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In a game best described as "The Great Escape", Craig Dargo and Dennis Wyness both got on the scoresheet in the closing period to rescue a point for Caley Thistle in a 2-2 draw. With eleven minutes gone Caley Thistle were 2-0 down and when Darren Young hit the post it was nearly 3-0. Amazingly the last ten minutes produced a penalty goal from Craig Dargo and a strike from Dennis Wyness to gain a point. Wednesday 8th February 2006 East End Park - Dunfermline DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC FC (Dick Campbell) 2 (Hunt 8, Burchill 11) Team: Halliwell, McCunnie, Shields, S Wilson, Zambernardi, Donnelly (Simmons 59), Mason, Darren Young, Muirhead (Campbell 35), Hunt, Burchill (Thomson 84) Subs - Phinn, C Wilson & Paterson INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Dargo pen 81, Wyness 88) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, McCaffrey, Hastings (Hart 64), Wilson, Duncan, McBain (Fox 27), Golabek, Dargo, Bayne (Wyness 64) Subs - Proctor, Morgan, McAllister & Fraser Referee B Winter Attendance 3355 Man of the Match Info Not Provided Radio Scotland reporter Charles Bannerman described this as ‘The Great Escape’ and he was spot on. Charlie Christie made three changes from Saturday’s draw with Partick. Injuries to Ian Black and Grant Munro led to starts for Stuart McCaffrey and Stuart Golabek. Graham Bayne also came in for Dennis Wyness. Dunfermline made one enforced change with Bryn Halliwell taking over in goal from the injured Allan McGregor. Caley Thistle started brightly and had an early chance, but Dunfermline quickly took control. In eight minutes Noel Hunt made it 1-0 with a low header past Mark Brown following a Scott Muirhead corner from the right. Three minutes later Mark Burchill took a headed pass from Noel Hunt and sent a left foot shot into the top corner to make it 2-0. The Pars surged forward to sew the game up and there was let-off when Darren Young hit the post and Hunt netted from the rebound – thankfully for ICT he was judged to be offside. In 25 minutes Barry Wilson came close to pulling one back when his 20 yard free kick hit the bar and went over for a goal kick. Both sides were forced into first half substitutions through injury with Liam Fox replacing Roy McBain and Andy Campbell on for Scott Muirhead who departed the field on a stretcher. Half Time: 2-0 Six minutes after the break Dunfermline thought it was 3-0 when a Donnelly corner was headed goalwards by Burchill but Fox hooked it off the line. Christie sent on Richie Hart and Dennis Wyness in 64 minutes and the latter started the fightback when he earned a penalty with nine minutes left. He went down with Scott Wilson and Yannick Zambernardi in attendance and a spot kick was awarded – despite the vocal Dunfermline protests that the decision was harsh. Craig Dargo sent Halliwell the wrong way and it was game on. Caley Thistle drove forward confidently and with two minutes on the clock Wyness acrobatically volleyed over Halliwell to make it 2-2. The Pars tried hard to regain the advantage but were denied in the dying seconds by a brilliant save from Brown as he pushed a Hunt ball onto the post then caught the rebound. Full Time: 2-2 Last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Partick felt like a loss – in the light of the bad start this 2-2 draw felt like a win!

A defeat in Charlie Christie's first official game in charge but a battling performance against Rangers with Craig Dargo and Dennis Wyness on the score sheet yet again Sunday 29th January 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Dargo 13, Wyness 72) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings (Bayne 87), Wilson, Fox (Hart 71) , Duncan (Golabek 46), McBain, Dargo, Wyness Subs – McCaffrey, Proctor, McAllister & Fraser RANGERS FC 3 (Boyd 6, 58pen , Andrews 27) Team: Waterreus, Hutton, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Murray, Burke (Prso 39), Malcolm, Ricksen, Buffel, Boyd (Novo 75), Lovenkrands Subs – A Rae, G Rae, Smith, Carcary & Klos Referee A Freeland Attendance 7380 Man of the Match Mark Brown (ICT) A baptism of fire for the new management team of Charlie Christie & Donald Park. Caley Thistle’s 11 game unbeaten SPL run ended at home to Rangers with the game live on Sky TV. TV pictures showed that Caley Thistle were desperately unlucky on two occasions – one Rangers goal was illegal and a penalty should have been awarded to the home side late in the game. They were however rescued on several occasions by fine saves from Mark Brown. Ian Black missed the game through suspension and was replaced by Liam Fox. For Rangers, Barry Ferguson was absent due to a broken nose sustained in a training collision with Marvin Andrews. Rangers put the Caley Thistle defence under pressure from the off and were rewarded in just six minutes. Chris Burke made a strong run and his defence-splitting pass reached Thomas Buffel on the left of the box. Buffel sent a square ball into the centre and Kris Boyd scored from six yards. Craig Dargo set the home stands alight when he equalised in 13 minutes. A Ross Tokely long ball through the centre ran kindly for Dargo and he hit low past Ronald Waterreus from 12 yards. A curling corner by Peter Lovenkrands from the right and a diving “header” from Marvin Andrews made it 2-1 in 27 minutes but TV evidence later showed that the ball actually came off Andrews’ arm. The goal stood and Rangers pressed to kill off the game. A great save by Mark Brown from Buffel just before the break kept the score at 2-1. Half Time 1-2 The game seemed to go beyond the home side in 58 minutes when Peter Lovenkrands came into the box from the left and was sandwiched – the referee pointed to the penalty spot and Boyd made no mistake. Home heads went down for a while then a Dennis Wyness goal in 72 minutes set up a lively last period. Barry Wilson hit goalwards from 18 yards and Waterreus dived to his right in the direction of the shot – Dennis Wyness reacted quickly and headed the ball into the unattended part of the goal from six yards. A minute later there was controversy when a Wilson ball across goal was nearly turned into his own goal by the arm of Ian Murray but Waterreus made a tremendous save. Penalty claims were turned down but once more TV pictures showed this to be a harsh decision. Alan Hutton blocked a Wyness header from 12 yards in 74 minutes. Three Lovenkrands corners in a row, with eight minutes left, put pressure on the home defence but all were cleared. Full Time 2-3 Despite a strong finish Caley Thistle could not manage an equaliser and Rangers took the points. Caley Thistle remain sixth.

Barry Wilson turns in a superb performance with a role in all 4 Caley Thistle goals. The veteran scored one and set up or provided the ball for the other three. An emphatic win against struggling Falkirk and three-in-a-row for caretaker managers John Docherty and Charlie Christie. It was also eleven SPL games undefeated since Falkirk came to Inverness in October and won 3-0 against the odds. Saturday 21st January 2006 Falkirk Stadium FALKIRK FC 1 (Ireland 10) Team: Ferguson, Lawrie, Milne, Rodrigues, Ireland (Moutinho 64), Lima (Cregg 69), Thomson, O’Donnell (Craig 62), Latapy, McBreen, Gow Subs – Ross, Barr, McPherson & Glennon INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 4 (Wilson 2, Wyness 18, Dargo 38 (pen), Tokely 56) Team: Brown, Tokely (Proctor 79), Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Hart 85), Black (Golabek 66), Duncan, McBain, Dargo, Wyness Subs – McCaffrey, Fox, McAllister & Fraser Referee J Underhill Attendance 4772 Man of the Match Liam Craig (Falkirk) Barry Wilson was the hero of the day with one goal and three assists. Falkirk manager John Hughes acknowledged the fans boos and agreed they had been well beaten. Christie thought his side was ‘fabulous’. Russell Latapy shot over the Caley Thistle bar in the first minute but it was the visitors who took the lead in just two minutes after Craig Dargo collected the ball in midfield and found Wilson on the right. The winger headed goalwards and shot low past Allan Ferguson from 18 yards for his third goal of the season. Alan Gow should have equalised two minutes later but Mark Brown blocked his effort with his legs. In the eighth minute Craig Dargo hit straight at Allan Ferguson from point blank range and two minutes after that Falkirk equalised. Gow’s free kick was not cleared by the ICT defence and Craig Ireland rose to head home. The Inverness side regained the lead in 18 minutes when Dennis Wyness was set up by Wilson and he carefully slid the ball past Ferguson from 12 yards. Falkirk pushed for another equaliser and Brown brilliantly turned away a Russell Latapy free kick in 31 minutes. The points began to look safe in 38 minutes when a Wilson cross was handled by Tiago Rodrigues and Dargo slotted home the penalty – his third penalty goal in three matches. Half Time: 1-3 Into the second half and the visitors were clearly in control. In 51 minutes Dargo hit the bar from 18 yards then Ian Black hit wide with just Ferguson to beat. Goal number four came in 56 minutes when a Wilson corner was headed home by Ross Tokely at the near post – his second goal of the season’s SPL campaign. Falkirk now had a mountain to climb. The team did not give up but many of their fans decided to head for home. The closest Falkirk came was when substitute Liam Craig hit the bar in the closing stages. Full Time: 1-4 For Caley Thistle the job was done and they fully deserved the three points. Sixth place was retained and minds now turned to the visit of Rangers on the 29th.

The pain of the departure of Craig Brewster, Malky Thomson and a couple of the coaching staff fades as the players prove that its business as usual with a 3-0 win over Paul Lambert's Livingston side. What a week !! Caley Thistle lose a player, manager and 4 coaches in one fell swoop when Craig Brewster and his backroom team agree terms with Dundee United but in typical ICT style, the players proved it was business as usual as they rose above all the turmoil and turned in a winning performance. Saturday 14th January 2006 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 3 (Dargo 26, 57pen), Wyness (59) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Proctor 82), Duncan, Black (Hart 73), McBain, Dargo, Wyness (McAllister 69) Subs – Golabek, McCaffrey, Fox & Fraser LIVINGSTON FC 0 Team: McKenzie, MacKay, Pinxten, Strong, McNamee (Walker 68), Dair, Brittain, Lambert (Vincze 46), Hoolahan, Dalglish, Hislop (Dorado 75) Subs – Snodgrass, Dorrans, Tesevic & Roy Referee C Thomson Attendance 3604 Man of the Match Craig Dargo (ICT) There was one piece of important business before the game could begin – a minute’s silence to honour team coach driver Tony Fraser who died last Wednesday. Tony was a long-serving and valued member of the organisation and much more than just a driver. He was there on day one when the club played its first competitive match and he followed the fortunes of the team avidly. His enthusiasm and friendship will be sorely missed by all. With Craig Brewster gone, the management duties were shared, as they were just 14 months ago, by Charlie Christie and John Docherty. The line-up for last week’s cup match was amended to bring back Grant Munro, Richard Hastings, Ian Black and Roy McBain with fit-again Craig Dargo partnering Dennis Wyness up front. Livingston included former Caley Thistle favourite Steve Hislop for his debut after arriving from Gillingham. On with the football and a rather drab first period. The first realistic chance fell to Livi’s David McNamee in 13 minutes when he hit over from 18 yards then McBain hit wide at the other end two minutes later. Mark Brown produced the save of the match in 20 minutes from McNamee. A Paul Lambert free kick from long range was sent goalwards by Wesley Hoolahan and McNamee’s six-yard header looked certain to open the scoring. Brown’s reactions were superb and he touched the ball over the bar. Four minutes later referee Craig Thomson somehow denied the home side a penalty when Dargo was dispatched into the net by McNamee from a few yards out as the striker attempted to latch onto Barry Wilson’s cross. Dargo gained some revenge within two minutes when he rose to head home an excellent Ian Black cross from the right – a rare headed goal from the striker. A 36th minute header from Hislop was blocked in the box then Darren Dods stepped in as Hislop was about to turn a Lambert free kick goalwards. The home side were in control for the rest of the match and it was only a matter of time before their lead was extended. Half Time: 1-0 In 52 minutes a Hastings cross from the right reached Wyness at the back post but a little too high for an accurate header – it went over the bar. Three minutes later Wilson raced into the Livi box and went down under a tackle from Dave MacKay and, after a moment’s hesitation, referee Thomson pointed to the spot. There was delay while the referee attended to protests and, two Livi bookings later, Dargo took the kick and hit low past McKenzie for 2-0. This was Dargo's 9th goal in as many games. In 59 minutes Wyness scored a magnificent goal to seal the victory. McBain passed inside from the left and Wyness turned a defender beautifully before sending a rising angled shot into the roof of the net. Substitute Rory McAllister took on the Livi defence in 76 minutes before setting up Dargo with a hat-trick chance. Dargo made it past McKenzie but stumbled and the ball went over for a goal kick. There were half-hearted claims that McKenzie had impeded him but this was of no interest to the referee. Livi had few second half chances – the best fell to Paul Dalglish in 77 minutes but he headed wide from close range. McAllister hit a low shot just wide in 81 minutes then Livi’s Jason Dair sent a rising ball over the bar from 25 yards. Richard Brittain was stretchered off with five minutes left and the visitors had to see out the remaining minutes with 10 men. Dalglish headed for goal in added time but tripped at the vital moment. The final action was a McAllister effort in the Livi box – he created space on the right of the box but it was intercepted as he was about to shoot. Full Time: 3-0 With Motherwell not playing until Sunday Caley Thistle moved back into the top six and have now gone 10 games undefeated.

Caley Thistle take all three points against Hibs at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in this boxing day encounter. Craig Dargo scored both goals and is now ICT top scorer for the season so far after a slow start. Caley Thistle’s fine form against the top teams continued with this well deserved 2-0 win over Hibs. This was the club’s 500th senior game since amalgamation and they celebrated in style. Monday 26th December 2005 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Dargo 8, 11) Team; Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Hart 76), Duncan, Black, McBain, Dargo (McAllister 70), Brewster (Bayne 58) Subs – Golabek, McCaffrey, Fox & Fraser HIBERNIAN FC 0 Team: Malkowski, Beuzelin, Scott Brown (Konte 74), Caldwell, Fletcher (O’Connor 54), Glass, Riordan, Smith, Sproule, Thomson (Stewart 58), Whittaker Subs – Hogg, McCluskey, McDonald & Simon Brown Referee A Freeland Attendance 7017 Man of the Match Craig Dargo (ICT) Craig Dargo scored both goals although Barry Wilson had a strong claim on the first. With twenty minutes left, Dargo departed the scene with concussion and, at the end, he remembered very little of the game. The home side totally dominated the first half and played some fine football. The second half was more of a battle and the crime count continued to rise – in the end there were a total of nine bookings with Hibs by far the greater sinners. Grant Munro made his 150th appearance in an unchanged team. The opening goal came in eight minutes when Ian Black fed an excellent pass to Barry Wilson on the right and, with Ross Tokely causing a diversion on the overlap, Wilson cut inside. He sent a low angled ball goalwards from long range and Hibs’ keeper Malkowski dived in an effort to save - a touch from Dargo left him helpless. The goal was credited by the press corps to Wilson until Dargo’s vital contribution came to light. Three minutes later a poor goal kick from Malkowski was collected by Dargo 40 yards out and he raced in on goal. Malkowski narrowed the angle but Dargo neatly side-stepped him and hit into the net for 2-0. In 18 minutes Craig Brewster sent Dargo off goalwards and Derek Riordan earned the first yellow card by bringing him down. Just after the half hour mark Brewster once more provided Dargo with a fine pass and he headed towards Malkowski – the keeper came out to face the striker and this time he hit the ball early but just wide. There was very little to report at the other end and in first half added time it could have been 3-0. Dargo was on another strong run when Stephen Glass brought him down – he was lucky to escape with a yellow card. Brewster took the free kick from wide right and it was deflected for a corner. Half Time: 2-0 Hibs were expected to come out fighting after the break and they did spend more time in the ICT half – all to no avail. Mark Brown made a rare save in 55 minutes when he dived low to stop a Scott Brown effort. On 63 minutes Guillaume Beuzelin went down in the box alongside Darren Dods and was promptly booked for diving. Rory McAllister was presented with a chance seconds after coming on in the 70th minute – Wilson sent him on track for goal but he hit early and over. Hibs were reduced to shooting from long range and typically substitute Michael Stewart hit well over from 25 yards in 76 minutes. They should have pulled one back in 79 minutes when Riordan for once got the better of Ross Tokely down the left – Riordan’s low ball into the centre reached Garry O’Connor but from a few yards out he stretched and hit wide. Stewart limped off in 85 minutes leaving Hibs to complete the game a man down. Mark Brown rose high to collect a Riordan free kick a minute later then the same player hit a fine shot from the left – it cleared the bar with perhaps a little help from Brown. A goal kick was given and play headed back towards Malkowski. Graham Bayne touched on a Richie Hart cross but it was deflected for a corner. Into added time and McAllister came up against Steven Whittaker as last man – Bayne was clear on his left but the pass came a fraction late and Bayne was offside. Full Time: 2-0 The whistle went and ICT ended the day still in sixth place but a mere four points behind fifth placed Rangers.

Official report from the League match against Celtic at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. An almost capacity crowd watches Caley Thistle score in less than a minute but John Hartson grabs a point for Celtic in this entertaining match Sunday 18th December 2005 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Dargo 31 secs) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Hart 90), Duncan, Black, McBain, Dargo (Wyness 88), Brewster Subs – Golabek, McCaffrey, Fox, McAllister & Fraser CELTIC FC 1 (Hartson 21 min) Team: Boruc, Telfer, Wallace, Balde, McManus, Petrov, Lennon, Nakamura, McGeady (Sutton 71), Hartson, Maloney Subs – Lawson, Thompson, Virgo, Pearson, Wei & Marshall Referee S Dougal Attendance 7382 Man of the Match Ian Black (ICT) Gordon Strachan called this a ‘cracking game of football’ and he was absolutely right. A packed stadium watched an enthralling encounter which could have gone either way. Both ‘keepers had great saves, ICT missed a penalty and there were golden chances at both ends. The cold snap necessitated use of the undersoil heating but it did its job well and the pitch was perfect. The week’s press had been dominated by Roy Keane’s arrival at Celtic but he was not eligible for this game. For Caley Thistle David Proctor was ruled unfit and his place was taken by Roy McBain on his return from injury. Darren Dods came back from suspension to make his 50th appearance – at the expense of Stuart McCaffrey who returned to the bench. Club captain Stuart Golabek was on the bench following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury. There was dramatic start when Craig Dargo created a new club record with a goal in only 31 seconds. Barry Wilson forced a throw on the right and Ross Tokely found Craig Brewster at the near post – he headed on and Dargo flicked the ball home from six yards. The home stands erupted and another upset was on the cards. Play raged from end to end and the next chance fell to Celtic in 15 minutes. Shaun Maloney centred the ball from the right and Mark Brown made a magnificent save from a John Hartson 10 yard-shot. Maloney should have scored three minutes later when Hartson set him up a few yards out – Hartson could have shot himself from the right but he thought his strike partner was better placed. In the end Maloney did not fully connect and Brown blocked it. The Celtic pressure paid off in 21 minutes when Hartson was given too much room in the box and he volleyed home from 12 yards to equalise. On the half hour mark Brewster sent Dargo through into the box and he was brought down by Stephen McManus – a clear penalty and the referee agreed. Dargo took it himself but there was no real power in the shot and Artur Borac dived to his left and pushed it away. It was 1-1 at half time but could easily have been 2-2. The pace never slackened in the second half and Ross Tokely took the ball off the feet of Aiden McGeady in the box with seconds on the clock. Caley Thistle immediately moved play to the Celtic end and Boruc had to be quick out of his box to clear ahead of Dargo. In 54 minutes Boruc did well to beat away an angled shot from Brewster. Three minutes later McGeady was well placed in the box and all waited for an offside flag. The flag never came but McGeady hit wide. Play was still end to end and in 76 minutes McManus brought down Brewster 25 yards out. Brewster took the kick himself and Boruc dived to his left to push it away – a great shot and a great save. Five minutes from time a Wilson cross from the right reached Russell Duncan at the back of the box - he chose to hit it first time but it cleared the bar. With time running out Brown made two vital saves – he beat down a shot from Maloney then he punched away a 25 yard drive from Stilian Petrov. As the clock moved past the 90 minute mark Hartson went down in the box but a free kick was given to the home side. Maloney then did the same and he was booked for his trouble. Boruc held a Duncan lob two minutes over time and the whistle went. Full Time: 1-1 Brewster was delighted with his team’s performance and he particularly saluted the work rate of Barry Wilson. A fine eight days for ICT – a point earned from each of the top two teams. Next it is third placed Hibs on Boxing Day. Caley Thistle remain sixth and sit a point above Aberdeen.

Craig Dargo scores a second half double to grab all three points for the Caley Jags in this match at Fir Park, Motherwell. The result takes Caley Thistle into the top 6 of the SPL. Saturday 3rd December 2005 Fir Park, Motherwell MOTHERWELL FC 0 Team: G Smith, Corrigan, Craigan (Kinniburgh 70), McLean, Hammell, McCormack, Kerr, Fagan (McBride 74), Foran, S McDonald, Hamilton (Clarkson 33) Subs – D Smith, Quinn, Coakley & Meldrum INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Dargo 63, 88) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Fox 89), Duncan, Black, Morgan (Hart 61), Brewster, Dargo Subs – McCaffrey, Bayne, Wyness, McAllister & Frase Referee S Conroy Attendance 4103 Man of the Match Info Not Provided A smash and grab raid at Motherwell took the three points and hoisted Caley Thistle up into the magic top six. Motherwell should have turned at half time in the lead but they squandered several chances and were denied by their former ‘keeper Mark Brown. Craig Brewster brought himself back into the starting eleven in place of Graham Bayne and Alan Morgan came in for David Proctor. The Steelmen started well and in less than a minute Alan McCormack sliced wide from just inside the box. Four minutes later Shaun Fagan hit wide from 12 yards with only Brown to beat. Brian Kerr hit past the post in 12 minutes then in 22 minutes Brown tipped over an 18 yard drive from Fagan. David Clarkson was the next sinner as he hit wide from 12 yards. A minute before the whistle McCormack shot straight at Brown then Darren Dods cleared off the line from Scott McDonald. Caley Thistle created very little in the first half and Motherwell ‘keeper Graeme Smith had an easy time – Barry Wilson shot wide, Dods struck the side netting and Ian Black hit off target. Half Time: 0-0 Into the second half and Motherwell were unlucky when a Brian Mclean goal-bound shot was deflected onto the post by Ross Tokely. The home side were stunned in 63 minutes when Caley Thistle took the lead. Brewster sent a ball through for Craig Dargo who stayed onside and hit it through Smith’s legs. Smith saved well from Black in 74 minutes then Clarkson nearly equalised with a header that came off the post. The game was over in 88 minutes when Dargo scored his second – Richie Hart sent a square pass from the right and Dargo hit the ball between Smith and the post. Full Time: 0-2 A fine afternoon’s work and revenge for September’s 2-1 home defeat.

Official report from the league match at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium against Dundee Utd. Ross Tokely doesn't score many goals... but the equaliser in this 1-1 draw was an absolute cracker !!! Saturday 25th November 2005 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (Tokely 19) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Proctor (Morgan 35), Black, Duncan, Wilson (Hart 87), Dargo (Juanjo 83), Bayne Subs – Wyness, Fox, Brewster & Fraser DUNDEE UTD FC 1 (Miller 6 pen) Team: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Duff, Samuel, Kerr, Fernandez, Robson, Miller, McIntyre Subs – McInnes, Dodds, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie & Samson Referee C Murray Attendance 3239 Man of the Match Ross Tokely (ICT) It was another one of these days when nothing went quite right – except for Ross Tokely’s spectacular equaliser. The defender’s first SPL goal from open play brought Caley Thistle right back into the game after they had conceded an early penalty goal. The winter arrived with a vengeance earlier in the week but by match day the snow had cleared and all that was left was a bitterly cold wind. The proceedings were delayed for a minute’s silence to acknowledge the death of the genius that was George Best. Those of us lucky enough to have seen him in action will long remember his skill and be saddened by both his early retiral from the game and his passing. It was on with the football but there was little to excite in the early stages. The game came alive in the seventh minute when Mark Wilson chipped the ball from the left into the box for Lee Miller. Miller found space ahead of Grant Munro and the Caley Thistle defender brought him down before he could shoot from a good position. Miller dusted himself down and made no mistake from the penalty spot. In 14 minutes a Russell Duncan ball from 25 yards spun over the bar then a Barry Wilson cross caused some chaos in the United box before it was cleared. Tokely’s moment of genius came in 20 minutes when a Wilson corner from the right was headed into the box by Ian Black – Tokely chested it down then sent an overhead kick past Derek Stillie before the ‘keeper even saw it coming. Alan Morgan came on for the injured David Proctor in 35 minutes. In the closing stages of the first half there were a few chances but nothing to really trouble either ‘keeper. Black hit well over in 36 minutes, a Craig Dargo 22 yard shot on the turn was straight at Stillie then Morgan hit low towards goal from the left but it skidded wide. At the other end a Barry Robson free kick in 38 minutes reached the lively Collin Samuel then Mark Wilson but the danger was eventually cleared. Seconds before the whistle for half time Stillie did well to hold an angled 25 yard shot from Dargo. Half Time: 1-1 The second half was not much better than the first with few chances. Stillie held a Graham Bayne flick in 59 minutes then Brown made the save of the day in 66 minutes when he pushed a net-bound Miller header onto the bar. Something special was needed to add sparkle to the proceedings and the home fans chanted Juanjo’s name. He duly came off the bench with seven minutes left but had little time to produce any magic. Barry Wilson was brought down by his former Livingston team-mate David Fernandez just outside the box on the left with five minutes to go and Stillie made a spectacular diving save from Wilson’s curling free kick. The good ICT spell continued when Black made an amazing run into and around the box searching for a space to shoot – he finally crossed and Bayne sent a glancing header past the post. Two minutes over time a cross from Richie Hart on the left was missed by Stillie and amidst the resulting chaos Bayne headed just wide – the assistant referee’s flag was up in any case. Full Time: 1-1 The draw kept ICT in eighth place but Dunfermline’s 1-0 win over Celtic was the result of the day and closed the gap at the foot of the table.

Bayne and Dargo score as Caley Thistle draw 2-2 with Kilmarnock. This game also saw Juanjo make his first appearance of the season as a late second half substitute. Saturday 19th November 2005 Rugby Park, Kilmarnock KILMARNOCK FC 2 (Boyd 54, Naismith 56) Team: Combe, Fowler, Wright, Greer, Ford, Hay, Invincibile (Murray 81), Johnston, Dodds (Nish 46), Naismith (Wales 80), Boyd Subs: McDonald, Campbell, Pronevych, Smith INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Bayne 30, Dargo 77) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Proctor, Black (Fox 77), Duncan, Wilson, Bayne (Brewster 80), Dargo (83 Juanjo) Subs: Hart, Wyness, Morgan, Fraser Referee A Freeland Attendance 4708 Man of the Match Info Not Provided A good away point from a game that started well but nearly slipped away from Caley Thistle. The Graham Bayne/Craig Dargo strike partnership came up trumps with a goal each – Dargo came back to haunt his former club with a 77th minute equaliser after Caley Thistle had taken a first half lead then surrendered it to two goals early in the second half. Craig Brewster stayed with the starting line-up from the disappointing Livingston cup tie but gave himself a place on the bench. Kilmarnock created very little in the first half but Mark Brown did have to look lively in ten minutes to clear ahead of Kris Boyd. Two minutes later ex-Killie striker Dargo came close when he forced an excellent one-handed save from Alan Combe. Caley Thistle deservedly took a 1-0 lead through Bayne on the half hour mark. Ian Black’s pass reached Dargo but he chose to set up his strike partner – Bayne slid the ball home from 15 yards. Richard Hastings and Russell Duncan both had chances in a two minute spell before the break with Hastings putting a shot wide from 20 yards and Duncan putting a 25 yarder over the bar while Steven Naismith and Gordon Greer also had chances in first half injury time with Naismith’s being the better after being setup by Allan Johnston but marshalled well by Mark Brown. Half Time: 0-1 A half-time substitution by Jim Jefferies signalled the Kilmarnock intention to attack this game when he replaced defender Rhian Dodds with forward Colin Nish and although Barry Wilson did have a shot at goal in 48 minutes, it was Kilmarnock who now started to look likely to score. Allan Johnston seemed to have a free role and he was instrumental in setting up a quickfire double for the Rugby Park men. In 54 minutes, he fired over a cross from the left wing which found Kris Boyd 6 yards out and he hit it into the net for the equaliser. The dust had not settled when Killie made it 2-1 through either Colin Nish or Steven Naismith depending on who is telling the story. Naismith latched onto a clever chip from Alan Johnston with the visitors awaiting an offside decision that never came. Naismith curled the ball past Brown from a tight angle with Nish claiming a final touch. Naismith was given the credit but for Caley Thistle it did not really matter whose name went into the record books. Caley Thistle had to pick themselves up from these two shocks and slowly they did just that. Barry Wilson had an effort go wide in the 76th minute before setting up Craig Dargo for the equaliser a minute later. Barry crossed from the right and Craig Dargo bent low to head it home. Caley Thistle made three substitutions over the next few minutes with Fox replacing Black when he seemed to pick up a knock, Brewster replacing Bayne, and in 83 minutes, the player all fans wanted to see return to the fray made his season debut – albeit only for 7 minutes – when Juanjo came on to the cheers of the away support to replace Craig Dargo. The Spanish wizard didn’t have time to make much of an impact, but it was good to see him back on the park after a frustrating 7 month layoff. Killie too had made their other two substitutions in this frantic 5 minute substituting spell with Wales replacing Steven Naismith and Stephen Murray replacing Danny Invincible. With seven minutes left Killie did come close to a winner when Gary Wales drove from 20 yards and Brown dived to save well. As time ran out Brown tipped over a Johnston shot and Wilson shot over the bar at the other end. The Killie fans shouted for a penalty when Nish clashed with Darren Dods but Alan Freeland ignored the pleas. Full Time: 2-2 It ended 2-2 and the point pushed ICT up to seventh for a short time until Aberdeen took a point from Hearts 24 hours later.

Caley Thistle finally take three points from a match at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium with a 2-1 victory over Dunfermline. Ian Black and David Proctor scored for Caley Thistle, Lee Makel for Dunfermline. Saturday 5th November 2005 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Black 5, Proctor 9) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Proctor, Black, Duncan, Wilson (Hart 79), Dargo (McAllister 70), Brewster (Wyness 70) Subs – Juanjo, Morgan, Fox & Fraser DUNFERMLINE FC 1 (Makel 73) Team: McGregor, Shields, Darren Young (Burchill 71), Mason, Makel, Tod, Labonte, Campbell, Wilson (Horsted 56), Hunt, Donnelly (McCunnie 80) Subs – Ross, Zambernardi, Tarachulski & Halliwell Referee C Richmond Attendance 3728 Man of the Match Ian Black (ICT) The home hoodoo was finally put to rest with this satisfying win. The team were without a win at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium since April, and during that time had taken only 2 of a possible 27 home points. The margin of victory should have been greater after two early goals but the important thing was the capture of three valuable points. For Dunfermline there was a dreadful start but a consolation goal which gave them a ray of hope – in the end they remained at the foot of the table level with Livingston on five points. Livingston, Caley Thistle's midweek opponents in the CIS Cup, conceded two late goals to lose 1-2 against Hibs at Almondvale. Ian Black was named 'man of the match' last week at Ibrox for an excellent and solid performance but it was Craig Dargo who got all the ICT headlines not only because he scored his first ever goal for the club but the fact that the goal was a spectacular one. Not to be out-done, Black made sure that this week, the headlines were all going to be his. Not only did he get his first goal for the club, which was also a spectacular effort, but was named man of the match for the second week in a row. Mark Brown continues to set a record in each and every game he plays for Caley Thistle. Prior to this game he had played 148 games for Caley Thistle, but what is remarkable is that he has not been out of the starting lineup since he signed and all 148 appearances have been consecutive. He made it 149 with this match and is likely to make his 150th consecutive appearance in the cup game against Livingston in midweek. Richie Hart also reached a milestone when he came on as a sub late in this game to record his 100th league appearance for Caley Thistle. With Graham Bayne suspended Craig Brewster came back into the side and Barry Wilson returned from injury. Alan Morgan stepped back to the bench. The start could not have been better for the home side but not before Darren Young shot wide of Mark Brown’s goal from outside the box. In five minutes a Wilson cross from the left was touched by David Proctor to Ian Black who sent a spectacular half volley into the top corner from 25 yards. This was Black’s first goal for the top team and BBC Radio Scotland summariser Brian Irvine described it as a candidate for ‘Goal of the Season’. Four minutes later Pars’ keeper Allan McGregor failed to hold a Wilson shot from 22 yards and David Proctor was on hand to side-foot it in from just seven yards out. More home goals seemed on the cards but they did not come - not for the want of trying. Just before the break Wilson took a quick free kick as he spotted McGregor out of position but his curling shot went just wide of the post. Seconds later McGregor redeemed himself when he blocked a Craig Dargo chip when the striker was one-on-one with the keeper. Half Time: 2-0 A Ross Tokely header from a Wilson corner came close in 67 minutes but it came off the bar following a touch from Dargo. Dunfermline’s first shot on target paid off in 73 minutes and stunned the home crowd. Lee Makel hit a low bouncing 25 yard drive into the bottom corner to give his side some hope of a point. It never really looked like happening and any further scoring seemed destined for the other end. Dargo hit the bar with a header then in stoppage time Russell Duncan had the ball in the net but offside was called. Even deeper into added time Caley Thistle substitute Rory McAllister took the ball into the corner to count down the clock then decided to head for goal. He reached the edge of the box then let fly with a shot which McGregor spectacularly tipped over the bar. Full Time: 2-1 ICT remain in eighth place on 17 points.

Ian Broadfoot reporting from Ibrox as the pressure lifts off Craig Dargo as he gets his first goal for the club in this 1-1 draw with reigning SPL champions Rangers at Ibrox, and he did it in style with a spectacular effort. Saturday 29th October 2005 Ibrox Park, Glasgow RANGERS (Alex McLeish) 1 (Thomson 54) Team: Waterreus, Hutton, Malcolm, Andrews, Bernard, Burke (Thompson 46), Ricksen, Hemdani, Ferguson, Lovenkrands, Prso Subs - Rae, Murray, Namouchi, Smith, McCormack & Klos INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Dargo 26) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Proctor, Black, Duncan, Morgan, Bayne, Dargo (Wyness 85) Subs - McCaffrey, Hart, Juanjo, Parratt, Fox & Fraser Referee I Brines Attendance 47867 Man of the Match Ian Black (ICT) If Wednesday was a night to forget then this most certainly was a day to remember. For the third time in five SPL meetings Caley Thistle held Rangers to a 1-1 draw. It was also the second time that this has been achieved at Ibrox. For Craig Dargo it was also a special day as he scored what Rangers' manager Alex McLeish called a 'wonder goal' in 26 minutes - the striker's first top team goal since his summer arrival. Graham Bayne may see the day rather differently as he received a second yellow card in 82 minutes following a foul on Peter Lovenkrands. Craig Brewster made many changes following the Falkirk defeat including resting himself. An injury to Barry Wilson created an opening for Richard Hastings in the revamped starting line-up and Richie Hart made way for David Proctor. Ian Black, Craig Dargo and Graham Bayne returned and Dennis Wyness started on the bench. Long-term injury victims Stuart McCaffrey and Juanjo made the bench for the first time this season. Rangers most high-profile absentee was Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan with Bob Malcolm taking his place. Alan Hutton came back into the Rangers defence for the first time following a leg-break. Rangers pressurised the Caley Thistle defence from the start with Lovenkrands shooting across the face of the goal and Alan Hutton heading over the bar. The home fans were stunned in 26 minutes when Dargo collected a long kick-out from Mark Brown and scored with a dipping volley from 25 yards plus. The visitors could have added to this soon after but Alan Morgan hit wide from the edge of the box then Ronald Waterreus saved bravely at the feet of Bayne. The closest Rangers came to an equaliser before half time was a Fernando Ricksen header which came off the crossbar. Half Time: 0-1 Chris Burke made way for Steven Thompson in the home team at the interval and he joined Dado Prso up front. It was the substitute who saved the day for Rangers in 54 minutes. The goal came after sustained Rangers pressure when Mark Brown rose to collect a Hutton cross, clashed with Fernando Ricksen and the ball broke free - Thompson had an easy task to score from a few yards out. From then on Rangers did everything but score. They came very close when Peter Lovenkrands back-heeled a Ricksen corner but Morgan cleared off the line. A minute later Lovenkrands ran from his own penalty box to the opposing one before ending on the ground following a Grant Munro tackle. Penalty claims were denied. Thompson and Marvin Andrews came close before Bayne's dismissal eight minutes from time gave Rangers what should have been a vital man advantage. They could still not break down a resolute Caley Thistle defence. Four minutes into added time Mark Brown brought off a classic save when he pushed over a Thompson header. Full Time: 1-1 A fine afternoon's work by Caley Thistle and a valuable point which retains eighth place with 14 points from 13 games. Dundee United and Falkirk are closing fast and Dunfermline now share last place with Livingston on 5 points.

Ian Broadfoot reports as Alan Morgan helps grab a point for Caley Thistle at Almondvale against Livingston with a late goal after Harald Pinxten had opened the scoring early in the first half. Saturday 22nd October 2005 Almondvale Stadium, Livingston LIVINGSTON (Paul Lambert) 1 (Pinxten 13) Team: McKenzie, MacKay, Pinxten, Strong, Tierney, Brittain, Walker (N Barrett 60), Adams, Dair (Adam 39), G Barrett, Snodgrass (Scott 66) Subs - Boyd, Pereira, Miller & Roy INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Morgan 72) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Morgan, Hart (Proctor 70), Fox, Duncan, Wilson, Wyness, Brewster Subs - Bayne, Hastings, Dargo, Parratt, Black & Fraser Referee M Ritchie Attendance 3372 Man of the Match Harold Pinxten (Livingston) For a long time it looked as if Livingston were going to record their first league win of the season but Alan Morgan's 72nd minute goal changed all that. It was an opportune moment for the youngster to record his first goal for the club and it set up a hectic last period. The home side's cause was not helped by Graham Barrett's injury just after Morgan's equaliser. Barrett was stretchered off with suspected cruciate ligament damage and, with three substitutes on the field, Livingston were forced to play for the last 15 minutes with ten men. Craig Brewster returned to the Caley Thistle line-up after suspension and Grant Munro came back from injury. Richie Hart replaced David Proctor and Alan Morgan continued in place of the injured captain Stuart Golabek. Livingston player/manager Paul Lambert chose not to name himself despite reserve team outings on his way back from injury. Caley Thistle started brightly and looked confident until Livingston took the lead in 13 minutes. Mark Brown touched a Robert Snodgrass header over the bar to concede a corner and Richard Brittain's kick from the left side was hit home by Harold Pinxten from six yards. This lifted the home side and they dominated the rest of the first half. Allan Walker could easily have extended the lead in 23 minutes when he was well placed on the right side of the box but he blasted it over the bar. A Richard Brittain free kick in 37 minutes led to Mark Brown making excellent saves from a glancing header and a strong follow-up shot. It was not all one way and in 38 minutes Liam Fox hit just wide from 25 yards. Close to the break a low shot from Morgan was pushed for a corner by Roddy McKenzie then a dipping Barry Wilson shot went just over. Half Time: 1-0 In the period after the break Wilson shot just wide, an angled Fox drive was cleared by David MacKay, McKenzie held a Hart ball which was helped on by Brewster, Wilson again shot wide and another Fox effort shaved the post. At the other end a Derek Adams shot was blocked on the hour mark then a Paul Tierney close range flick went wide but looked as if it could have crept in. Dennis Wyness raced in on goal from the left in 67 minutes but his angled shot went wide. Caley Thistle's reward came in 72 minutes when Darren Dods was brought down 25 yards out by Greg Strong. A minor fracas ensued and both Strong and Fox were booked. Morgan's low free kick curled into the corner of the net despite McKenzie getting a hand to it. Graham Barrett's injury came with no one around him - his foot caught in the soft ground and he went down. After his enforced departure Caley Thistle tried to take advantage of the ten men but failed. Wilson sent in a sidefoot shot from 18 yards in 83 minutes but McKenzie dived to hold it. Brewster hit over the bar a minute later then a Wilson shot was blocked after he beat three defenders to create space. The three added minutes produced a wide shot from Wilson, a Brewster shot which was deflected clear and an angled Wyness ball which cleared the bar. Full Time: 1-1 Livi were happy to take their third point of the season but felt they could have sealed the game in the first half. Caley Thistle were relieved to take something from a game that had looked lost but also felt they could have won. Caley Thistle remain eighth and Livingston stay rooted at the foot of the table.

Ian Broadfoot reports from Inverness as the Dons visit. Caley Thistle and Aberdeen share the points in this tussle at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. Jamie Smith scored for the Dons but Graham Bayne equalised near the end after coming on as a sub. Saturday 15th October 2005 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Bayne 73) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Hastings, Morgan, Proctor, Fox (Black 86), Duncan, Wilson (Hart 87), Wyness, Dargo (Bayne 60 ) Subs – Golabek, Parratt, McAllister & Fraser ABERDEEN (Jimmy Calderwood) 1 (Smith 55) Team: Esson, Diamond, Severin, Anderson, McNaughton, Nicholson, Dempsey (Winter 75), Muirhead, Smith, Mackie (Lovell 62), Crawford (Stewart 80) Subs – Foster, Considine, MacAulay & Langfield Referee S Dougal Attendance 6809 Man of the Match Barry Wilson (ICT) An old football cliché summed up the day – Caley Thistle really did get out of jail thanks to substitute Graham Bayne’s 73rd minute equaliser. In the dying minutes a surge towards Ryan Esson’s goal could have led to a winner but a draw was a huge relief after conceding most of the play to a good Aberdeen side. The one thing Aberdeen could not do was shoot on target and Mark Brown had a quiet afternoon. The one exception was Jamie Smith’s 55th minute wonder strike from 30 yards – it was a joy to behold for the visiting fans as it rose into the net and even the home fans acknowledged that it was a goal to remember. With Craig Brewster suspended Craig Dargo came back into the starting line-up and the player/manager was forced to watch from the stand and communicate with the dug-out by mobile phone. A through ball in the first minute reached Dargo but he was ruled offside. Stevie Crawford headed wide at the other end in six minutes then in twelve minutes Kevin McNaughton curled a shot wide after the home defence had blocked shots from McNaughton and Darren Mackie. A foray towards the Aberdeen goal in 17 minutes saw a Dargo ball from the right wing elude the outstretched leg of Dennis Wyness. Back to the ICT end and a Scott Severin header went straight to Brown and a Smith low shot strayed wide. A classic double shuffle from Wyness in 27 minutes made space to send in a curling ball which Dargo flicked into the air and Esson took high. From then until half-time it was mostly Aberdeen apart from a Dargo 25 yard shot which went wide in 39 minutes. Half Time: 0-0 Five minutes into the second half Esson cleared from the left side of his box and it reached Wilson on the half-way line. He attempted the spectacular but it went wide with Esson scrambling back. An Alan Morgan curling free kick was held by Esson in 52 minutes before Smith’s classic strike in 55 minutes gave Aberdeen the lead. The Dons looked for a second but Caley Thistle slowly clawed their way back into the game. Liam Fox shot over in 67 minutes then Morgan hit a long low ball not far wide. As the home crowd grew restless salvation was at hand. In 73 minutes Esson could only parry a David Proctor shot and Bayne hit high into the net from inside the six-yard box. Aberdeen tried to get back on top but Crawford could only shoot wide and McNaughton hit high over the bar. With two minutes left Richie Hart set off down the left past three Aberdeen players then found Wyness inside – his shot was held by Esson. Into added time Wyness was back assisting his defence then broke clear on a run down the left. He set up Hart who was supporting in the middle – as Hart prepared to shoot Russell Anderson stepped in to clear. There was still time for Esson to collect a Russell Duncan free kick amidst futile claims that he had handled outside this box. Full Time: 1-1 A 1-1 draw was much appreciated by the home camp but Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood was furious that his side had not held on for victory.

David Proctor gets his first for the club, Dennis Wyness breaks the goalscoring record, and the gaffer gets sent off as ICT grab a vital 3 points against Hibs at Easter Road Sunday 2nd October 2005 Easter Road, Edinburgh HIBERNIAN 1 (Fletcher 82) Team: Malkowski, Caldwell, Whittaker, Stewart, Hogg, Sproule, Murphy, Thomson, Beuzelin (Morrow 53), O'Connor (Fletcher 53), Riordan (Shiels 65) Subs – Glass, Konte, Rudge & S Brown INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 2 (Proctor 46, Wyness 65) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Morgan, Proctor, Fox (Black 79), Duncan, Wilson (Hart 80), Wyness (Dargo 88), Brewster Subs – Hastings, Parratt, McAllister & Fraser Referee B Martin Attendance 11683 Sent Off C Brewster (ICT) A cracking game and three well-deserved points – but it was a nervous last 24 minutes after Craig Brewster received his second yellow card. Hibs were just back from a UEFA cup defeat in Ukraine but they fought hard and did not look a tired side. The verbally challenging Zbigniew Malkowski in the Hibs goal had more to do in the first half than Mark Brown but the teams changed ends goal-less. ICT took command very early in the second half and scored two record-breaking goals - David Proctor netted his first for the top team and Dennis Wyness created a club record with his 83rd. It was backs-to-the wall from Brewster's departure in the 66th minute but Hibs only managed a consolation. The lively Ivan Sproule raced into the ICT box in the second minute and it took an excellent Alan Morgan tackle to avert the danger. A minute later Wyness collected a bad pass-back from Steven Whittaker and found Liam Fox on the left – his shot was pushed for a corner by Malkowski. Sproule earned a corner off Darren Dods seconds later then another Sproule run was ended by a timely Dods tackle. Play swung from end to end as Whittaker shot wide for Hibs in eight minutes and Wyness did the same before almost knocking in a Morgan pass. Wyness headed past in 12 minutes then Hibs' Garry O'Connor lobbed over from an acute angle as Brown came out to close. A Russell Duncan high ball in 19 minutes was tipped over for a corner, a curling Wyness shot went just wide in 23 minutes then Barry Wilson set up Morgan on the half hour mark but his shot went low and wide. Sproule continued to be Hibs main danger man and he sent an angled shot past the post in 35 minutes. David Murphy's angled shot went well over in 40 minutes then Malkowski saved a Wyness glancing header just before the half-time whistle. Half Time: 0-0 Two minutes into the second half Brown blocked a Sproule shot in the box then ICT took the lead. A Proctor run down the right started the move then the ball reached Wyness via Brewster – Wyness's shot from the left was parried by the ‘keeper and Proctor followed up to bundle the ball home. In 53 minutes Ross Tokely shot low and just wide - he did well to come so close as he took a knock en route. The lead was extended in 65 minutes when Wyness took advantage of a mix-up between Chris Hogg and Malkowski – the ball broke free and Wyness neatly lobbed in to make it 2-0. Brewster departed the scene involuntarily a minute later and the game changed as Hibs saw a chance of recovery. The impressive Dods headed a Dean Shiels chip off the line in 75 minutes then he headed away a Gary Caldwell shot. Shiels tried again in 77 minutes but Brown tipped it over. The pressure paid off eight minutes from time when substitute Steven Fletcher headed a corner in at the back post. It was not all one way and Richie Hart relieved his defence in 85 minutes with a good run upfield – he seemed to be brought down but nothing was given. Brown held a looping header then a bouncing dangerous ball before two Dargo forays into the Hibs box were thwarted. In added time Brown collected a difficult ball from the left, Morgan cleared a Michael Stewart free kick and Fletcher hit miles over. Full Time 1-2 The final whistle went and was met by loud cheers from the Caley Thistle fans. A good day out in the capital, a sweet victory and eighth place regained after a slip to ninth overnight.

Ian Broadfoot reports on the match between Celtic and Caley Thistle at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Dennis Wyness equalled the all-time scoring record for the club, but his goal wasn't enough to take the points home. Saturday 24th September 2005 Celtic Park, Glasgow CELTIC (Gordon Strachan) 2 (Beattie 57 & 67) Team: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus (Virgo 48), Camara, Maloney, Petrov, Sutton, Nakamura (Agathe 86), Beattie, Hartson Subs - McGeady, Lawson, Wallace, Pearson & Marshall INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Wyness 51) Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Morgan, Proctor, Duncan, Fox (Hart 74), Wilson (McAllister 87), Brewster (Dargo 60), Wyness Subs - Parratt, Finnigan, Black & Fraser Referee S Conroy Attendance 57247 Man of the Match A narrow defeat, a good away run ended, a club record equalled and another created. With Craig Dargo injured, Dennis Wyness made his first SPL start and partnered Craig Brewster up front. Stuart Golabek pulled out during the warm-up and Alan Morgan took his place on the left side of the back four. A fine midweek display against Dundee United in the CIS Cup brought Russell Duncan back into the side and Ross Tokely returned from injury. Celtic had Neil Lennon missing due to his much-publicised suspension but Chris Sutton returned from a two month absence due to a fractured cheekbone. After sustained Celtic pressure Dennis Wyness gave Caley Thistle the lead and his goal equalled Iain Stewart's career total of 82. A Craig Beattie double earned Celtic the points in front of a new ICT record crowd. Caley Thistle had been undefeated in the SPL since 15 January but continuing this superb run at Celtic Park was always going to be a massive challenge. An excellent display by the ICT defence (and Mark Brown in particular) kept them in the game for nearly an hour but, after Beattie's two goals, there was no way back. In the early minutes Liam Fox sliced high and wide then Barry Wilson hit just over Artur Boruc's crossbar. Stephen McManus headed off-target for Celtic in nine minutes then Beattie forced a diving save from Brown. The ICT 'keeper saved a Beattie header in 21 minutes then the young striker shot right at Brown a minute later. Brown's busy spell continued as he saved headers from Chris Sutton and John Hartson. In 37 minutes a McManus header hit the bar and, just before half time, Maloney shot wide. Half Time: 0-1 It was not all one-way and Wyness sent in a curling shot in 39 minutes which Boruc punched clear. In 51 minutes Caley Thistle took an unexpected lead. David Proctor headed on a Tokely throw and Wyness nipped in to shoot low under Boruc from six yards. It could have been 2-0 seconds later when a Wyness dummy set up Brewster 16 yards out but the player/manager failed to connect. Maloney set up an equaliser from Beattie in 57 minutes despite Brown getting a touch on his 12 yard shot. The home side had two penalty claims just after the equaliser - Sutton went down then a Nakamura cross struck Duncan's arm. On both occasions the referee waved play on. The winner came in 67 minutes when Shunsuke Nakamura set up Beattie and he ran 40 yards before steering the ball past the advancing Brown. Celtic could have conceded a late penalty when the ball seemed to strike Adam Virgo's hand five minutes from time but the referee saw nothing wrong. Full Time: 1-2 A good ICT performance but, in the end, disappointment.

Club historian Ian Broadfoot reports on the league match against Dundee United at Tannadice Park, Dundee. Craig Brewster added to his tally for the season against one of his old sides. Sunday 28th August 2005 Tannadice Park, Dundee DUNDEE UTD (Gordon Chisholm) 1 (Miller 66) Team: Stillie, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Brebner, Fernandez, Robson, Samuel (McIntyre 28), Miller Subs – McCracken, Duff, Dodds, Crawford, Cameron, Samson INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 1 (Brewster 84) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson, Black, McBain, Fox (Hart 71), Brewster, Dargo (Wyness 78) Subs – Duncan, Proctor, Parratt, Morgan & Fraser Referee E Smith Attendance 6718 Man of the Match This match was moved by 24 hours to give Dundee United an extra day to recover from the second leg of their UEFA cup tie against MyPa-47 of Finland . In the event they drew 2-2 after being 2-0 up and lost on the away goals rule – the question was whether Caley Thistle would benefit from the trauma of this loss. In the event honours were even and the draw extended ICT's remarkable SPL away undefeated record which goes back to last January. Craig Brewster was given much food for thought following the midweek 6-1 demolition of Alloa but he decided to retain the starting eleven from last week's draw with Kilmarnock . The visitors started well and a free kick from Brewster was blocked in the second minute. United could easily have taken the lead in seven minutes when David Fernandez's low shot beat Mark Brown but bounced off the post. Ross Tokely then headed wide and, at the other end, a Barry Robson shot deflected but was gathered by Brown. 12 free kicks in 12 minutes disrupted play then, on the half-hour mark, a one-two between Wilson and Liam Fox led to a Fox shot and a fine save from Derek Stillie. Just before half time Paul Ritchie and Craig Dargo clashed in the box, Dargo went down but nothing was given. In first half added time a Wilson corner was headed wide by Brewster. Half Time: 0-0 Ten minutes into the second half Dargo did net but offside was called. Stillie tipped over a Brewster shot in 59 minutes then Tokely headed wide. Despite the ICT pressure it was United who took the lead in 66 minutes. Alan Archibald's cross was headed home from close range by Lee Miller. This gave United renewed confidence and Brown saved from Miller before Robson shot wide. Caley Thistle introduced Dennis Wyness in 78 minutes and immediately he had a shot blocked by the United defence. Barry Wilson celebrated his 200th league appearance by providing the cross for Brewster's headed equaliser in 84 minutes. Brewster's legendary status at Tannadice is assured but it must have been sorely tested. With two minutes left Wyness bent the ball into the box and Brewster's low-power shot deflected to Stillie. In the dying seconds Stillie sent a long ball into the Caley Thistle half but Fernandez was caught offside. Full Time: 1-1 A point apiece and Caley Thistle slip one place to sixth.

Keeper saves the points for visitors ICT club historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the Tulloch Caledonian stadium on the league match against the reigning SPL champions Rangers. Saturday 6th August 2005 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 0 {mosimage}Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Fox 86), Black, McBain (Hart 82), Golabek, Dargo (Hislop 75), Brewster Subs – Duncan, Proctor, Parratt & Fraser RANGERS (Alec McLeish) 1 (Ferguson 69) {mosimage}Waterreus, Ricksen, Buffel, Andrews, Ferguson, Rae (Malcolm 84), Prso (Thompson 72), Novo, FanFan, Murray, Lovenkrands Subs – Rodriguez, Smith, Adam, McCormack & Klos Referee C Murray Attendance 7512 Man of the Match Darren Dods (ICT) Rangers took all three points on their first competitive visit to Inverness but it took two top-class saves from ‘keeper Ronald Waterreus to deny Caley Thistle at least a point. A record crowd of 7512 (plus over 100 freeloaders on the A9 embankment) watched a pulsating game which really could have gone either way. A Dado Prso long shot was blocked by the home defence in four minutes then Peter Lovenkrands hit the first of a number of shots off target. Roy McBain hit high over the Rangers goal in ten minutes then Craig Dargo created a fine opening for Craig Brewster four minutes later - Dargo sent a measured pass to the player/manager 18 yards out but he hit it first time over the bar. Just after the half hour mark a Grant Munro long throw into the Rangers box led to a sequence of headers then a blocked Brewster shot. The clearance fell to Barry Wilson on the right and his cross was headed goalwards by Darren Dods from close range. Somehow Waterreus reached it to deny what looked like a certain goal. Ross Tokely went down in the Rangers box just before the break but play was waved on. Right on the whistle a Barry Ferguson free kick from the left flashed just wide of Mark Brown's post. Half Time: 0-0 A Lovenkrands shot was blocked by Tokely just into the second half then Nacho Novo went down in the box alongside Dods – the vocal Rangers support screamed for a penalty but nothing was given. Rangers continued to press and a Ferguson shot was deflected for a corner just on the hour mark. A Novo angled shot was punched clear by Brown then Waterreus dived to collect a long shot from Stuart Golabek. The winning goal came from a fast break upfield and good work by Prso on the right of the ICT box. He took on two defenders but managed to cut the ball back from the goal-line to Ferguson in support. The Rangers skipper neatly hit it past Brown from a couple of yards out. His celebrations with the crowd behind the goal earned him a yellow card. Novo looked odds-on to score in 74 minutes but he mishit from a good position. The home crowd were livid when Alex Rae took Wilson out of the play in 78 minutes and the referee saw nothing wrong. Lovenkrands shot over with five minutes left then Caley Thistle laid siege to the Rangers box in the last few minutes. A Liam Fox shot was blocked, Golabek shot over from 18 yards then a throw into the box from Munro was cleared amidst chaos. With two minutes of added time gone Ian Black headed down the left, found Fox infield then the ball reached Richie Hart just outside the box – he hammered the ball goalwards but Waterreus produced his second international quality save of the day to deny the equaliser. Hart held his head in despair and the Rangers camp breathed a sigh of relief as the final whistle sounded. Full Time: 0-1 Caley Thistle were beaten and disappointed but they could be proud of a good performance.

Arabs avoid relegation The south stand at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium was a sea of orange as 2400 Dundee United fans tried to sing and shout their team to SPL survival. Livingston, Dundee and Dundee United were all in the relegation frame and the permutations were discussed at length around the country. Hold-ups on the A9 delayed the Inverness kick-off by ten minutes. For Caley Thistle it was a strange afternoon. Seventh place was looking unlikely but it was still possible if Dunfermline beat Kilmarnock. In the end Killie won 4-0. This was never going to be a football classic but there was plenty of effort. United's Grant Brebner headed over in two minutes and in nine minutes former Caley Thistle favourite Barry Robson ran down the left and set up Mark Kerr but his low shot was pushed away by Mark Brown. At the United end last weeks goal hero Liam Fox took a Bryan Prunty pass and tried a 20 yard volley in the 18th minute, it dipped goalwards but went just over. A Robson free kick in 24 minutes seemed to go over for a goal kick but Alan Archibald headed it back across goal and Brown was forced to tip it over for a corner and the corner stood despite protests. Just before the break a Mark Wilson ball from the right crossed the ICT area and reached Robson - his first time goal-bound shot was held by Brown. Half Time: 0-0 Richie Hart low shot was blocked in 49 minutes then a Hart 30 yard free kick went straight through to Tony Bullock. A good move in 53 minutes ended when a Brewster chip across goal was headed clear by Garry Kenneth. Brewster came close in 65 minutes when Bullock missed an Ian Black corner from the right but the player/managers header crept past the empty goal. A goal-less draw looked on the cards until the 82nd minute when Robson went down in the box after a brush with Ross Tokely. There seemed nothing in it but Alan Freeland gave a penalty. Robson scored and the stewards were helpless to prevent an orange pitch invasion. When order was restored United fans started a celebratory conga in the stand as their side held on to win. In added time Robson went down alongside Darren Dods but it was clearly a dive. Robson had been booked for dissent in the first half so a second yellow led inevitably to the long walk. The whistle went, United were safe and a second pitch invasion began. Full Time: 0-1 The Caley Thistle fans were disappointed to take so little from the five matches since the split but the job had been completed. SPL football would be back in Inverness next season and the players could head off for a well deserved holiday in Magaluf. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 0 Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Hart (McAllister 73), Black, Fox, Golabek, Prunty (Wilson 60), Bayne (Brewster 33). Subs Not Used: Fraser; McBain, Duncan, Proctor - Booked: Black (90) Dundee Utd: 1 (Robson 82 pen) Team: Bullock; Kenneth, McCracken, Archibald, Wilson, McInnes, Kerr, Brebner (Duff 63), Robson, McIntyre (Grady 86), Crawford (Scotland 57). Subs Not Used: Colgan; Samuel, Dodds, Cameron. Booked: Brebner (30), Robson (37) - Sent off: Robson 90 Attendance: 5,479 - Referee: Alan Freeland

Fox in the box earns Dens draw For the third time in his short Caley Thistle career Liam Fox came off the bench and snatched an equalising goal. The Dundee fans were stunned as they thought that three precious points were in the bag. Dundee certainly had the chances and were twice denied by the woodwork. ICT played excellent flowing football but lacked the killer touch. The atmosphere was very tense as the Dundee fans faced relegation. Derek Soutar held a Stuart Golabek effort in the opening seconds but the best early chance fell to Dundee in the eighth minute. A Tam McManus corner landed in a crowded box and, after penalty claims, Mark Brown dived to save a close-range shot from Callum MacDonald. Two minutes later Graham Bayne latched onto a Richie Hart corner but his clever near-post header crept over. Brown blocked a McManus angled shot in 16 minutes then the keeper watched helplessly as a McManus free kick from the left raced low across goal and came off the far post. An Iain Anderson low free kick in 35 minutes headed goalwards but Brown turned it for a corner. Half Time: 0-0 Fabian Caballero came on at half-time for Dundee and within a minute he headed wide. Dundee finally made a breakthrough in 49 minutes when Sancho headed in a McManus corner. The home fans saw light at the end of the SPL tunnel but Caley Thistle began to dominate the match. Dundee defended in depth but did come very close on the break in 64 minutes. Steve Lovell ran onto a through ball but his shot came off the bar. ICT substitute Rory McAllister tested Soutar in 73 minutes with a header to the top corner. Lovell tried again in 77 minutes when he chased a pass down the right. Brown came out to narrow the angle and slipped. Lovell failed to take advantage as his lob crossed the face of the goal and was cleared. With two minutes left Grant Munro sent a trademark long throw from the left and it fell for Golabek. His shot was blocked by Sancho but Fox was well positioned to collect the rebound and hit home the equaliser. As the clock ticked into overtime Dundee were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Mann stepped up to take it; reminiscent of his Inverness days, but his high shot was held by Brown. Russell Duncan quickly led a breakaway and set up Craig Brewster on the left. The player/manager bore down on Soutar but shot wide. Full Time: 1-1 The relegation battle now goes to the last day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dundee: 1 (Sancho 49) Team: Soutar; Robertson (McNally 37), Mann, Sancho, Robb, McDonald, Brady (Caballero 45), Smith, Anderson, McManus, Lovell (Barrett 82). Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau; Larsen, Fotheringham, Sutton - Booked: Sancho (50). Inverness CT: 1 (Fox 88) Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Hastings, Duncan, Hart, McBain (Fox 71), Prunty (Brewster 63), Bayne (McAllister 71). Subs Not Used: Fraser; Proctor, Black - Booked: None Attendance: 6,691 - Referee: Craig Thomson

Livi hanging on... Another frustrating afternoon for the home fans as Caley Thistle played well in spells but failed to convert their chances. Relegation-threatened Livingston fought hard and scored the one goal that took the points. ICT started brightly and Roy McBain shot over the bar in just 13 seconds. In the first four minutes Wilson took two free kicks from outside the box - the first was held high by Roddy McKenzie and the second went low and just wide. Stuart Golabek shot wide then a bouncing effort from Bryan Prunty was taken by McKenzie. Livi came close in 21 minutes when a Derek Lilley attempt was headed off the line by Ian Black. Five minutes later Prunty was through and one-on-one with McKenzie but, as the keeper came out, the striker chipped over the bar. Livingston's goal in 29 minutes was deceptively simple. A neat Hassan Kachloul flick over the defence reached the unmarked Jason Dair and he headed home from six yards. Two minutes later Prunty again hit over the bar. Livi captain Burton O'Brien sent a hard shot on target in 42 minutes but Mark Brown held it comfortably. On the whistle Hart found space wide left of the goal but his cross back into the box went over Graham Bayne as he fell to the ground. Half Time: 0-1 Two minutes into a wet and windy second half Livingston nearly doubled their lead when Lilley hit the bar after an O'Brien cross. Russell Duncan then let fly from 25 yards but the rising ball was beaten away by McKenzie. Ross Tokely connected with the resultant corner but it was cleared off the line. Livingston were fighting for their SPL lives and they held firm against all that Caley Thistle could throw at them. The chance of the half fell to Graham Bayne in 70 minutes. Tokely raced down the right and his cross found Bayne faced with an empty goal. Bayne's shot looked a certain goal but somehow McKenzie scrambled back and saved the day. Shots from Hart and Bayne in 78 minutes both seemed to hit Livi hands but the referee ignored protests. The closing stages were dominated by ICT but nothing came off. Substitute Rory McAllister chased a long ball from Stuart Golabek in added time but, despite appearing to be held back, nothing was given. It was the same story seconds later when McAllister headed on for Golabek and the Caley Thistle captain went down under pressure but to no avail. Full Time: 0-1 Livingston took the points and gained a vital step up the league. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 0 Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson (Hart 37), Duncan, Black, McBain (Hastings 64), Bayne, Prunty (McAllister 64) Subs not used: Fraser; Proctor, Fox, Fetai - Booked: Wilson (30) Livingston: 1 (Jason Dair 29) Team: McKenzie; McNamee, Dorado, Deloumeaux, Dair (Easton 61), Bahoken, Vincze, O'Brien, McMenamin, Lilley, Kachloul (Strong 73) Subs not used: Meldrum; Horvath, Brittain, Snodgrass, Dorrans - Booked: Bahoken, Kachloul Attendance: 3021 Referee: Brian Winter

End of season fare A frustrating afternoon all round and some strange decisions. The game was dominated by a soft penalty award for each side. With the rest of the SPL battling for top spot, UEFA places or against relegation there was little to play for here - the only issue was to see who would finish seventh. Killie captain Gary Locke chipped over the bar in eight minutes then a low off-target Stuart Golabek shot was deflected for a corner at the other end. Alan Combe pushed away a Craig Brewster volley in 14 minutes then a 19th minute header from Bryan Prunty hit the net but he was offside. A minute later the visitors took an unexpected lead when Gary Wales sent James Fowler away down the right and his cross was knocked in at the back post by Gary McDonald. In 27 minutes a Barry Wilson corner from the left curled into the area and a penalty was awarded - apparently Darren Dods's shirt was being pulled. Ross Tokely hit the spot kick low past Combe for 1-1. With five minutes of the first half left Brewster drew two defenders and left space for a Golabek shot from 20 yards but it sailed over. Half Time: 1-1 Mark Brown's first real save of the match came in 63 minutes when he held an angled shot from Wales. Seconds later Colin Nish closed in on a through ball and Brown raced to clear. Brown's busy spell continued as he caught a 20 yard Peter Leven shot through a ruck of players. The second bizarre penalty award of the day came in 72 minutes following a free kick from Wales. Another crowded goalmouth, the usual chaos and a penalty awarded for an apparent push by a Caley Thistle player. Leven made no mistake and it was 2-1 to Kilmarnock. Brown prevented what seemed a certain Killie goal in 74 minutes when Wales put Fowler through but the keeper blocked his shot. In 79 minutes Brewster turned neatly in the box and shot from an angle. It looked as if it would creep in but the post came to Combe's rescue. In the ensuing confusion Graham Bayne and Bryan Prunty both hit the bar and a relieved Killie defence cleared. Teenager Rory McAllister came on for the last five minutes in his first appearance after good performances with the reserve side. The youngster was quickly into the thick of the action but nothing quite came off. With a minute left McAllister just managed to keep his feet and pass to Wilson who set up Black but the Man of the Match only managed to hit it well over from long range. Freddy Dindeleux then failed to clear a Dods lob into the box from long range but McAllister could not reach the loose ball. Full Time: 1-2 The three added minutes produced nothing of note and Killie took the points. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 1 (Tokely 28 pen) Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Hastings, Golabek, Proctor (Bayne 62), Black, McBain, Wilson, Brewster, Prunty (McAllister 85). Subs Not Used: Fraser; Duncan, Fox, Fetai - Booked: Tokely (60), McBain (70). Kilmarnock: 2 (McDonald 21, Leven 72 pen) Team: Combe; Fowler, Lilley, Dindeleux, Hay, Invincibile (Greer 60), Locke, McDonald, Leven (Johnston 86), Dargo (Nish 54), Wales. Subs Not Used: Smith; Murray, Dodds, Naismith - Booked: Locke, Hay. Attendance: 3,108 - Referee: Eddie Smith

Below Par Just under six months ago Caley Thistle came here with Donald Park in temporary charge and faced a Dunfermline side which featured Craig Brewster. The visitors had just climbed to ninth and would continue to climb to SPL safety with more than a little help from their player/manager who remains the Pars second top goalscorer despite having left for the north in late November. Brewster returned to East End Park for the first time to play against his old team with Dunfermline joint bottom of the league, on a downward spiral and fighting for their SPL lives. Caley Thistle made just one change from last week , Stuart Golabek came back from suspension and Richard Hastings reverted to the bench. The home side dominated the first half but failed to find a way past the strong Caley Thistle defence. Simon Donnelly was through in the seventh minute but shot straight at Mark Brown then the same player shot over in 15 minutes. Brown tipped over Noel Hunt's deflected cross three minutes later then Andrius Skerla headed wide from the resultant corner. Brown saved Campbell's curling free kick in 23 minutes then Darren Young hit wide. Hunt found the net in 27 minutes but he was offside. There was little action at the other end until close to half time when a strong Barry Wilson run ended with Derek Stillie tipping his shot over the bar. Half Time 0-0 Just after the break a Derek Young header was deflected past the post but nerves began to tell and Dunfermline faded. Caley Thistle came more into it and in 59 minutes Darren Dods latched onto Wilson's free kick but headed wide. Derek Young shot over in 64 minutes and Scott Wilson did the same in the 77th minute, but these were rare second half chances from the home side. ICT substitute Bajram Fetai tried to take advantage of Wilson's deep cross in 70 minutes but missed the ball at the back post. As time ran out Andy Tod shot over Brown's bar and Brewster did the same at the other end. Full Time: 0-0 Honours even but Dunfermline remain firmly in the relegation dog-fight. The head-to-head match next week against Livingston will go a long way to deciding who goes down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dunfermline: 0 Team: Stillie; Skerla, Wilson, Thomson, Campbell, Donnelly (Tod 79), Dar Young, Mason, Der Young, Hunt (Mehmet 59), Hristov (Christiansen 59) Subs not used: Langfield; Makel, Labonte, Ross - Booked: Hristov (58) Inverness CT: 0 Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson, Hart (Fetai 66), Black, McBain, Brewster, Prunty (Bayne 73) Subs not used: Fraser; Hastings, Proctor, Duncan, Fox - Booked: None Attendance: 4481 - Referee: Calum Murray

Almost Mission Accomplished So near yet so far - so near to the top six yet it is hard to credit how far the team has come this season. Caley Thistle needed to win well and hope that Kilmarnock would beat Motherwell. A four-goal difference had to be overcome but in the event, Motherwell scraped a last minute equaliser against Killie and it was all academic. The three points gained here were however enough to mathematically secure SPL football for next season. Richard Hastings came in for the suspended Stuart Golabek, Darren Dods took over the captaincy, Craig Brewster came back into the starting eleven and teenager Rory McAllister was rewarded for excellent reserve performances by gaining a bench place. Caley Thistle started briskly but Dundee could have taken the lead in six minutes when a Callum McDonald stab came off the post and into the arms of a relieved Mark Brown. It was all one-way traffic in the other direction from then apart from a 10-minute spell near the end. After ten minutes a Brewster flick set up Barry Wilson but he shot over. The opening goal came in 17 minutes and it was a three-man effort. Brewster set Ross Tokely on a run down the right, he rounded a defender and found Roy McBain in the box and from 10 yards the midfielder lofted it into the net. A minute later a Brewster turn and shot came off the post. It continued in the same vein until the 37th minute when Neil Barrett brought Wilson down and a penalty was awarded. Wilson's spot-kick was pushed away by Derek Soutar then he parried Wilson's follow-up shot. Bryan Prunty saved Wilson's blushes when he headed home the loose ball for 2-0. Seconds before the break Richie Hart's 100th appearance ended prematurely when he suffered a dead-leg and was replaced by David Proctor. Half Time: 2-0 Another penalty was awarded early in the second half when Prunty was brought down but Soutar guessed correctly and pushed away Wilson's kick. A rare Dundee effort came in 53 minutes when Brown touched over an Iain Anderson shot from all of 35 yards. Brewster hit just wide in 61 minutes but he had more luck three minutes later when he headed in a Wilson free kick to make it 3-0. Then came a Dundee revival. Bobby Mann hit a 25 yard free kick just wide in 70 minutes, much to the relief of the home fans who had watched him score many goals for ICT from set pieces. In 74 minutes a free kick from Dundee's Anderson beat Brown but hit the post but Tam McManus was well-placed to touch it in for 3-1. It was 3-2 with 10 minutes left when a low cross from Anderson was neatly flicked in by John Sutton via the post. The attacks on Soutar's goal then resumed but nothing came off; McBain hit over, Russell Duncan did the same, Soutar held two shots from Graham Bayne and the whistle went for full time. Full Time: 3-2 The pressure is now off and the five remaining games will give the management team the chance to plan for next season. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 3 (McBain 17, Prunty 38, Brewster 65) Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Black (Duncan 66), Wilson, Hart (Proctor 45),McBain, Prunty, Brewster (Bayne 73). Subs Not Used: Fraser; Fox, Fetai, McAllister - Booked: Munro (70), Dods (88), Duncan (89) Dundee: 2 (McManus 74, Sutton 80.) Team: Soutar; Kitamirike, Mann, Sancho, McDonald, Fotheringham (Robertson 63), Barrett (Sutton 76), Caballero, Robb, Lovell (Anderson 36), McManus. Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau; Larsen, Conway - Booked: Barrett. Attendance: 4,786 - Referee: Dougie McDonald

200 up for Roy This was billed as a top six showdown and it was Caley Thistle who took the points. The victory was a narrow one but the margin could easily have been greater. For Motherwell it was a disaster; defeat, a red card and two key players injured. Heavy rain left the pitch soggy but referee Brian Cassidy, on his first and last SPL appearance in the middle before retirement, deemed it playable. Craig Brewster rotated the squad and brought in Bryan Prunty instead of himself. Roy McBain made his 200th appearance. For Gordon Marshall it was a night to forget although it did start well when he turned a curling Barry Wilson shot for a corner in 13 minutes. Four minutes later he spilled a seemingly easy ball and it was booted clear by a defender. In 22 minutes Stuart Golabek slid a measured pass to Prunty down the left and Marshall came well out of his goal to block the strikers path. Prunty rolled the ball past the keeper to Graham Bayne six yards out and he touched it home for his seventh and easiest goal of the season. Two minutes later Prunty was through on Marshall and he chipped it past the keeper with the intention of racing on and netting. The goal was virtually certain but Marshall chose to take Prunty out of play just outside the box. The inevitable red card was brandished and Terry Butcher was forced to sacrifice Shaun Fagan for reserve keeper Barry-John Corr. Injuries to Scott McDonald and Kevin McBride meant that Butcher had used all three substitutes by the 37th minute. The ten men dug in and Caley Thistle failed to add to their tally. Half Time: 1-0 Just after the break a poor clearance fell to Wilson but his angled shot sailed wide. The pattern of ICT pressure continued for most of the match and Motherwell never threatened until the closing stages. In 71 minutes Bayne hit low and wide then six minutes later another chance fell to Wilson. He sent in a shot from just outside the area and the home crowd rose to salute goal number two; in the end it grazed the post and went harmlessly wide. In the last ten minutes Motherwell could easily have equalised. In 84 minutes Mark Brown had to be alert when an awkward ball came into his area bound for David Clarkson. Brown caught it well then, in the final minute, a free kick from Steve Hammell dipped wickedly and Brown tipped it over. The final action saw a Jim Paterson shot blocked by the home defence. Full Time: 1-0 The top six places will be decided on Saturday. ICT have to win against Dundee, Kilmarnock have to beat Motherwell and a four goal gap has to be bridged. A tall order but for the Inverness camp it is fantastic just to be in the race. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inverness CT: 1 (Bayne 20) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Hart, Black, McBain (Duncan 62), Wilson (Proctor 87), Bayne (Fatai 78), Prunty. Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Hastings, Fox - Booked: Black (86) Motherwell: 0 Team: Marshall, Paul Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, McBride (Kerr 36), Leitch, Fagan (Corr 24), Paterson, Scott McDonald (Clarkson 16), Hamilton. Subs Not Used: Britton, Foran, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick Booked: Partridge (70), Hamilton (84), Craigan (86) - Sent Off: Marshall (23). Attendance: 3,746 - Referee: Brian Cassidy

Rugby Park firsts This first-ever win against Kilmarnock pushed ICT up to a new high of seventh in the SPL. After the disappointment of last week against Aberdeen this was a victory to relish. With Juanjo out injured for the rest of the season some reorganisation was required. Ian Black replaced Russell Duncan in midfield and Graham Bayne partnered Craig Brewster in the striking role. Ross Tokely overtook Charlie Christie's record with his 315th appearance. In the end just one goal separated the sides but chances were missed at both ends. Alan Combe tipped over a Brewster shot in only two minutes and seven minutes later Mark Brown pushed a Peter Leven curling free kick onto the bar. In 13 minutes Combe stopped a Stuart Golabek shot and watched as Graham Bayne's follow-up hit the post. Just after the half-hour mark ICT scored what proved to be the only goal of the match. Freddy Dindeleux hesitated, Brewster stepped in and found Barry Wilson in the clear. He rounded Combe and slotted home his tenth goal of the season from an acute angle. Kilmarnock fought back immediately but Brown saved from Gary Wales and Steven Naismith's angled drive from long range went just wide. Killie pushed hard through to the break but could not find a way through the ICT defence. Half Time: 0-1 The pattern continued into the second half and Brown did well to block a Gary McDonald effort in 50 minutes. Wales should have done better in 57 minutes when he failed to connect properly with a Naismith cross despite being well placed close to goal. Bayne had a chance to double the lead in 78 minutes after being sent through by Brewster but his shot had no power and Combe collected easily. Despite a late surge from Kilmarnock the ICT defence held firm and it ended 1-0. Full Time: 0-1 Caley Thistle continue to look upwards in the league with seven games left as the spectre of relegation continues to recede. There is now a 14 point gap over basement club Dundee United and an outside chance of a top six finish. Motherwell are six points ahead with two games left before the split and have a six-goal advantage. All this adds some spice to Tuesday's visit of the Steelmen to Inverness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kilmarnock: 0 Team: Combe; Fowler, Hay, Lilley, Dindeleux, McDonald, Murray, Leven, Naismith (Johnston 65), Boyd, Wales (Nish 62) Subs not used: Smith, Dodds, Greer, Johnstone McGregor - Booked: Lilley Inverness CT: 1 (Wilson 32) Team: Brown; Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson (Duncan 79), Hart (Fetai 75), Black (Proctor), McBain, Bayne, Brewster Subs not used: Fraser; McCaffrey, Hastings, Prunty - Booked: Brewster (60), Black (70) Attendance: 4862 - Referee: Ian Fyfe