meldrum, Corrigan, Hammell, Kerr, Craigan, McCormack, McDonald (McGarry 83), Foran (Paterson 86), McBride (O'Donnell 80), Clarkson, McLean Subs - Hamilton, Fagan, Kinniburgh & Alexiou Referee S Conroy Attendance 3183 Man of the Match Ross Tokely (ICT) A poor game overall, very few accurate shots and just one goal. Sadly for the home support it was scored by Motherwell's Richie Foran from the penalty spot. Barry Wilson was missing from the Caley Thistle line-up following keyhole surgery on his knee but he was also suspended. David Proctor replaced Wilson but his match ended after 24 minutes when he was taken to hospital with a dislocated shoulder. Heavy snow over the preceding two days had led to a major clearance operation but it was successful and the match went ahead. The pitch was however heavy and mistakes were plentiful. There was barely a minute gone when a Ross Tokely cross from the right reached Ian Black via Richie Hart and Craig Dargo and it was nearly 1-0. Black sent a looping header over ‘keeper Colin Meldrum which looked in but was cleared off the line. A botched pass-back to Meldrum in the fifth minute was intercepted by Dargo on the left and he tried to curl the ball over the ‘keeper and into the net - he came close but it was wide. These two chances were to prove amongst the home side's best of the match. The frantic first five minutes also included two blocked shots from Motherwell's Brian Kerr and a dangerous cross from Kevin McBride which was headed for a corner by Darren Dods. Play began to verge on the reckless but referee Steve Conroy chose not to flourish the yellow card. This tough spell culminated in a 24th minute hefty challenge on David Proctor which led to his departure from the field en route to Raigmore Hospital. Alan Morgan came on to play on the left with Hart moving to the right. Dennis Wyness curled the ball just wide in 27 minutes from 25 yards then seven minutes later Meldrum brought out the save of the match when Hart crossed from the right and Dargo's on-target shot was blocked. The save was also significant because it was the only real test of either ‘keeper all afternoon. With five minutes of the first half remaining Alan McCormack went down in the Caley Thistle box alongside Grant Munro but play was waved on and the referee ignored any suggestion of a dive. Half Time: 0-0 Two minutes into the second half Alan Morgan similarly went down in the Motherwell box and was booked. The home crowd became restless as they could see no difference between the incidents. There was no real protest however in the 50th minute when Tokely tripped McCormack and a penalty was awarded. Tokely was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card but he was deemed not to be the last defender. Richie Foran stepped up to net the spot kick and received a yellow card for an over exuberant celebration. On the hour mark the home crowd was once more left puzzled when Scott McDonald claimed Mark Brown had tripped him in the box but a penalty was refused and again referee Steve Conroy ruled that no card was appropriate. As the second half wore on the home side searched for an equaliser and even replaced defender Richard Hastings with striker Graham Bayne. This left some exposure at the back and a Motherwell breakaway with nine minutes left was only ended by an excellent Grant Munro interception. David Clarkson broke away a minute later but Steve McGarry was offside when the final pass came. With a minute left of the statutory 90 Motherwell substitute James Paterson headed over the bar then into added time Wyness came close at the other end. A classic double shuffle on the left of the box took him past two defenders but his angled shot hit the side netting. There was still time for McCormack to send a long range shot just wide and Motherwell managed to see out the three added minutes safely to earn all three points. Full Time: 0-1 Despite this set back Caley Thistle remain sixth but Aberdeen and Motherwell are in hot pursuit.

Dargo and Wyness score again as ICT and Killie battle to a draw. For Dargo it was at least one goal in 7 consecutive SPL games, For Wyness it was 5 in 5 but it was a late equaliser from David Proctor that secured the point. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. Saturday 11th February 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 3 (Wyness 34, Dargo 68, Proctor 86) Team: Brown, Proctor, Dods, McCaffrey, Hastings, Wilson, Duncan, Hart (Keogh 79), Golabek (Morgan 76), Dargo, Wyness Subs – Bayne, Parratt, Fox, McAllister & Fraser KILMARNOCK 3 (Naismith 27, Wales 69, Wales 85) Team: Smith, Fowler, Hay, Ford, Wales, Invincible, Johnston, Naismith (Locke 81), Nish, Wright, Wilson (Lilley 89) Subs – Skora, Di Giacomo, Campbell, Loy & Bell Referee K Clark Attendance 3618 Man of the Match C. Dargo (ICT) A cracking match which could easily have gone either way. It was the third draw between these teams this season with fourteen goals shared. Injuries forced a number of changes on Charlie Christie and Stuart McCaffrey continued in central defence in the absence of Grant Munro. Stuart Golabek played in left midfield in place of the injured Roy McBain and, with Ross Tokely also unfit, David Proctor came in and scored a vital goal. Richie Hart was in the starting eleven as was Dennis Wyness. Liam Keogh’s return from long-term injury gave him a bench place and he came on in the 79th minute for his first appearance of the season. It all started at great speed with two early chances. In four minutes Mark Brown saved from Danny Invincible and Steven Naismith touched in the rebound – two Kilmarnock players were however offside and the goal did not count. A minute later it was the visitors turn for a let-off when Graeme Smith saved a close-range effort from Craig Dargo. A Darren Dods header had fooled Smith initially but he recovered when it looked as if Dargo had to score. Kilmarnock took the lead in 27 minutes when Invincible sent the ball in from the right and Naismith swept it first time past Brown from 10 yards. Caley Thistle equalised in 34 minutes when a Stuart Golabek lob into the box should have been cleared by Simon Ford but Dargo nipped in and passed to Dennis Wyness. Wyness neatly sidestepped a defender and hammered it past Smith. This spurred the home side on and they looked the better bet to score again. Three minutes from the break Barry Wilson turned at the edge of the Killie box then hit a great shot just over the bar. The whistle was looming when Killie’s Ford nearly scored an own goal. Wyness crossed from the right and Ford knocked it high over Smith but just wide of the goal. Half Time: 1-1 In 49 minutes Killie’s Lindsay Wilson crossed from the right but Brown took it with three visiting players hovering. A Wilson flick then set Dargo one-on-one with Smith but the keeper saved well. Smith then held a Dargo volley. In 59 minutes Naismith forced a Gary Hay free kick over the line but Brown had been fouled. There was a moment of high controversy in 65 minutes when Brown pushed a Naismith shot high in the air and Nish’s follow-up header was deemed not to be over the line – Jim Jeffries strongly disagreed but the goal did not stand. Three minutes Dargo’s persistence paid off and he made it 2-1. A Richard Hastings cross from the left was touched towards Dargo in the box and he slid in to knock it past Smith. This extended Dargo’s record of scoring in consecutive games to seven. The lead only lasted one minute as an Invincible interception set up a run down the right, a cross into the box and a Wales 12 yard shot which made it 2-2. It was a bad goal to lose after a good ICT period. The last ten minutes were frantic with chances at both ends and two goals. An Alan Morgan shot was blocked with eight minutes left then a Naismith effort was deflected off Dods for a Killie corner. Caley Thistle were stunned with five minutes left when Wales hit a curling shot from the edge of the box to beat Brown and give Killie the lead. Within less than a minute Gary Hay conceded a corner at the other end and Morgan’s inswinger from the right was headed in at the back post by David Proctor. Both keepers made good saves in the dying minutes. Smith saved from Dargo in 87 minutes then in added time Brown dived to save and prevent Wales from completing his hat trick. Full Time: 3-3 The whistle went to end this great advert for the SPL and honours were even. Aberdeen unexpectedly defeated Hearts to gain some ground but ICT remain sixth by one point.