Inverness CT 1 - 0 Morton

League Match
Saturday, March 13th, 2010, 3:00 PM at Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,788
Referee: S McLean
Inverness CT  Morton

Goalscorers
Nick Ross (65)
None.

Team Managers
Terry Butcher James Grady

Starting Eleven
Ryan Esson
Ross Tokely
Grant Munro
Stuart Golabek
David Proctor
Russell Duncan
Lee Cox
Johnny Hayes
Nick Ross
Adam Rooney
Eric Odhiambo
Cuthbert
McGuffie
Reid
McGregor
McKinlay
Paartalu
Tidser
Jenkins
Simmons
Masterton
McAlister

Substitutes
Kyle Allison
Nauris Bulvitus
Robert Eagle
Daniel Stratford
Dani Sanchez
Stewart
Finlayson
Weatherson
Russell
Monti

Substitutions
Robert Eagle for Nick Ross (81)
Daniel Stratford for Eric Odhiambo (87)
Weatherson => Masterton (71)

Bookings
None. Masterton (58)

Red Cards
None. None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Ryan Esson (GK) 61 apps -
Stuart Golabek 249 apps5 goals
David Proctor 124 apps8 goals
Ross Tokely 507 apps33 goals
Grant Munro 319 apps10 goals
Johnny Hayes 34 apps7 goals
Lee Cox 35 apps2 goals
Nick Ross 10 apps1 goal
Russell Duncan 314 apps9 goals
Adam Rooney 72 apps24 goals
Eric Odhiambo 25 apps3 goals
Robert Eagle (sub) 18 apps3 goals
Daniel Stratford (sub) 18 apps1 goal

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Lee Cox (19 years 265 days)
Oldest Player:Grant Munro (2011 years 226 days)
Average Player Age:25 years 328 days
Domestic Players:11 (100.00 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Lee Cox (19 years 265 days)
Oldest Player:Dani Sanchez (2011 years 226 days)
Average Player Age:25 years 328 days
Domestic Players:16 (100.00 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones
Nick Ross scored his first goal for the Club.

Nick'd it!

Nick Ross, starting in place of the suspended Richie Foran scored his first goal for Caley Thistle in a scrappy match where neither keeper had much to do.

The points were won midway through the second half after Adam Rooney took the initial shot but it was parried and Nick was there to tap it in from inches. It may have been an ugly win, but it was a win !!!

Regardless, it was a vital win in the quest to catch League leaders Dundee.

Worst game ever might spring into people’s minds when ICT’s 1-0 win over Morton is mentioned. I have to say that the first half was the most boring half of football in history with the only action in the half was two shots off target from Lee Cox and Adam Rooney and a corner from Morton that nearly landed in the net. Nevertheless, the win was crucial in our bid to regain our SPL status as it brings us within three points of leaders Dundee and puts us three points ahead of local rivals Ross County, although Dundee have one and County, 2 games in hand over us.

The same line up that defeated Queen of the South 3-1 in midweek was fielded, apart from the suspended Richie Foran, who was replaced by youngster Nick Ross, a decision that proved a key decision by gaffer Terry Butcher at the final whistle.

The woeful first half had few high points and Lee Cox’s chance that he fired over was perhaps the best chance of the first half. Jonny Hayes began the move, robbing Kevin McKinlay, before sliding in for on-form Adam Rooney but his first touch took the ball away from him so he had to cut it back for Lee Cox, however, ex-Leicester man pinged his shot well over. A minute later ICT were on the break again, a long ball by veteran Stuart Golabek was held up in the wind leaving Rooney to try to lob Kevin Cuthbert in the Morton goal but the ball just dropped wide of the goal. The best “chance” for Morton came just a minute before half time a corner from Jim McAllister swirled in the wind before landing just wide of the ICT goal.

Half Time: ICT 0-0 Morton

It took an hour on the clock before the first chance of the second half came about. A curling shot from Jonny Hayes just went wide of the target. A corner from Hayes was headed over by Grant Munro just two minutes later. But finally, with twenty minutes to go, the first shot on target. A smashing through ball from Russell Duncan towards Rooney was ran onto well by the Irish striker, his low shot was parried by Cuthbert, but only as far as Nick Ross who calmly rolled in his first senior goal for ICT.

The goal finally gave Inverness some urgency in their play as they attempted to wrap up their victory and Eric Odhiambo was the instigator of a move that nearly lead to a goal, the attacking midfielder did well to round Cuthbert and cut the ball back to Duncan who could only watch as his shot was blazed over the bar.

The only Morton chance of the second half came with only four minutes to play. A long hit from Peter Weatherson was deflected by David Proctor and it was well saved by Ryan Esson to end a painful game to watch for both fans.

Full Time: ICT 1-0 Morton

Match report written by Granty24



None.

Pld W D L F A +/- Pts
1. Dundee 25 13 9 3 36 22 14 48
2. Inverness CT 26 12 9 5 45 28 17 45
3. Ross County 24 12 6 6 36 29 7 42
4. Dunfermline 26 11 7 8 39 31 8 40
5. Queen of the South 24 11 6 7 38 26 12 39
6. Partick Thistle 27 11 5 11 39 33 6 38
7. Raith Rovers 22 8 5 9 22 27 -5 29
8. Ayr United 24 5 8 11 20 35 -15 23
9. Morton 24 7 0 17 25 45 -20 21
10. Airdrie United 24 2 7 15 20 44 -24 13