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Despite the 0-0 scoreline this was a relatively entertaining game. Dennis Wyness who will be playing for St Mirren next season could not score in his final game for ICT despite having a chance from two yards out and neither could Marius Niculae who - if speculation is to be believed - may also be moving on. 17/05/08 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 0 Team: Fraser, Tokely, Proctor, Hastings, McBain, Wilson (Hart 79), Duncan, Cowie, Imrie, Niculae (Bayne 72), Wyness (Black 57) SUBS: McAllister, Vigurs, Kerr, Malkowski ST MIRREN 0 Team: Howard, Barron, Haining, Potter, McCay, Dorman, Mason (Hamilton 72), Murray, O'Donnell (McGinn 90), Mehmet, Dargo SUBS: Burns, Crighton, Docherty, McAusland, Smith Referee Eddie Smith Attendance 378 I think ICT will have been unhappy not have been ahead before being reduced to ten men as we had the better of the chances before Proctors dismissal. After that, while we still had opportunities to go in front, St. Mirren had us on the back foot at times and in the end a draw was about right. Straight from the kick off we put ourselves under pressure when a slack Tokely pass across the centre of defence was seized upon by Dargo who picked the ball up and drove towards goal. Proctor was keeping close attention and eventually, when attempting to put in a challenge, only succeeded in bring down the former Inverness man resulting in a free kick to the Saints. Had Hastings not been tracking back with the ICT defender it could have been worse for Proctor but he was only awarded a yellow card. From the resultant free kick, taken twice after Niculae broke early from the wall, Home keeper Fraser easily held McCays shot. ICT retaliated when a surging Imrie run down the left side resulted in a cross being fired across goal which found ICTs Player of the Season Don Cowie at the back post but he was unable to steer the ball into the net instead firing over much to the relief of Howard in the Buddies goal. Inverness were on the attack again when a McBain cross was knocked down by Paisley bound Wyness to Niculae but the Romanian was unable to dig the ball out from under his feet as he was surrounded by Saint Mirren defenders who cleared the danger. An Imrie free kick was the next attempt on goal but the former Bully Wee star sent the ball wide of the post. Imrie threatened again as more direct running down the left saw him cut infield and send in a shot high towards goal which Howard was able to deal with. Saint Mirren threatened in spells in the first half as well. A superb cross field pass found right back Barron in acres of space. McBain was slow to close him down and gave the Saints man the time to send in a wicked ball right across the six yard box which left Fraser scrambling as Dargo closed in. Luckily for Inverness Dargo was unable to connect with the ball and it trickled out of play and away from danger. Yet again Dargo was involved as Saints built upon their good spell of possession. A Mehmet through ball found Dargo who headed towards goal but was shackled all the way by a determined Imrie who eventually won the ball off him continuing his strong start to the game. Barry Wilson, fresh from signing a new 6 month deal at Inverness sent in a cross which Wyness attacked but he was unable to put Inverness in front. Wilson was next to threaten as he sent in a testing drive which Howard palmed to safety. A wonderful passing move down the right involving Wilson, Tokely and Cowie set Wyness up again but yet again he failed to find the target. Even more staggering was the miss from Wyness minutes later. The ball ricocheted in the box before dropping to the feet of Wyness who somehow contrived to miss from inches out. Marius Niculae had been having a quiet game so far. He was next to test Saints keeper Howard with a drive the just flew over. This was to be the final action of the first 45 minutes in which Inverness had had by far the better chances but Saints still looked threatening on occasions too. Half Time: 0-0 Into the 2nd half and ICT nearly shot themselves in the foot again with another defensive mix up. Shoddy play at the back allowed Billy Mehmet the chance to put Saints in front but he was unable to take advantage as he blazed over. Inverness retaliated with a Niculae header which had Howard scrambling to save. A powerful effort from Saint Mirren's 22 was gathered by Fraser as the game started to open up a little. A Cowie half volley from a Wilson cross squirmed wide of the goal before Inverness were reduced to 10 men after another collision between Proctor and Dargo. With the ball on the far side touchline, a clever through ball sent Dargo scampering away towards goal with Proctor in hot pursuit. The players tangled and Proctor was shown a straight red for a professional foul leaving Inverness to play the remainder of the game with 10 men. Dorman tried his luck from the subsequent free kick but the ball flew over. Imrie was causing problems down the left hand side and drew Barron into a crude foul which set up another chance for Inverness. The free kick found its way to Niculae who had his header cleared by the Buddies rearguard. Brewster shuffled his pack by withdrawing the misfiring Wyness and tightened up the midfield with Black coming on. Wyness was given a standing ovation by the Home crowd in what is likely to be his last game for ICT before joining Saint Mirren in the summer. With the withdrawal of Wyness, Niculae was left to plough a lone furrow up front and he was next to threaten when a darting run saw him squeezed off the ball by three Saint Mirren players. Roy McBain cut in from the left and drove towards goal before unleashing a thundering shot. Unfortunately the shot was hit with his right foot and the ball ended up heading towards the Moray Firth! Saint Mirren then nearly took the lead through an unlikely source as Tokely came close to sending the ball into his own net as Saint Mirren upped the stakes as the clock wound down. A cross to Dargo found the goal shy striker in space but his low shot was saved by Fraser. There was a contentious moment when Bayne looked to have handled in the area with a cross cum shot that was drive at him. It was debateable whether he could have done anything about it but it might not have been too surprising if Eddie Smith had given a spot kick. Bayne, with plenty of time, inexplicably thumped the ball out for another corner under no pressure which prompted a verbal spat with Hastings over the needless pressure put under the ICT defence because of Baynes hurried clearance. Dargo threatened again with a shot that crept wide of the left hand post and Jim Hamilton was the man on the end of another Saint Mirren counter attack but he too was unable to put St. Mirren ahead as he shot at Fraser. Despite a good start to the game ICT were clinging on at the end with only 10 men after Proctors dismissal. They should really have been ahead before then but were unable to take their chances with Wyness guilty of some awful misses. However Saints had some chances of their own and will have been disappointed not to have taken at least one of them. It would seem that is Wyness's last game for ICT so best of luck to him wherever he might turn up next season. He's been a great player for ICT and I'm sorry to see him go. He used to be shite, but now he's alright, walking in a Wyness wonderland.

Club captain Grant Munro was the hero of the game for Caley Thistle. He scored the club's 1000th competitive goal and generally had a very solid game. Unfortunately however, one was not enough, and the points were shared when Billy Mehmet scored a late goal for the home side. With other results going Caley Thistle's way, this point was enough to take ICT into the top six. 09/02/08 Love Street, Paisley ST MIRREN 1 Mehmet (74) Team: Smith, Van Zanten, Barron, Potter, Maxwell, Murray, Dorman, McGinn (Hamilton 65), Corcoran, Dargo, Mehmet Subs: Kean, McCay, Brady, Millen, Miranda, Howard INVERNESS CT 1 Munro (28) Team: Fraser, Tokely, Proctor (Imrie 46), Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, McBain, Niculae, Wyness (Wilson 76) Subs: Bayne, Vigurs, Rennie, Kerr, Malkowski Referee Calum Murray Attendance 3609 Elimination from the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle and inclement weather meant that Caley Thistle had endured a 20 day lay-off before this game at Love Street. It had also meant that the elusive search for the 1000th competitive goal that was so nearly achieved against Gretna on the 5th January had now stretched to 35 days.... A win was not the end result in this game, but goal number 1000 did come and it was perhaps fitting that it fell to an unlikely hero, but one who epitomises Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Manager Craig Brewster made only one change to the side that was defeated by Rangers on 20th January with Dennis Wyness coming back into the side at the expense of Markus Paatelainen. Of note on the subs bench were places for new signing Dougie Imrie and also 16 year old midfielder Connor Rennie who is currently making a name for himself in the U19 team. In the St Mirren side was Andy Dorman, a recent signing from New England Revolution in North America's Major League Soccer, and also a man who needed no introduction to the Caley Thistle faithful - Craig Dargo. Dargo has struggled with injury since moving to the Buddies and has still to score his first goal for the club. Fortunately for ICT, come the end of this game, his duck would still be intact despite valiant efforts that saw him called back for offside numerous times during the match. Dennis Wyness had the first chance for ICT early in the game when Potter misjudged a long ball but Dennis Wyness, in the box, and with only the keeper to beat spun the ball well wide. Ian Black then had a go, forcing a good save from Smith before Don Cowie tried his luck in 21 minutes with a free kick that the keeper fumbled. In 26 minutes, Dennis Wyness had another chance but again Smith got down to the shot and turned it out for a corner. Goal number 1000 came from the resultant corner. It was whipped in by Don Cowie, Wyness headed it down to Munro and he took a touch before hammering it into the net for his first of the season, and goal number 1000 for Caley Thistle. How fitting that the club captain, a player with ICT since he was a raw youngster, and the first real product of the ICT youth system scored the landmark goal. Half Time: 0-1 David Proctor had been struggling with a suspected hamstring injury before half-time and was replaced by Dougie Imrie at the break. This meant a bit of a reshuffle for the Caley Jags with Richard Hastings moving into the centre half role he has been playing for Canada recently, Roy McBain covering the left back position, and Imrie taking his place on the left of midfield. Imrie had a chance in 58 minutes but his weak shot was easily held by Smith. St Mirren however were beginning to come more into the game and goal hero Munro was spending more and more time being defensive hero Munro, marshalling his defence and stopping Maxwell and Dargo from getting clear chances although he did get booked for a challenge on Dargo. If Caley Thistle looked like scoring after piling on the pressure in the first half, St Mirren were looking the more likely in the second and in 74 minutes their hard work paid off with an equaliser. Former Ross County player Ian Maxwell crossed the ball into the box and it found the head of Craig Dargo. He headed it back across goal and it fell to Jim Hamilton who blasted it goalward. Mike Fraser produced an excellent save to deny Hamilton but the ball broke for Billy Mehmet who blasted it home from 12 yards. Both sides had chances to score the winner, with Barry Wilson coming closest. He fired just over the bar from the edge of the box after a Niculae cross with only four minutes to go. In the end it finished 1-1 and the points were shared. Full Time: 1-1 Goal number 1000 is out of the way, and the point took Caley Thistle into the top 6 if only temporarily. Fan Comments: The fan comments for this game come from the "Immortal Howden Ender" in his usual inimitable style, and including his patented "smileyometer"..... Well perhaps I was expecting too much. After a long lay off I was looking forward to three points and the feeling akin to watching a firework display - not a momentous firework display just an average - a few colourful roman candles and some classy rockets - well I got a few sparklers - one rocket from Granty - and a load of damp squibs. Jim Duffy described it as a surprisingly entertaining game - perhaps that was fer the neutrals - but I found it dull, uninspiring and down right frustrating. The first half felt like it was being played at half pace - almost a training game - we seldom looked troubled apart from two defensive errors - Royster and Proc - but despite being the better side we never really pushed forward. Why we didn't up the pace when we went 1-0 up is a mystery - they were there fer the taking. And what "system" were we playing in the first half - was it 4-3-3 or was it 4-3-1-2 0r was it 4-1-2-1-2. I am going to get pelters again but it looked as if we were playing a system around Marius - again. It appeared that Marius and Cowie were interlinking with Marius trying to come deeper and Cowie looking to go forwards. We also seemed hell bent on hoofing the ball to Marius or Wyness - that simply doesn't work. Why didn't we paly the ball on the ground and wide (like we did with Bazza on) and played to Cowie's strengths?!! I also have to say that again there was the aura of "togetherness" missing - they all played as professionals but apart from celebrating Granty's goal "team spirit" was dulled to say the least - and a few verbal spats going on - mostly involving Niculae. To be fair the loss of Proctor appeared to affect our "system" and the Buddies came firing out of the traps and their goal came after 10-15 minutes of constant pressure. We were lucky to come away with a point in the end. And again I would have taken on Bazza earlier, and Bayne as well fer Niculae. Bazza played wide right and we looked for him or Petrie every time - why didn't we do that with Cowie? In the first half we seemed obsessed with the hoof - and not under pressure - or playing it left !! They took on Hamilton and played him up front with Dargo and Mehmet - we could have and should have capitalised on that - but we retreated the line and played into their hands - until Bazza came on - plus our final ball or attempt at goal - apart from the late Bazza volley - were always poor. ***Starometer for today*** FRASER**** Nowt really to do in the first half but earned his wage in the second half - when he was Davy feckin Crockett at the Alamo - I thought he was really unlucky with the goal - have also to say that his distribution was very good. ROSSCOE ***** My MotM - he usually doesn't play his best at Love Street but he appeared to react very positively to the almost constant baiting from the junkies. He won every header from dead ball situations, he put in a few shuddering fair tackles, he usually tried to play the ball to feet and got forward a lot in the last 20 minutes. HASTINGS **** Thought he did well both at full back and at centre back - in fact better at centre back. Ok his distribution is usually a hoof but he certainly mixed it with Mehmet and Hamilton. GRANTY **** What a feckin well deserved and fitting goal. Solid game as ever but the hoofing got on my nerves. PROCTOR *** Relatively unrattled and dose try to play the ball out of defence properly. May have been his injury but a bad error almost let Dargo in for the equaliser just on half time. Lad hasnt got much luck - every time he looks like earning a run summat happens to him. COWIE *** What the feck are we doing to him tactically. He appeared to be played as Niculae's "legs" yesterday and that effectively took him out of the game. Why didnt we paly him wide right in Bazza mode from the start ?? And he came into his own when he moved inside and Bazza went right. Cowie is beginning to look more and more like a good striker - his pace would be a big bonus and he can score goals. DUNCAN *** Quieter than usual but was stuck in front of the defence for most of the game. Some of his passing was woeful again. BLACK **** 110% again and the one player who appeared to have the flair to create. But most of the time that he got the ball his choice of passes forward were limited. ROYSTER *** Given a lot of the ball in the first half - did OK but he is not a "winger", a crosser or a flair player - did OK at left back but caught out positionally at times. NICULAE *** To be fair that was his best game that I have watched but he is still a luxury away from home and was generally ineffective. He worked his socks off when he had to, he won his fair share in the air and some of his first touch lay offs were nice to the eye. His cushioned header for the Bazza volley was class. But sorry - we are still playing around him and his lack of pace and movement are shocking. He got in two shots but a player with more pace would have got them on target - plus why did he need a touch for the perfect 22yard free kick for a left footer. Not much more that I can say as playing him away from home just has to be contractual. DENZIL ** Bad day at the office but not helped by his front role. IMHO he should have been the one playing deeper. BAZZA **** That was a substitution just crying to be made and was just too late. He comes on and we start playing with width - why? IMRIE *** 45 minutes is not enuff to pass real comment. Suffice to say that he looks raw and off the SPL pace but he has a nice touch, looks pacey, determined and strong plus he looks as if he can defend as well - his left foot looks a la Rankin. Needs a run in the team - probably as a replacement for Royster. Our new Ultras were promising "singers" and two of my protégés even managed to get chucked out due to OTT stewarding.

Man of the Match Don Cowie was the match winner today. His 6th minute strike for the Caley Jags was enough to secure the points and pull the team up one place in the table. For the second game in succession, there was a red card produced, but this time it was the Buddies Will Haining who got two yellows and not one of the ICT players. 24/11/07 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium INVERNESS CT 1 Cowie (6) Yeam: Fraser, Proctor, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Rankin 63), Cowie, Duncan, McBain, Niculae, Wyness (McAllister 90) Subs: Brewster, Vigurs, Duff, McCaffrey, Malkowski ST MIRREN 0 Team: Smith, Van Zanten, Millen, Haining, Miranda, Brady (Birchall 55), Mason (O'Donnell 81), Murray, Corcoran, Mehmet, Kean Subs: McGinn, McCay, Barron, Potter, Howard Referee Crawford Allan Attendance 3699 Since both teams have come head to head in the SPL, there has never been more than one goal separating the sides, and this match was never going to be any different. St Mirren came to Inverness with the prospect of going 8 points clear of ICT with a game in hand, so for ICT this was a must win fixture. The prospect of climbing further away from Gretna was also at the back of the mind. The only real surprise in the line ups was the loss of Ian Black, whom after his ‘huff’ against Motherwell a fortnight previous couldn’t get a place on the bench. Bayne and Rossco were both suspended for this fixture, again due to actions during the visit of Motherwell. The back 4 lined up Proctor, McGuire, Munro and Hastings with Fraser keeping his place in the ICT goal. Wilson, Duncan, Cowie and McBain filled the midfield with options in front through Wyness and Niculae. Former ICT star, Craig Dargo, was not included for this fixture with prolonged injury keeping him out of the side. Smith, Van Zanten, Mason, Haining, Murray, Mehmet, Brady, Corcoran, Miranda, Millen and Kean completing the starting opponents. It was ICT who took kick off with Allan Crawford officiating, and it was St Mirren who had the first opportunity 4 minutes in. From the first corner of the game, taken from the right, ICT managed to scramble the ball clear with no real threat from the St Mirren front line. Early on Stewart Kean and Franco Miranda combined well to maintain some slight pressure to the back 4, but Procter was always on hand to clear the danger. Caley’s first attack resulted in a superbly taken goal from Don Cowie to put them 1-0 ahead on just 7 minutes. Some fine one-touch passing in the centre of the park resulted in Roy McBain picking up the ball to deliver a lovely weighted cross from the corner of the box for Cowie to volley on the outside of his right foot into the bottom corner. Smith appeared to get a slight touch to it, but without a strong wrist to push it wide. The first half didn’t see many more great chances for either side, although Marius Niculae was showing some great ball control and link play with Wilson and Wyness. Dennis was clearly liking the ball played to feet more than the long punt up the park, and he managed to hold off the defence on a few occasions to hold up the play. Don Cowie was unable to make it 2-0 on 25 minutes. David Proctor, providing strong sliding tackles and very little in terms of mistakes, found himself assisting in some fine passing movements to deliver this opportunity. High and wide with this effort, but St Mirren remained on the backfoot for the next few minutes building up to half time. Niculae had a chance to run at the St Mirren defence soon after the goal kick, with a rare error from the Saints midfield allowing Russel Duncan to slot through for Marius. He checked past one defender with another to beat, and his snap shot appeared to take a deflection just wide of the post. To the surprise and disgust of the Caley Thistle support, a goal kick was awarded, allowing St Mirren to show they were not down and out in this fixture. Richard Hastings seemed to leave his man all to often in the first half, leaving Mark Corcoran with enough space to create an opportunity. David Proctor on hand to clear for a corner. Strong defending from Marius Niculae saw him clash heads with Miranda on the 6 yard box and the game was paused momentarily. Half Time: 1-0 Not by any means the most entertaining game of football so far, and far from the performance a few years back that saw would be 1st Div Champions St Mirren get gubbed 5-0!!! St Mirren came out fighting in the second half and created their first real chance of a goal. Stewart Kean, who has been the burden of so many teams during his career, was unable to remain stable in the wet conditions. His turn and shot after some nice link play saw his effort head high and wide of target with 50 minutes on the clock. From Fraser’s kick out, Cowie set Marius Niculae on yet another run. Wyness would have been a better option in hindsight, as Marius’ snap shot from just outside the box was not hit cleanly enough, and the slippery ball was easily gathered by Chris Smith. Wyness was evidently enjoying the ball played to feet, and had we stuck to the usual long ball routine, he would have certainly been out the game. His wee dinks to create chances, his ability to hold the ball up and his partnership with Niculae up front ensured we maintained decent spells of pressure in the early stages. The second half was end to end stuff for the majority, and St Mirren’s next chance came from a Free Kick on 53 minutes. Phil McGuire, who was having a good game in central defence, was on hand to clear off the line and set the midfield off. Russel Duncan, who was the match day sponsors eventual man of the match, sent the ball through to Niculae, who in turn provided Dennis Wyness with an opportunity to extend the lead. Once again the weather conditions making the game play sloppy, and Dennis could only see his weak shot saved once again by Chris Smith. St Mirren's best chances of the game fell in the last 20-25 minutes. Alan Millen provided a deep free kick into the box which was headed onto his own post by Phil McGuire. A fortunate escape! Franco Miranda on the right, was causing lots of problems for Richard Hastings and Grant Munro, and eventually managed on the odd occasion to provide decent deliveries into the box. With the continued pressure at the back, Inverness struggled to get the ball to the front pairing, and with the introduction of John Rankin, the ICT faithful were expecting good things. Stewart Kean and Gary Mason had superb opportunities to level the score with the later seeing a decent volley flash past Frasers’ left hand post, whilst Kean was only able to fire wide when one on one with the Caley number one. Approximately 10 minutes remained on the clock, and the Buddies were reduced to 10 men. Marius Niculae was released down the right flank, and managed to thunder his was past Gary Mason before being chopped down by Will Haining. Had he not already been booked it would have surely been a straight red. There seemed to be no real attempt to play the ball, and the referee had no hesitation in producing a second yellow card. John Rankin provided one of his trademark free kicks into the box and Niculae was unable to connect. The ball was cleared only as far as Russel Duncan. Provided with acres of space, Duncan was able to shoot from 25 yards but could not test the keeper. Referee Crawford had an indifferent game, with some decisions questionable. Deflected shots wide were not given as corners, strong tackles were awarded but some players went unpunished, but the most questionable decision came on 84 minutes. Marius Niculae managed to fight his way through for an attempt on goal, and was seemingly pulled back in the box. Cries of Penalty from players and fans fell of deaf ears and play was waved on. Inverness continued to hold on for a deserved and much needed victory. Craig Brewster said pre match that he wanted an early goal and it is that which proved decisive in keeping 3 points in Inverness. Full Time: 1-0 St Mirren now lie just one point ahead of Inverness in ninth with a game in hand, with that victory meaning ICT climb out of the bottom two for the first time this season. Falkirk taking their place above Gretna. 3,699 were in attendance on a wet and windy day at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, and most were glad to not only see a victory, but some well worked play by the front two, some solid defending at times by McGuire and Proctor (whom replaced McCaffrey and Tokely) and John Rankin showing why he should regain his status as a first team regular. Still work to be done mind, and perhaps some play seen on the training field should be brought into the fray on the park. Onwards and upwards to the dizzy heights of 9th for us next time round with a decent display at Tannadice? Lets hope so!!!

John Rankin and Graham Bayne returned to the side to face St Mirren at Love Street but neither could ensure the three points came back up the A9 from Paisley as the Buddies won 2-1. Franco Miranda and Mark Corcoran grabbed the goals for St Mirren with Don Cowie getting his first for ICT. However, with Gretna gaining a point at Tynecastle, Caley Thistle slumped to the bottom of the table and are now the only team still to win any points. 18/08/07 Love Street, Paisley ST MIRREN 2 (Miranda 19, Corcoran 55) Team: Smith, Van Zanten, Potter, Haining, Miranda (Mehmet 63), McCay, Mason, Murray, Brittain (Reid 63), Corcoran, Kean Subs: Burke, McGinn, Brady, Barron & Howard INVERNESS CT 1 (Cowie 57) Team: Fraser, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Hastings (Wilson 71), Duncan, Cowie, Black (Wyness 82), Rankin, Bayne, Niculae Subs: D McDonald, McAllister, Sutherland, McBain & Ridgers Referee William Collum Attendance 3309 John Rankin and Graham Bayne returned to the side to face St Mirren at Love Street today with Dennis Wyness and Roy McBain dropping to the subs bench. There was no place in the squad for recent loan signing Steven Watt. In fact, Manager Charlie Christie named a set of subs without a single defender perhaps highlighting how desperate the need is for a permanent defensive signing. FIRST HALF The opening 18 minutes were all Caley Thistle. Graham Bayne attempted an overhead kick in the second minute that went over the bar, John Rankin had a shot from distance well saved by Smith in 7 minutes and Haining cleared another effort from him for a corner in 11 minutes. Ian Black also had an attempt a minute later that went wide. Although it was against the run of play, St Mirren scored in the 18th minute and the pendulum swung quickly in the other direction. A cross from Van Zanten found Franco Miranda at the edge of the box and the young Argentinian, making his debut for St Mirren, struck it sweetly into the bottom left corner. Niculae and Cowie both had chances to equalise soon after the opener but on both occasions keeper Chris Smith was up to the task of saving their long range efforts. As the half wore on it was fairly evenly matched with both sides having chances. Graham Bayne put a header wide in 28 minutes and a minute later forced Chris Smith to concede a corner which came to nothing. At the other end, Richard Brittain hit wide from 25 yards out. Before the half came to an end, Black and Niculae both had chances but they came to nothing and the half ended with St Mirren leading 1-0. Half Time: 1-0 St Mirren went two up in the 55th minute through Mark Corcoran. Corcoran, who was on the end of numerous offside decisions in the first half had an easy tap in after Stewart Kean had done all the hard work on the right flank. Marius Niculae may not have scored in his first two matches but he had some good touches today and setup Don Cowie for his first Caley Thistle goal just three minutes later. A great cross from the Romanian gave Cowie the chance to slide in with his goal. The team went looking for an equaliser and Charlie Christie went for some very attacking substitutions as time wore on. Barry Wilson came on for Richard Hastings and Dennis Wyness then came on for Ian Black. With only three at the back, St Mirren had a few chances to put the game out of reach and it was Stewart Kean who made a mess of one of the best with just over 20 minutes to go. After being setup by Hugh Murray he headed high and wide from only six yards out. Kean would also have another chance in the 88th minute where he beat Mike Fraser and Stuart McCaffrey as they slid on the wet surface and only had to walk the ball into the net... he perhaps didn't realise how much time he had and put it wide. Sandwiched in between these two Kean chances was Caley Thistle's best chance to draw level. A John Rankin shot went inches wide of the post with 10 minutes to go. Full Time: 2-1 That's now three games played, three defeats only two goals scored, one by a midfielder, one by a defender and seven goals leaked. Its not quite a crisis yet but with Gretna getting a point at Tynecastle, and Caley Thistle being the only team in the SPL who are yet to register any points next week's game against Dundee United at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium is most definitely a must win match.

Stuart McCaffrey started this game in place of the departing Darren Dods and it was his goal that proved to be the winner - his first of the season - in this low key affair. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports on the game from Love St ST MIRREN 0-1 ICT 19th May 2007 Love Street, Paisley ST MIRREN 0 Team: Smith, Van Zanten, Broadfoot, Millen (Burke 76), Reid, Maxwell, Malone (MacKay 46), Corcoran, Murray, Mehmet, Sutton (Kean 80) Subs: Lawson, Brady, Barron & Hinchcliffe INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 1 (McCaffrey 74) Team: Fraser, Tokely, McCaffrey, Munro, Hastings, Sutherland, Black, Duncan, Hart (Wilson 84), Dargo (Bayne 72), McAllister (Wyness 73) Subs: Dods, Paatelainen, Rankin & Ridgers Referee Dougie McDonald Attendance 4834 This match could have been vital to St Mirren’s SPL survival but that was guaranteed last week and so today was all about pride and league places. Heavy rain and high winds spoiled the spectacle and it took a rare Stuart McCaffrey goal to separate the sides. McCaffrey came in for Darren Dods who made his final appearance for ICT on the bench. He was joined by Dennis Wyness on his return from long-term injury. Roy McBain dropped out through injury, Zander Sutherland made his first start of the season, Rory McAllister partnered Craig Dargo up front and Grant Munro was captain. Richard Hastings made his 300th appearance, the day after he turned 30. It was an emotional day for St Mirren captain Kirk Broadfoot as he played his last match before joining Rangers in the summer. The kick-off for all SPL matches was brought forward to 1230 to avoid a clash with the Chelsea v Manchester United FA Cup final at the revamped Wembley. Russell Duncan was first to try for goal in three minutes but Chris Smith saved easily. Saints then had some good possession which resulted in Hugh Murray and Billy Mehmet both heading wide. Smith saved from Sutherland in 13 minutes then McAllister struck wide. Dargo also hit wide either side of the half hour mark before John Sutton did the same at the other end after an excellent through ball from Andy Millen. In first half added time Dargo was through into the St Mirren box before Alan Reid stepped in with a timely sliding tackle. Half Time: 0-0 Caley Thistle had by the better of the second half and Smith did well to save a Hastings free kick in 54 minutes and to tip over a deflected Ian Black long-range shot in 63 minutes. With 20 minutes left Grant Munro brought down Mark Corcoran as he headed for goal and the home crowd shouted for a red card – the referee did not deem it to be a ‘last man’ tackle and the card was yellow. The goal that proved to be the winner came four minutes later from a Richie Hart lob into the St Mirren box. The normally reliable Chris Smith came out but failed to collect and McCaffrey sent a looping header into the net from six yards out for his first goal of the season. This spurred St Mirren on and they had a good spell of attacking football but could not make it count. There was a real chance two minutes into added time when Broadfoot sent a ball into the box and Alex Burke bravely dived to head goalwards from 12 yards – Mike Fraser saved well and the whistle went to end the season. Full Time: 0-1 Caley Thistle finished an excellent eighth in the SPL with Graham Bayne the only player to feature in every match and Craig Dargo top goalscorer with ten. With a job well done it was time for a rest then reassembly in late June for pre-season training and a return to the Italian sun.

ICT 2-1 ST MIRREN Goals from Graham Bayne in 5 minutes and Dennis Wyness in the 21st minute were enough to win this game for Caley Thistle. Kirk Broadfoot scored for the Buddies in 77 minutes and Mark Brown made a spectacular save near the end to make sure all three points stay in Inverness. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports from the game. 1st January 2007 Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC 2 (Bayne 5, Wyness 21) Team: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (McCaffrey 88), Duncan (Morgan 84), McBain, Rankin, Bayne, Wyness Subs – McAllister, Sutherland, Soane, Dargo & Fraser ST MIRREN 1 (Broadfoot 77) Team: Bullock, McGowne, Potter (Gemmill 87), Broadfoot, Zanten, Reid (McCay 65), Corcoran, Brittain, Brady, McKenna (McGinn 46), Sutton Subs: Docherty, Maxwell, Millen & Smith Referee Alan Freeland Attendance 4246 Man of the Match Graham Bayne (ICT) A good start to 2007 for Caley Thistle, a well-earned three points and revenge for the defeat by St Mirren on the opening day of the season. By half-time they could have been more than two up and were put under pressure when Saints improved after the break. The visitors eventually pulled one back through Kirk Broadfoot and there was a nervous finish for the home fans. Heavy rain throughout the country threatened sporting fixtures but Inverness was spared the worst of it and all was well. Ian Black dropped out of the home side through suspension and Russell Duncan came in. Barry Wilson returned and Alan Morgan reverted to the bench. St Mirren were without Simon Lappin and Hugh Murray. Bullock was under pressure from the start and in just two minutes Graham Bayne sent an angled ball across goal but wide of the mark. The first goal came in five minutes when Bayne passed to Roy McBain, moved to the centre and was there to expertly head home McBain’s cross from the right. This was just what ICT needed and they took control of the game. Saints however nearly pulled one back in nine minutes when Mark Brown dived to push a low ball from David McKenna over for a corner. Dennis Wyness scored his first SPL goal of the season in 21 minutes and it was a great strike. McBain powered goalwards then found Richard Hastings on the left - the defender’s cross reached Wyness in the box, he chested it down then hammered it into the net giving Bullock no chance. A Wilson free kick in 29 minutes troubled the defence as it bounced towards goal but Bullock pushed it for a corner. John Rankin had a chance in 33 minutes from his favourite position 25 yards out but it was on his right foot and he sliced it wide. A Wilson corner in 44 minutes reached Darren Dods at the back of the box but he was off-balance and failed to connect. Half Time: 2-0 Just after the break Bayne went down just inside the St Mirren box but nothing was given. Kirk Broadfoot tested Brown in 52 minutes from wide left but the ‘keeper held it. Bullock saved from Rankin in 55 minutes then pushed the ball for a corner as Wilson closed in for the rebound. Bullock saved well from Bayne in 62 minutes then Wyness hit over the bar in 67 minutes. Saints began to gain confidence and they scored in 76 minutes when Broadfoot ran in to head home Richard Brittain’s corner from the left. Garry Brady nearly managed an equaliser three minutes later but Brown dived to his left to push it away. Mark Corcoran then hit the bar from an angle on the right. With four minutes left Saints were awarded a free kick 19 yards out for hand ball amidst claims that it had been in the box. The kick came to nothing but the ICT fans feared the worst as Saints continued to press. There was an almighty scramble in the home box in the closing minute but Alan Morgan finally booted clear and it hit off a St Mirren player for a goal kick. That was enough to settle things down and the whistle went. Full Time: 2-1 In the topsy-turvy world at the foot of the SPL this win pushed ICT back up to eighth on 27 points. Dunfermline remain rooted at the foot on 14 points.

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.

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