N of Scotland Cup v Nairn

[tm4tj]

[Robert]

3 hours ago, tm4tj said:

I plan to take this one in. With the schools off and two kids free with an adult, hopefully there’s a decent crowd. 

Edited October 5, 2023 by Robert

[Robert]

Nairn have a “cash turnstile” as an alternative to buying tickets in advance. It may be that cash means cash and they don’t take cards. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Robert

[IBM]

This should be a good game but I will miss it as I have something else on tonight. 

[+Moogthurso]

Thank goodness couldn't remember login.

 

[tm4tj]

North of Scotland Cup Semi-Final

 

Preview:  Station Park is the venue for this North of Scotland Cup Semi-final tie against Nairn County. Inverness got here after defeating Rothes in a very tight affair on a stormy night at the end of September. Keith Bray scored the only goal of the game early in the first half. Nairn County have played twice to get here, a 3-2 win over Lossiemouth followed by a 5-0 thrashing of Forres Mechanics on a rain soaked night at Mosset Park. The goalscorers on September 13th were Andrew MacLeod x 2, Callum MacLean, Ciaran Young & Scott Davidson.

Here's the Nairn side from that night at Forres>>>

Two first half goals from MacLean and MacLeod set Nairn up for the win despite the atrocious weather.

Young headed in ten minutes after the break before Forres were reduced to 10 men with Brady being red carded.

MacLeod scored his sixth goal in five games for Nairn when he rifled home from just inside the box. 

Davidson ended the scoring five minutes from the end.

Nairn Facts: They were founded in 1914 and play at Station Park. They have played in the Highland Football League since 1919, winning their only league title in the 1975–76 season. The club’s record goal scorer is the legendary Davy Johnston who scored 286 goals in his two spells with the club. This also included scoring a record 73 goals in the 1963–64 season.

Their first five games this season: Scored 1 goal. Last five games: Scored 18 goals (after the game at Forres).

Nairn now sit in tenth place in the table having won four of their last five games W W L W W

[tm4tj]

[tm4tj]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report brought to you from>>> 

 

Kick-Off:

Caley Thistle almost score in the opening minute. Great ball from Jake Davidson finds Harry Lodovica unchallenged, but he nods wide of the post.

6' | 0-0 Adam Brooks' tame shot from inside the box is saved by the feet of Dylan MacLean as Nairn get clear. ICT then have a good move as Robbie Thompson meets a good ball from Lewis Hyde inside the box but he fires his effort just wide.

9' | 0-0 Chance! The ball breaks to Wotherspoon through on goal but his effort is turned behind by Dylan MacLean for a corner. Nairn get resulting corner clear.

13' An exciting opening spell. 2 big saves from Dylan MacLean, 3 Nairn corners and a handful of half chances. Inverness are threatening on the break but Nairn seem really up for the challenge.

17' | 0-0 Offside. Adam Brooks has the ball in the back of the net after meeting Harry Lodovica's cross in the box but the offside flag is up.

22' | 0-0 Good run from Sean Welsh through the middle and he has a go from about 30 yards but his effort is over the bar.

24' I   Ross Tokely booked 

26' | 0-0 Good play from Harry Lodovica and he forces a save from Dylan MacLean after meeting a lay off from Adam Brooks in the box after a long ball from Danny Devine.

31' | 0-0 Lewis Hyde has a go from about 25 yards but his low effort is held by MacLean.

33' | 0-0 Sean Welsh's floated in free-kick finds Harry Lodovica in the box but his header is over the bar.

34' | 0-0 Lewis Hyde drives through the middle and the ball breaks to Jake Davidson on the right and his drilled cross is inches past the post.

35' | 0-0 Wotherspoon's cross finds Lodovica in the box but his header is just past the post.

37' | 0-0 Good play from Robbie Thompson in the box after receiving Jake Davidson's ball but his effort is over the bar.

41' | 0-0 ICTFC Sub: Keith Bray on, Sean Welsh off. 

43' | 0-0 Lewis Hyde's ball finds Adam Brooks in the box and he lays it back to Harry Lodovica and the striker's effort is held by Dylan MacLean

45' | 1-0 Goal. Nairn County take the lead through Ross Tokely. 

HALF TIME at Station Park: 1-0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HALF TIME at Dudgeon Park: 0-0 (Brora v County)

 

 

 

 

 

[Satan]

Welsh off, injured...

[Robert]

We should be out of sight but a mix of poor finishing, slack touches in the box and good saves by the Nairn goalie meant we couldn’t score. Then Tokely headed in from a free kick just before half time so we are 1 down!

Welsh went down off the ball (I think) but came back on for 10 minutes so hopefully it is a precaution that he is now off.

 

[Robert]

2-2 at full time. Penalties loom. Two good strikes by Lodovica but we should never have been behind in the first place given the chances we spurned. Man if the match by a mike was the Nairn goalie. At least eight saves, three of them excellent. 

[Robert]

12 very good penalties plus one from Brooks that went through the goalie. Unfortunately the goalie saved the 14th from Delaney so Nairn win 7-6 on penalties.

A good enough game but a very embarrassing outcome given the strength of our team. For me really only the youngsters get pass marks.

[tm4tj]

Second Half 

HALF TIME Sub: Shae Keogh on, David Wotherspoon off.

48' | 1-0 Early pressure from ICT in the second-half as Keith Bray sees his header held.

51' | 2-0 Goal. Nairn double their lead through Steven MacKay with a close range header. Free kick taken well, flicked on by Ross Tokely and Steven MacKay puts it away!

58' | 2-0 Chance as Keith Bray's corner breaks to Zak Delaney in the box but he can't fully control it as it goes over the bar and behind.

63' | 2-0 ICTFC Sub: Jack Walker on, Danny Devine off.

65' | 2-1 GOALLLLL! We pull one back through Harry Lodovica who produces a great strike from 25 yards!

66' Chance for Nairn: Strong response to the goal as Nairn create a series of half chances at the other end from kickoff.

69' | 2-1 Speculative effort from Nairn's Andrew MacLeod but his effort goes just over the bar and behind.

74' | 2-1 Robbie Thompson had a go from just outside the box but his effort is held by Dylan MacLean

79' Chance for Nairn: Andrew MacLeod swings a corner in right on top of the keeper. Half the ground thought it was in, unfortunately it was just over. End of a positive spell for Nairn.

81' Chance for Nairn: George Robesten pounces on a rolled out ball, and cuts it across to Ciaran Young, he turns the defender and tries to get a shot away, too tight of an angle and hits the side netting. Dylan MacLean pulls off another top save at the other end from Adam Brooks.

88' | 2-2 GOALLLLL! Harry Lodovica gets his second of the match to make it 2-2! Good finish from inside the box via the post!

90' | 2-2 Harry looks for the hat-trick as he has a go from range but his effort is over the bar.

FULL TIME: Nairn County 2-2 ICTFC We go straight to a penalty shootout!

Penalty Kicks

Nairn:  Macleod ,  Dey , Tokely , Gillies , Young , Robeston , Mackay 

Inverness: Davidson , Walker , Hyde , Brooks , Thompson , Harry , Delaney  (saved by MotM Dylan MacLean)

 

 

Defeat at Station Park despite a brace for Harry as Nairn hit seven perfect penalties to win the shoot-out after the game ended 2-2. Sean Welsh left the field before the interval with an injury.

Ross Tokely left his ICT legendary status at home as he scored one, had a hand in the second and scored a penalty in the shoot-out, all at the ripe old age of 44.

Congratulations to Nairn and something for big Dunc to ponder over.

Nairn will face Ross County in the Final after they beat Brora Rangers 3-0 tonight.

 

[IBM]

Thanks for the updates guys.

[Robert]

Kellacher and Esson were in charge tonight. Ferguson was sitting in the officials area with Gardiner.

There was a surprisingly large crowd, with a good contingent of Caley Thistle fans.

As I said above, the youngsters were most prominent for us, especially Thomson. Welsh was running the show and it disrupted us when he went off.

Lodivica, in particular, had very poor touches in the first half and spurned a few decent chances, although his two second half strikes were excellent.

The Nairn goalie had a great evening and seemed to hold onto everything, with several excellent saves. Too often we looked to pass when we should have shot.

All in all, we shot ourselves in the foot in a game we should have won comfortably. 

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Could be actually the start of our season - big Dunc would have learned a lot.

[Robert]

I agree. Of the starters, only Devine, Thomson, Welsh and Wotherspoon looked capable of breaking into the starting line up. The youngsters, Nixon who started and the subs who came on, all looked promising, so hopefully several make the grade with us. 

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

And Lodovica ?

[Robert]

He scored with two great strikes in the second half, but that apart I thought he was poor. He passed up several good opportunities at 0-0 and gave the ball away too cheaply throughout the first half in particular.

I wouldn’t have been upset if he’d been hooked at half time. 

[IBM]

26 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

And Lodovica ?

He might be fine against the Highland league but I hope for better and he will get goals for us in this division!

[BobbyDazzler]

Poor result which will be an eye opener for Big Dunc. Wotherspoon who got subbed and Thompson caught the eye. The boy Walker who came on at 2-0 down and scored the second penalty looks extremely promising. Hyde, Brooks and Lodivica look miles of the standard.

[+Gringo]

Fair to say we were beaten by a 44 year old veteran (and legend) and an outstanding Highland League goalkeeper. Well done the Wee County and good luck in the final.

[Satan]

Fair to say that the result wasn't good enough,  and the game shouldn't have gone as far as penalties. 

[+Moogthurso]

Brilliant play by play by @tm4tj enjoyed the game and seeing the youngsters play.

 

Thought Thomson in a deeper position with his range of passing and close control was running the match for some if the second half. 

 

Duncan Ferguson is a coaching god. 

 

Hatrick Harry Ludovica is the evidence. (OK one was a penalty but who scored our last competitive hat trick.)

 

 

[bdu98196]

Given the line up we had and some of those who are looking to get into the first team or considered as challengers, they need a long hard look and think about their career direction as they may well have shown their true level. Let's not over egg this, Nairn aren't even near the best in the HL and this has to go down as not good enough by a long way. Certain players need to offer more.

Hopefully Dunc fired a few home truths across in the dressing room after the game to wake some of these guys up who seem to just drift along.

Edited October 19, 2023 by bdu98196