Caley at the Valley:

Inverness concluded their pre-season with a 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic in the Colin Powell Testimonial. It was a useful work out for both clubs with Inverness just having the edge and victory was rubber stamped when Josh Meekings scored a superb winner after a long run from defence, and a give and take ended with him angling the ball home.

One hundred and thirty two made the long trek to watch their team and they were rewarded with a resolute display and a super goal in the Capital and plenty of memories of the weekend away.

Immortal Howden Ender ventured South from Chorley to see the sights and he will have a match report for us when he recovers.

Didn't we have a lovely day, the day we went to Charlton, Riley and me, Zogg, GJ and Adie - well that was as good an away day as I have enjoyed in feckin yonks. RESPECT to Red Card for blagging the four hospitality spots. We saw more of Colin Powell than anyone else in the ground and the only negative was yon Jim Davidson constantly trying to sit with us and constantly asking fer photties and autographs. And feck me is Theo Foley still a hard man in his feckin seventies ?!!

Never did find the Pickwick but found Donview and a few crew members in the Rose of Denmark although we missed the Antigallican because of the EDL presence and simply flashed the kilts as we went past. Still we had to be sober(ish)and uphold the reputation of the club by hobnobbing in the Testimonial Suite. And the only thing that we can say about our accommodation and the environs in Woolwich Arsenal is feckin WOW. Saw more ladies of the night in one Woolwich pub than we suspected in the whole of Soho. I hope somebody on YouTube has posted the clip off Red Card trying to feed the beggars apparently lactose tolerant dog with a cheeseburger and our spat with the Ascot returning Finnish females and their fascination hats !!

Anyway to the game. That was as fine a performance in a friendly as I have ever witnessed from an Inverness team. We simply bossed the first half and Draper could have had a brace. We never really looked like conceding and the back four have really got it together. We played football throughout and a real passing game, although it was sideways, backwards and possession orientated at times. The second half was more even but again we always looked the more probable to nick it - and we did - although I thought that Dorans cross was out of play but it was a great finish from Meekings who had started the move with an interception in his own half.

The away support was as vociferous as ever and it appeared that our Tremarco song was more welcomed than our Richie Foran ditty. And was it not great to see the 30 year plus/plus choir pumping out the Ultras signature tune without the feckin effort of jumping up and down. I would love to know what Terry said to the players at the end of the game as he appeared livid - or perhaps it was because we had finished off the red wine in hospitality. But Terry did give Colin Powell an exclusive bottle of Glenfiddich.

As fer the tactics it was mainly a 4-2-3-1 formation switching although we ended up with Polworth and McKay up front in a traditional 4-4-2 at the close.

MEEKINGS just pinched by MotM award for his contribution to the winning goal but was equalled by Warren otherwise. :ictscarf:

Match report written by Immortal Howden Ender