Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (26 years 312 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Mark Brown (2007 years 160 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 30 years 141 days |
| Domestic Players: | 11 (100.00 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | David Proctor (21 years 313 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Craig Dargo (2007 years 160 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 27 years 198 days |
| Domestic Players: | 16 (100.00 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
Rory McAllister got his first senior goal for the club in this Scottish Cup match against Ayr United. Unfortunately for Caley Thistle, Gareth Wardlaw equalised only a minute later and a replay will be required in 10 days time. Ian Broadfoot reports from the stadium on this match.
Caley Thistle have had more than their share of cup glory but this time it was Ayr who were the over-performing underdogs - no cup scalp but close.
Craig Brewster's 50th game in charge did not quite go according to plan. He made five changes to rotate the squad but the new formation never really got to grips with the second division side.
Ayr had two players suspended and therefore had to make changes themselves. Despite this they played well and their game plan worked - defend in depth and attack on the break.
Rory McAllister scored his first senior goal but it was cancelled out within a minute and in the end Ayr more than deserved a draw.
Liam Fox was first to go for goal in four minutes when his 18 yard dipping volley was tipped over by Ayr 'keeper Mark McGeown. Ayr's lively Paul Hyslop sent a dangerous cross over from the right in 11 minutes and it reached Craig Conway at the back post via the boot of Darren Dods - Conway could only hit wide but it was a chance gone.
Mark Brown saved a curling Conway shot two minutes later then a Rory McAllister drive was deflected and held by McGeown. Barry Wilson ran clear down the right in 20 minutes with McAllister in support - Wilson chose to pass inside to McAllister but by this time defender James McKinstry had raced back to intercept.
Wilson hit over the bar in 35 minutes then a goalmouth scramble led to shots from Dennis Wyness and McAllister being blocked.
Half Time: 1-1
Ayr came out in the second half with confidence and in 49 minutes a Hyslop run and shot was beaten out by Brown. Caley Thistle finally carved out an opening goal in 52 minutes. Ross Tokely crossed from the right and it fell for Wyness a yard out - he only had to tap in but somehow he scooped it onto the bar. First to react was Rory McAllister and he chipped into the net from eight yards.
The lead lasted just a minute. Virtually from the kick-off Gareth Wardlaw raced through the centre and hammered a low ball past Mark Brown from 18 yards. The small but vocal Ayr support raised the roof in the south stand and the home fans were stunned. After that it could have gone either way.
A low hard shot from Liam Fox was blocked in 69 minutes then Stuart McCaffrey's follow-up header was held high by McGeown. The last period was hectic. Brown saved from Andy Reid with 12 minutes left then Jonathan Baillie and Jerome Veraille both hit over the bar.
Stuart Golabek had a golden chance to take the tie with five minutes left. Wilson crossed low from the left, Craig Dargo dummied and Golabek hit past the post from a good position six yards out.
An Ayr fan celebrated prematurely with three minutes left - a solo pitch invasion and a half-streak. It was clearly too cold for the real thing but, with shorts left on, he was led away by two policemen.
There were five added minutes and the home side pushed forward. Nothing came off and Ayr managed to take play into the Caley Thistle half for the last couple of minutes - they held the ball in the bottom left corner and this was enough to see out most of the remaining time. The last kick of the ball was a Golabek lob into the Ayr box which McGeown took easily.
It is now down to Ayr on the 17th for a tricky replay.
Match report written by Ian Broadfoot
