First published May 2004

It's All Over...
...But we're proud!

The Caley Thistle cup dream went out in a blaze of glory at Pittodrie, but we're not downhearted! In what turned out to be a cracking game, ICT lost 3-2 to Dunfermline, but did themselves and their fans proud!

This game was contrast to the first game at Hampden, with exciting moments from the first whistle. ICT opened very brightly, making several forays into the Dunfermline box before Paul Ritchie opened the scoring in six minutes with a superb strike from a prefect Bingham pass. Caley Thistle continued to give Dunfermline a hard time, with several more attacks immediately after this goal. Liam Keogh was on outstanding form and was running the Parts defence ragged at times. Unfortunately, Dunfermline grabbed an equaliser in the 24th minute, somewhat against the run of play. However, Caley Thistle continued to look lively and always looked threatening, while the defence did an excellent job of shutting out the Pars.

The second half started off a bit quieter. Unfortunately for us, Russell Duncan was stretchered off with a nasty groin injury early in the second half. However, ICT continued to attack and were unlucky not to score from at least two great chances. The game turned when Dunfermline went ahead through Brewster (aka Methuselah) in 63 minutes. Another 15 minutes later they were 3-1, although the two-goal gap between the teams wasn't really justified. Caley Thistle coninuted to press hard, although by then we knew that the game as a competition was probably over. However, we weren't finished yet, and when Darren Mackie was churlishly taken out in the box by Scott Wilson in the 90th minute, David Bingham was only too happy to score from the resulting penalty!

In the end, we came away from Pittodrie with our heads held high, having enjoyed a tremendous rollercoaster ride, not just in this game, but in the cup campaign as a whole.

Anyway, there's always next year, eh? ;-)

Caley Jags Live to Fight Another Day

Our second big day out at Hampden went with a bang... and ensured that the adventure continued!

Our players made a good account of themselves against a Dunfermline team that was stubborn in defence, but unspectacular in their style of play. ICT made a mockery of the difference in status between the two clubs (Dunfermline are fourth in the Ess Pee Ell at the time of writing) and pushed the Pars hard.

The first half was a pretty quiet affair, with both sides sizing each other up and testing each other's abilities.  Dunfermline defended stubbornly every time we came forward, although we did provide them with a few uncomfortable moments, most notably from Barry Wilson and David Bingham. Understandably, Dunfermline managed more attacks than we did, although we kept out any attempts that they made on goal. Mark Brown was on top form, throwing himself all over the place and making fantastic, agile saves that earned him the Man of the Match award from sponsors Tennants.

The first half seemd to be petering out as it crawled into a minutes injury time. However, Paul Ritchie made sure that we went in at half-time celebrating when he scored a terrific headed goal from a David Bingham cross. The fans went bezerk, the team went bezerk and, over in the other stand, Dunfermline jaws dropped! In the second half, the Pars seemed stung into action and gradually came back into the game, with Mark Brown having to make several more wonderful saves. Unfortunately for us, one of the Pars' attacks finally paid off when, in the 67th minute, Brewster, the oldest man on the park at 39, outjumped Bobby Mann to head the equaliser.

After that, both sides pushed for a winner, but more stubborn defending ensured that the score stayed put at 1-1. Several of our players were also just back from injury, and seemed to be growing tired towards the end of the game. However, we held out for a draw and a replay at Pittodrie on April 20th.

The fans had a great time for the second year running at Hampden.

Brilliant Barry Bashes Butcher's Babes!

The pitch at fir Park bore a strong resemblance to a tattie field in places.

We came, we saw and we conquered Fir Park. For the second time in Caley Thistle's short history we beat an Ess Pee Ell side to qualify for a Scottish Cup semi final at Hampden. Motherwell are the form team in the SPL at the moment, having won something like half a dozen games on the trot before we came calling, and putting in a sustained effort for a top-six finish. Terry Butcher's young team is highly skilled and plays attractive football. However, against us they were never allowed to get going, partly due to the state of the Fir Park pitch, which resembled a tattie field rather than a football park, but also partly due to the stubbornness of the Caley Thistle defence.

From kick-off Motherwell came forward, pressurising our back line. However, Bobby Mann, Stuart Golabek and Stuart McCaffrey stood firm and mopped up any pressure. Ross Tokely was an inspiration, working tirelessly all afternoon, with tackles, clearances, passes and runs up the park. with only ten minutes gone, he found Stuart Golabek up the right wing, who picked out Barry Wilson somewhere in central midfield. Barry took the ball gracefully down to his feet and from 30 yards out sent a perfectly weighted lob towards goal, where it looped over the despairing Gordon Marshall's head and into the back of the net. Goal of the century! Everybody in the ground, including Barry himself, thought the ball was going over the bar, but Barry had hit his strike so perfectly that it completely outfoxed Marshall, who also had the sun in his eyes. (Immediately after the goal, Marshall put on a hat, which remained there for the rest of the game. Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted?)

The away end went tonto. And stayed tonto for another eighty long minutes.

For the rest of the first half Motherwell pressed for an equaliser. Happily the defence mopped up everything that came their way, and whenever a Motherwell attack broke through on goal Mark Brown was more than equal to the challenge. Derek Adams got slaughtered every time he came over to take a corner and susequently didn't prove to be very dangerous.

In the second half, although Motherwell were still desperate for an equaliser, Caley Thistle came more into the game and had several chances to wrap up the game. Paul Ritchie, who made tremendous efforts all afternoon, came close, as did Russell Duncan. Barry could have put the tie beyond Motherwell's reach ten minutes from time with another perfectly-weighted lob, but this time Marshall got a hand to it.

The game ended with three minutes stoppage time, which was tense for all concerned. The entire Caley Thistle support was now on its feet, demanding the final whistle. Motherwell won a free kick, which made for some nervous moments, but their effort missed by a considerable distance. Motherwell piled forward for a last desperate attempt to level the game, our defenders got stuck in to the ruck, sent the ball upfield and safely away from the penalty box. Kenny Clark blew for time and the whole travelling support errupted!
For the second year in a row we get to go to Hampden, and there is even the possibility of qualifying for Europe! What a day, what a result and what a wonderful team we support!

This game was played in periodic blizzards!

Thomson Shoots ICT into Quarter Finals!

It was always going to be a tough game at Love Street, but things were made even more difficult by the absence of almost half the first team squad. Bobby Mann and Russell Duncan played, despite suffering from a virus that had been sweeping round the Caley Thistle dressing room, Stuart McCaffrey, Barry Wilson and Steve Hislop were all crocked and Darren Mackie was in hospital having his appendix out. An uneventful weekend then.

The first half was a demanding test. St. Mirren threw everything at us, but Mark Brown was on top form and was ably assisted by Bobby Mann and Grant Munro in defence, and managed to keep Saints out. It wasn't entirely one-way traffic, however, we did have a few chances, although we missed Steve Hislop's fire power and The Saints keeper was also on form.

0-0 half time.

In the second half, more of the same, with heavy pressure from Saints, although we came into it more, with efforts from David Bingham and Paul Ritchie. With 10 minutes left, it looked like the game was heading for 0-0 and a midweek replay in Inverness, until Darran Thomson floored St. Mirren with an absolute beauty of a goal after a disputed throw-in from Grant Munro and good work in the midfield from David Bingham.

We held out to claim the tie and an away draw with Motherwell in the quarter finals.

Brechin Bashed in 5-Star Performance!!!

Paul Ritchie was a hat-trick hero as ICT progressed to the third round of the Scottish Cup with a 5-1 home win over Brechin City!

Although Brechin have spent the season so far at the bottom of the Division 1 table, this tie was a potential banana skin as Brechin's results have improved somewhat in recent weeks. However, the players avoided complacency, worked hard and played the way we know they can to produce a tremendous result!

Paul Ritchie put ICT ahead with a quickfire double during the first ten minutes. This settled the nerves and the lads din't look back after that. New signing Darren Mackie was tremendous on the right wing, demonstrating blistering pace and creating a few chances for the forwards. David Bingham made the score 3-0 midway through the first half, sliding the ballgently over the line and watching as a Brechin defender helped it hit the back of the net.

Early in the second half Brechin pulled a goal back, and there were a few nervous moments (recalling the 3-3 derby result in November) but Roy McBain put the game out of Brechin's reach a few minutes later, seizing a sloppy pass from the Brechin defence. In the 70th minute, Paul Ritchie completed the scoring and his hat-trick with a blistering finish.

The rest of the game was played out in what resembled a monsoon, but at full time the rain did not dampen the fans'spirits, as we acclaimed our team's performance and result!

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