Nick Ross finally gets off the mark, and how:
:Richie Foran had given Inverness a first half lead with a powerful header, although there was some debate as to whether Adam Rooney had the last touch.
It was a low key first half which explained why Hibs were languishing in the lower quarter of the league. They had plenty of possession but did little with it.
In the second period, Inverness began to take control and Nick Ross making his 50th appearance for the club scored a superb second goal to secure the points. He met a great Adam Rooney cross on the edge of the box to half-volley a curling shot into the top corner off the underside of the bar. It has taken Nick plenty games to score an SPL goal, but when it came it was well worth the wait.
Inverness then threatened the Hibees goal on a number of occasions after that but a third goal never came and Hibs were well beaten long before the end, with youngsters Ross and Sutherland proving a handful for the under pressure Hibs rearguard. However, the biggest cheers of the night were the farewell lap of honour from the home side, with Grant Munro and Russell Duncan getting a guard of honour as they left the pitch.
Davie has his final home story for your eyes only this season, here is the report.........
The last home game of the season passed, with little real incident and a comfortable margin of superiority into history. A couple of goals either side of half time sealed it, but in truth ICT could have scored at will, especially in the second half. Hibs were unremittingly, gob-smackingly awful all night, but still managed to put together a stubborn enough rearguard to keep things respectable. All in all a quiet night when, in the maroon half of Edinburgh everything that’s worst about Scottish football was laid out to public gaze.
None of that at TCS, though. The first half meandered along from a sluggish start and you know it’s going nowhere when socialising in various parts of the stand becomes possible, and the match followed with one eye. Occasional attention was demanded, often prompted by the excellent Shane Sutherland looking to cut in and shoot at any opportunity, and by the direct running of Ricardo Vaz Te, who looks a useful acquisition for Hibs. He is, though, an ideal illustration of why ex premiership players should be banned from Mohican style haircuts. Take note El Haj.
Highlight of uneventfulness was a quite magnificent sliced clearance by Grantie that bounced a couple of times off the north stand roof before dropping into the car park. It was chased by a glum looking ball boy, clearly affected by the end of season apathy around him. ICT looked in the mood, none more so than the normally hairstyled Nick Ross who was conducting everything through the midfield. A couple of half chances came and went, until in 41 minutes Foran was played in by the aforementioned Ross after useful midfield work by Ross Tokely. Foran’s header then caused consternation to the BBC by cannoning off the left post before either (a) being diverted over the line by the ever alert ROONEY or (b) going in unaided. Take your pick. We in the stadium, including our intrepid announcer, thought Rooney and I’d stick with that. The big man is really coming back onto a game right now, and I hope it’s not a swansong. (apparently the goal has been credited to Richie Foran, davie)
Half Time: Inverness CT 1 Hibernian 0
Jonny Tuffey must have thought that, what with the first half being money for old rope, he might have something to do in the second half. Actually, no. After another free kick from Liam Miller was fired directly into the sorry band of Hibees in the south stand, ICT processed neatly to the other end of the park, neat passing causing some concern for the men in green. A fabulous Gillet ball wide right was cut back by Rooney near the six yard box to ROSS, who rifled the ball into the net via the crossbar from 18 yards. After a bit of did it/didn’t it? faffing, celebrations were had of the lads richly warranted 1st SPL goal. Hibernian at this stage still offered nothing, and it looked like a question of how many ICT would score. Rooney had chances, Sutherland was pressing but nil of note happened until Hibs introduced Sodje in 67 minutes. This chap looks like a heavyweight boxer and appeared to take the curious decision to bypass football entirely in a one man mission to wind up Ross Tokely in a succession of verbals, sly digs, kicks and nips and a quite blatant slap around the head all of which was studiously ignored by Tokely but drove Butcher to apoplexy. The fact that no official saw anything was probably down to the fact that they thought no-one stupid enough to wind up Superman in this way. Hibs shuffled the pack to no avail, and Sutherland departed to be replaced by Sanchez. Adios, Dani. The two biggest cheers of the evening so far were then reserved for Nick Ross (Doran coming on) and the late introduction of Liam Polworth who became the first teams youngest ever player at 16. Take a bow, and I hope you get longer at Hamilton. A farewell canter around the pitch was had after full time, and that was lights out on another vintage season at TCS. What with all the changes afoot, next year could be even better.
Full Time: Inverness CT 2 Hibernian 0
Man of the match was made memorable for the fact that I agreed for once with the sponsors – Nick Ross by a mile.
Thanx davie for all the contributions this season, much appreciated.
Match report written by davie
