Inverness CT -V- Cowdenbeath - Scottish Cup

[tm4tj]

Brazil Come North

 

A wee break from the rigours of Championship football this weekend as Brazil head North to take on Caley Thistle in the Third Round of the Scottish Cup. No no no, not that ones, but it's the Blue Brazil who will be at the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday for a 3:00pm kick-off. Unfortunately, Cowdenbeath slipped out of the big boys Leagues in 2022 after a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Bonnyrigg Rose and find themselves plying their trade in the fifth tier of Scottish Football, the Lowland Football League. Our last regular games with Cowdenbeath ended in 1997 when they beat Inverness 2-1 at Central Park. The biggest home attendance at Central Park was 25,586 vs Rangers on 21 September 1949. (must have been waiting for the stock car racing to start)

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Match/Ticket Info

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Venue H2H Cowdenbeath

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	7	4	1	2	11	10	+1
Away	8	4	2	2	17	12	+5
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	15	8	3	4	28	22	+6

We have only played Cowdenbeath three times since our early days in 1997. The last three games have all been in League Cup encounters. Worryingly, the last one was a no scoring draw over 90 minutes.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Cowdenbeath

0 - 0 (H)

5 - 2 (A)

2 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (A)

2 - 1 (H)

4 - 3 (A)

1 - 3 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 0 (A)

In our final league encounter with the Blue Brazil we were beaten 1 - 2  in Fife: 

An enthusiastic Cowdenbeath side deservedly ended the champions long unbeaten run. The home side dominated the first half as the visitors experimented with their formation. In 13 minutes Craig Sinclair headed home after a Willie Stewart corner and 4 minutes later a static defence allowed Martin Scott to hit high into the roof of the net from close range. It could have been three just before half-time but Jim Calder made a good diving save from a Nolan shot. The second half started the same way but the visitors gradually came back. They dominated the last half hour but only managed one goal. In 69 minutes a long Iain MacArthur throw was back-headed by Mike Teasdale and Paul Cherry headed home. In 84 minutes Iain Stewart tried to chip Godfrey but failed and in the dying seconds a Paul Cherry header was cleared off the line.

Godfrey Munro Ritchie Meldrum Humphreys Winter Scott Sinclair Nolan Coulston Stewart Manson - Charlie Christie Millar - Davie Ross Hamilton - Barry Wilson

Jim Calder Mike Noble Richard Hastings Iain MacArthur Paul Cherry Ross Tokely Mike Teasdale Marco De Barros Iain Stewart Brian Thomson Wayne Addicoat

 Last Time Out

We rode our luck in Fife last weekend but managed to escape with a point from East End Park. Incredibly the Pars hit the woodwork seven times before they equalised on the eighth strike in the last three minutes, the ball connoning off the post into the net from Lewis McCann. Danny Devine scored like an opportunist striker at the end of the first half as MotM woodwork kept the ball out of the net with seven incredible blocks and an assist.

Cowdenbeath's last game saw them scud Lanark United 6-0 in the South Challenge Cup. Scorers in a decent performance were Matty McDonald (34),  Josh Jack (37), Mikey Cunningham (38 pen), MacPherson (45) HT: 4-0 Jack (50), Berry (67)

Cowdenbeath FC 6  Lanark United 0

Date: 18th November 2023	Kick off: 3:00pm
Competition: South Challenge Cup	Referee:
Venue: Central Park	Attendance:

 

We are, of course, beaten finalists from last season. Record scorer Billy Mckay is our all time top scorer in the Scottish Cup. He bagged five in last season's event, including two at Livingston and two against Falkirk in the semi final bringing his total up to 12, one ahead of Sir Dennis Wyness. Iain Stewart, our master lobster comes third with six lobs.

Cowdenbeath got into the next round of the Scottish Cup after defeating Kilwinning Rangers 1-0 at Buffs Park. Super sub Mikey Cunningham came off the bench to score a late goal which saw Cowdenbeath through to the third round of the Scottish Cup, which is why they are here on Saturday.

COWDENBEATH: Hepburn; Butterworth, Walker, Jordan, McNab, Chalmers, Jack (Cunningham 64), MacDonald, MacPherson, McLaughlin, Docherty (Berry 88). Subs not used – Blair, Garcia, D Duncan and Smith.

ATTENDANCE: 527

Latest Team News

Sean Welsh got a bit of the action at East End Park after another extensive injury lay-off. Luis Longstaff was another still looking to get up to speed after a couple of weeks out and Nikola Ujdur was subbed off in the second half. One or two still carrying niggles and this might be the right time to rest some with bigger fish to fry, but first and foremost we need to get ourselves into the hat for the 4th round draw.

Cowdenbeath will be looking forward to this and I would expect a similar set up to their game against Lanark.

[bdu98196]

Start of this years Hampden journey and good chance to divert attention from the 'tiresome' battery farm chat through giving these butchers, bakers and candlestick makers the level of skudding expected by an elite team with rich pedigree in this competition.

Full strength home team to score plenty goals and build confidence please

Edited November 24, 2023 by bdu98196

[tm4tj]

Here's Dunc

 

 

[STFU]

Confident we can do the business, but a little nervous by mention of 4 or 5 changes, especially involving players who haven't been playing, and unfortunately Max Anderson is cup tied, so not available for selection.

Still might stick a tenner on a win by 2 or more.

[Huisdean]

How can Max Anderson be cup tied when he hasn't played any Scottish cup ties this season?

[The Mantis]

Think we need a bit of perspective here. This team are 13th out of 18 in the LL having won 4 games out of 16. The other week they struggled to a 4-2 win at home in the Challenge Cup over Whitehill Welfare, mid table tier 7.
The last LL team we played was East Kilbride 4 years ago, and they ended up as champions but we beat them 4-0.
Cowden had a decent result in the last round, winning at Kilwinning Rangers which was maybe a mild surprise.

I think benching 4 or 5 from last week is a decent compromise as opposed to playing a team of youngsters as was suggested. Sean Welsh has to start and probably Duffy. If we’re not well ahead after an hour then get Billy and Spoony on but let a couple of the young players e.g. Longstaff or Brooks have a go. I know the Bonnyrigg game was almost an embarrassment but let’s start with a tempo and get this done.

Edited November 24, 2023 by The Mantis

[Jaggernaut]

1 hour ago, Huisdean said:

How can Max Anderson be cup tied when he hasn't played any Scottish cup ties this season?

I think it must be on the request of Dundee, in case they recall him from the season long loan at ICT, and if he played for us in the cup he couldn't play for them in the cup.

[Yngwie]

6 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said:

I think it must be on the request of Dundee, in case they recall him from the season long loan at ICT, and if he played for us in the cup he couldn't play for them in the cup.

That would make sense, sadly for us.  But if Dundee get knocked out before us, presumably they can revoke that condition of the loan.

[IBM]

14 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

That would make sense, sadly for us.  But if Dundee get knocked out before us, presumably they can revoke that condition of the loan.

I like your positive thinking Yngwie 

[+Gringo]

Big Duncs ICT record in cup comps isn't very good.....just saying like 

 

I'm sure we'll be fiiiiine.. 

[+Feb82000]

we should win this one easy may be even at  the game today

 

[Duke of Inverness]

First game this season as did not renew season ticket and was sick of Dodds s##t tactics, Robbo and his taking the p##s, still want Gardiner out though.

But as Meatloaf said, "Two out of three ain't bad".

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

We have held out until half time thankfully

[+snorbens_caleyman]

HT 0-0.  BBC says we've had one shot in the first half, which appears to have been in the 14th minute.

I am sure that Big Dunc will (have to) be restrained, as usual 

[+Gringo]

12 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

HT 0-0.  BBC says we've had one shot in the first half, which appears to have been in the 14th minute.

I am sure that Big Dunc will (have to) be restrained, as usual 

Going for it then. 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

16 minutes ago, Gringo said:

Going for it then. 

Don't want to peak too soon.  Saving ourselves for the final.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Final minute ?

 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

The cavalry has arrived - Wotherspoon, Lodovica and Mckay.  Brooks, Duffy and Sheridan off.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

2-0 - Wotherspoon & Mckay.  Never in doubt 

Correction - Carson replaced Duffy on 70, and Lodovica replaced Longstaff on 90+1.

[Yngwie]

2-0 FT, subs Wotherspoon and Mckay saving our blushes.

The debate about which strike pairing is our best will be a short one.

[+Gringo]

2 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

2-0 - Wotherspoon & Mckay.  Never in doubt 

Correction - Carson replaced Duffy on 70, and Lodovica replaced Longstaff on 90+1.

AS you say...never in doubt. 

[Douglas Mackenzie]

That first 70 minutes was dire.The fringe players had a chance to show what they could do and blew it.Duffy the only fringe player with pass marks.I was sure the calvery would arrive at half time.They didnt,but when they did,they showed their experience and scored 2.

Dreadul watch and I thought our front two in the first 70 were very poor.

Id say we got out of Jail.

[+bughtmaster]

confident management ??

[Oferesbumfiddle]

My god Welsh is pony can’t believe he was our club captain. Him and Delaney were absolutely dire throughout their time on the pitch. Thought players like shaw ,Longstaff and Gilmour were alright at trying to get us up the pitch aswell as Ujdur trying a couple of drives and lumpings up the park from centre half

[STFU]

Made a late decision to go after being offered a comp, and was regretting it at half time and almost decided to head home to the warmth.

Sheridan is awful.  Every move he made was towards our man with the ball, restricting options.  Can't recall a single time he ran into space, and if the ball wasn't to his feet he wouldn't move/chase it.  Welsh looked like he'd never played before and Delaney was a passenger.

Until the subs came on it looked like we were also a poor Lowland League team with nothing to play for.  We'd get to the final third, then pass it back, all the way to the keeper half the time.

A better team would have taken us apart in the first half, but Cowdenbeath were as toothless as we were

Thankfully we had a strong bench and the first 3 subs changed the tempo and the game.  Billy's goal was an absolute corker.and I hope we're working on getting Wotherspoon tied down a little longer.

Hopefully the game time will have helped the fringe players, and those coming back from injury, but man was it painful to watch.

Most important thing is, we're in the hat for the next round.  Onwards and upwards.