Inverness CT 0 - 2 Morton

League Match
Saturday, February 24th, 2018, 3:00 PM at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,359
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Inverness CT  Morton

Goalscorers
None. Scott Tiffoney (28)
Gary Harkins (pen 70)

Team Managers
John Robertson Jim Duffy

Starting Eleven
Mark Ridgers
Gary Warren
Brad Mckay
Collin Seedorf
Riccardo Calder
Joe Chalmers
Charlie Trafford
Iain Vigurs
Aaron Doran
Liam Polworth
George Oakley
Derek Gaston
Thomas O`Ware
Ricki Lamie
James Michael Doyle
Mark Russell
Andy Murdoch
Michael Tidser
Gary Harkins
Francis Ross
Gary Oliver
Scott Tiffoney

Substitutes
Ryan Esson
Cameron Harper
Carl Tremarco
Zak Elbouzedi
Daniel Mackay
Nathan Austin
Connor Bell
Robert McHugh
Lewis Strapp
Conor Brennan
Ruaridh Langan
Jack Purdue

Substitutions
Nathan Austin for Charlie Trafford (46)
Daniel Mackay for Nathan Austin (65)
Robert McHugh -> Francis Ross (72)
Jack Purdue -> Scott Tiffoney (83)

Bookings
None. Jack Purdue (90+1)

Red Cards
None. None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Mark Ridgers (GK) 31 apps -
Gary Warren 209 apps18 goals
Riccardo Calder 27 apps2 goals
Joe Chalmers 33 apps2 goals
Collin Seedorf 10 apps -
Brad Mckay 61 apps3 goals
Liam Polworth 147 apps13 goals
Aaron Doran 183 apps24 goals
Charlie Trafford 19 apps -
Iain Vigurs 130 apps21 goals
George Oakley 31 apps8 goals
Nathan Austin (sub) 3 apps -
Daniel Mackay (sub) 5 apps2 goals

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Riccardo Calder (22 years 35 days)
Oldest Player:Gary Warren (33 years 200 days)
Average Player Age:25 years 272 days
Domestic Players:5 (45.45 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Cameron Harper (16 years 110 days)
Oldest Player:Ryan Esson (37 years 351 days)
Average Player Age:25 years 47 days
Domestic Players:8 (44.44 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones

Ton too heavy for lightweights: Morton all but ended any faint hope Inverness had of making the play-offs with a clinical two goal victory in the Highlands, their first ever at Inverness.

A sorry Caley Jags look destined for another season in the doldrums after failing to win this six-pointer and Morton took full advantage to move above Dundee United into third place in the Championship with their fourth win in the last five games. A first half goal from Scott Tiffoney was added to after the break when MotM Gary Harkins slotted home a penalty.

It could have been so different had we hit the net instead of the woodwork, twice, and not had two goals chalked off. However, we were the architects of our own downfall, Brad Mckay having a first half to forget as he allowed the ball to bounce over him which led to the opener, and Collin Seedorf giving away a penalty in the second period. We did try, but Morton seemed to have all the answers and looked a yard sharper than us all over the park, the pace and movement of their front runners causing our Donaldsonless defence problems. Liam Polworth missed what can only be described as a sitter near the break and that summed up our day really.

Inverness were dealt a blow before taking to the pitch with news that Coll Donaldson was injured. Carl Tremarco made the bench as did Nathan Austin, and Aaron Doran started with Jake Mulraney suspended after his red card madness at Falkirk.

No surprises in the Morton side with Jack Purdue making his debut today coming off the bench and the evergreen Gary Harkins was the orchestrater in chief.

Inverness went straight into the visitors box after some neat interplay in the opening seconds, but Trafford shot down the keepers throat.

However, it was Morton who looked liveliest thereafter with their front players causing concern with their movement and pace. Inverness appeared second to every ball and anything loose was snapped up by the eager Morton players.

The opening goal was a schoolboy error by Brad Mckay who allowed a long punt from Gaston to bounce over his head. Wee Tiffoney new exactly what was happening and turned Mckay to spin in behind him as Brad mistimed his interception. He almost made amends by blocking the first attempt, but Tiffoney mopped up by driving the ball towards the net as Gary Warren tried to recover the situation. The ball eventually going into the net off Warren's outstretched boot.

We worked hard enough, but looked to have little up front to trouble Gaston in the visiting goal. However, we should have been level before the break when Liam Polworth tried to turn a Doran cross from the right into the net. He only succeeded in sclaffing it across the face of the goal when it looked easier to score. Great opportunity to get back on level terms before the interval.

Half Time 0-1

Nathan Austin was given a part to play as Robbo hooked Trafford at the break. We looked to take the game to Morton but made heavy work of trying to create openings.

Austin's day was short lived as he pulled up after only twenty minutes. It appears that he is made of porcelain. Apparently he has done his other hamstring this time.

We were unfortunate on a couple of occasions when Joe Chalmers guided a shot onto the post with the keeper stranded and later on when Iain Vigurs rattled the crossbar with the keeper beaten again. From the rebound, Aaron Doran caught a sweet volley but Gaston got down to block at his near post. The keeper just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Right after that double miss, Morton went up the park and ended the contest.

It had looked like it was not going to be our day and that was confirmed when Seedorf gave away a penalty with twenty minutes left bringing down Tiffoney as he jinked past him. Gary Harkins was calmness personified as he stroked the ball off the inside of the post and into the net to double their advantage and Inverness knew their fate.

Full Time 0-2

We did have the ball in the net twice, but were penalised on both occasions, but in truth, we played second fiddle to a better organised side and Morton thoroughly deserved the win, their first at the Caledonian Stadium.

MotM for me was Morton's Gary Harkins who has skill to burn. After Iain Vigurs wilted in the second half, Harkins took control of the nidfield and he was the main reason Morton pulled off this deserved win.

Frustrating day for the Caley Jags who could have taken something from the game but in the end, when the going got tough, the heads went down and the all too familiar stench of defeat was there for all to smell.

Match report written by tm4tj



None.

Pld W D L F A +/- Pts
1. St. Mirren 26 18 3 5 47 28 19 57
2. Livingston 25 13 7 5 42 27 15 46
3. Dundee Utd 23 12 4 7 31 28 3 40
4. Dunfermline 25 9 8 8 39 28 11 35
5. Queen of the South 25 9 8 8 38 34 4 35
6. Inverness CT 24 8 6 10 30 30 0 30
7. Falkirk 26 7 9 10 28 39 -11 30
8. Dumbarton 24 4 9 11 15 31 -16 21
9. Brechin City 25 0 4 21 18 56 -38 4