Dunfermline 1 Inverness CT 5
Tuesday, 26th Jul 2016Betfred Cup: Lewis Spence and Rhys McCabe start. Iain Vigurs (16) 0-1. Andy Geggan (28) 1-1: Iain Vigurs (42) 1-2: Billy King (54) 1-3: Iain Vigurs (66) 1-4: Carl Tremarco (89) 1-5.
It was over four years since Inverness Caley Thistle visited East End Park and it is 12 years since the Pars last defeated the Highlanders in Fife. The visitors made one change from their Saturday starting eleven, Jake Mulraney being preferred to Ross Draper.
Dunfermline showed two changes from the side that kicked off at Central Park in the previous match: Lewis Spence and Rhys McCabe coming in for Nat Wedderburn and Gavin Reilly. The Pars kicked off through Michael Moffat and then Higginbotham and the first shot of the match came on three minutes. Ryan Williamson`s cross was beaten out to Higginbotham and when David Raven headed the ball out to the edge of the box Jason Talbot blasted wildly wide and high.
At the other end Scott Boden threatened picking up a loose ball 20 yards out but Lee Ashcroft recovered impressively. The home fans were enthused by a fierce shot from Joe Cardle and then a Geggan drive that Raven blocked.
From a Warren mistake Higginbothan and McCabe showed pace on the right with slick passing but the former travelled just too far and Caley got the goal kick.
Inverness were awarded a free kick on 12 minutes for a foul on Mulraney and Warren was the target when the ball came in but Talbot cut it out before it got to him. Cardle forced a corner on the left but Higginbotham`s inswinger was headed away by Liam Polwarth.
Having started so strongly Dunfermline then lost a silly goal. In 16th minute a Richards-Everton pass back put pressure on David Hutton and his clearance fell to Iain VIGURS 30 yards out but his shot to the far post was impossible for Hutton to stop from where he was. 0-1
Inverness then threatened to score more with King flashing the ball over the top and then when Boden was lining up for a header at the near post, Ashcroft conceded the corner. That created further danger with Warren`s diving header going wide left.
Geggan was shown yellow in 24 minutes when stopping Mulraney and thankfully Vigurs yellow boot sent the setpiece high over the bar.
Higginbotham free kick dropped to McCabe who was convinced that his effort was kept out by McNaughton`s hand. The equaliser was scored in 28 minutes after Spence picked out Higginbotham on the right and the Pars captain timed his cross well to power in the header. Andy`s fourth goal of the season, 1-1.
Spence had an effort from 25 yards blocked by Warren and then Williamson`s run to the right byeline was harshly stopped by Carl Tremarco. At the other end Spence caught Mulraney 20 yards out and rolled about immediately calling for the physio. He was able to continue. Tansey and Vigurs stood over the free kick but VIGURS sent the ball over the wall and in off the underside of the crossbar. 1-2
McCabe had one reply to try and recover the scoreline before the break but Inverness went in with the advantage.
Half time: Dunfermline 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 2
Moffat was presented with a great chance within a minute of the restart but in front of goal he was squeezed away from McCabe`s cross. Inverness sent two shots wide left before Williamson sped up the right, successfully got his cross in but there was no Pars men in the middle.
Then in 54 minutes Vigurs passed the ball out left where KING cut in and shot and the ball came up off Williamson and sailed into the Pars net. 1-3
Williamson was up again to deliver another inviting ball that again was defended first. Moffat broke in on the left but found the sidenetting with his shot. The Pars were awarded a free kick 20 yards out when Polworth tripped Cardle. Ross Draper replaced Mulraney before Cardle hit the setpiece low and off the wall to the right. Richards-Everton crashed the ball on target, Tremarco`s right arm kept the ball out and there were strong appeals for a penalty but all the Pars were shown were yellow cads, Cardle definitely and maybe Moffat and Higginbotham.
A fourth Inverness goal just before the midway stage of the second half put the match outreach of the Pars. King slid the ball to Tremarco on the left and his cross was perfect for VIGURS to rise and head home for his hattrick. 1-4
Williamson blocked a Tremarco shot and then a Tansey cross bounced just outside the right post. Polwarth sent a 30 yarder on to the other post.
The match seeped away in the heavy rain but 16 year old Callum Smith came on for his Pars debut replacing Michael Moffat for the final 12 minutes. Inverness were to be given a further chance from an 89th minute free kick conceded by Ashcroft. Tansey rattled the left goalpost and TREMARCO was following up to head the ball in for a fifth Caley goal.
There was no surprise as Iain Vigurs was presented the Betfred Man of the Match award.
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Michael Paton, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Geggan (28)
YELLOW CARD: Geggan (24), Cardle (61), Higginbotham (61)
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: Cammy Mackay, David Raven, Gary Warren (c), Kevin McNaughton, Carl Tremarco: Billy King, Liam Polwarth, Jake Mulraney (Ross Draper 59), Greg Tansey, Iain Vigurs (Ali Sutherland 85), Scott Boden (Alex Fisher 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Jason Brown, Lewis Horner, Owain Fon Williams (GK)
SCORERS: Vigurs (16, 42, 66), King (54), Tremarco (89)
REFEREE: Crawford Allan
WEATHER: Wet 14C
ATTENDANCE 2580
NEXT MATCH: Betfred Cup: (away) v Dundee United
Sunday 31st July 2016, 3.00pm kick off at Tannadice
Views : 11,315
Related Stories
ParsTV Highlights To Follow for First team matches.
Check out the Gallery for more photo's -- the images below will scroll through automatically.
Preview Inverness CT
Tuesday, 26th Jul 2016Betfred Cup v Inverness Caley Thistle, kick off 7.45pm
Tickets: Adults £12, Concessions £6
On Tuesday night Dunfermline welcome Inverness Caley Thistle to East End Park in the Betfred Cup. They have come a very long way since their first visit in the First Division on 7th August 1999 which Dunfermline won comfortably by four goals to nil. It is 12 games back now since Dunfermline last defeated Inverness Caley at East End Park that was over twelve visits ago in December 1999.
Seventeen years on Inverness arrive as the favourites on the back of a seventh place finish in last season`s Premier League and now with a new manager. Long serving striker and captain Richie Foran was appointed their manager at the end of May 2016. The 35 year old has worked on his squad for the new season adding Scott Boden from Newport County, Kevin McNaughton from Wigan Athletic, Jack Mulraney from QPR and Billy King from Hearts.
| Milestones v Inverness Caley Thistle (home) | |||
| Last Victory | 18/12/99 | 1-0 | Division 1 |
| Last Defeat | 18/01/12 | 1-3 | Division 1 |
| Best Victory | 07/08/99 | 4-0 | Division 1 |
| Worst Defeat | 18/01/12 | 1-3 | Division 1 |
Looking forward to the match Allan Johnston said:-
"Inverness are a quality side and they`ve been really prominent in recent seasons so we know how difficult the task before us is. But last season we played three Premier League clubs and none of them managed to defeat us over 90 minutes and in fact we had one of our best games of the season in beating Dundee 3-1. So we have no fears going into the game."
Betfred Cup so far
Both sides have played two games. Dunfermline have registered 3-0 wins over both Arbroath and Cowdenbeath. Inverness Caley Thistle have won 2-1 at Cowdenbeath and lost 4-1 on penalties against Dundee United on Saturday after the match ended 1-1.
Dundee United lead the section on seven points but have played one more match than ICT and the Pars. Dunfermline are second on six points, Caley Thistle have four points.
Previous League Cup Meeting
The one and only meeting between Dunfermline Athletic and Inverness Caley Thistle in the League Cup took place on 9th October 2001. On an evening when the Pars had thirty efforts on goal, fourteen of them on target, a combination of weak finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Nicky Walker led to this third round tie going all the way to penalties.
The 39 year old keeper who had made one appearance for Dunfermline 14 seasons previously, made his first save after just 49 seconds to keep out Jack de Gier`s point blank header. He was then tested by shots from Stevie Crawford and Stewart Petrie as the Athletic`s fast, passing football kept Inverness pinned back.
A goal seemed certain and it came in 15 minutes - but at the other end. From more than 30 yards out Bobby Mann struck a free kick that keeper Scott Thomson spilled allowing Martin Bavidge to turn into the net.
Dunfermline responded to this setback with an overhead kick from Gary Mason that bounced off the top of the bar while de Gier`s brave diving header went just wide. They continued to create the better chances though Inverness posed a few problems on the break and troubled Thomson with a series of corners.
The Pars made a positive start to the second half and their pressure eventually paid off with a 63rd minute equaliser. Running on to a through ball, Steven Hampshire rounded the `keeper to score from a tight angle with a shot that eluded two covering defenders.
There were plenty further chances for the home side to finish the tie but when none were taken the tie was decided on penalties. Caley had disposed of Partick on penalties in the previous round and they were to dump the Fifers out via the same route.
Walker saved attempts from Barry Nicolson and Davie Nicholls either side of John Potter`s sole success while Mann, Wyness, Ritchie and Tokely converted to give Inverness their first ever victory over an SPL side in the League Cup.
Inverness CT record in the League Cup
For a club with a relatively recent history of joining the Scottish League, Inverness has a very good record in the League Cup competition particularly in recent seasons. Inverness reached the semi final in season 2012-13 having comprehensively beaten Rangers 3-0 at Ibrox in the quarter final.
In 2013-14 they went all the way to the final knocking out Dundee, Dundee United and Hearts on the way. They lost to Aberdeen 4-2 on penalties in the final. Last season they lost out in the quarter finals to Ross County who went on to win the trophy.
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Cowdenbeath). David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham (Lewis Spence 71), Andy Geggan (c), Nat Wedderburn (Rhys McCabe 56), Joe Cardle (Paul McMullan 71): Michael Moffat, Gavin Reilly
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, James Thomas, Cammy Gill (GK)
INVERNESS CT (v Dundee United): Cammy Mackay, David Raven, Gary Warren, Kevin McNaughton, Carl Tremarco: Billy King, Liam Polwarth, Ross Draper, Greg Tansey, Iain Vigurs (Jake Mulraney 59), Scott Boden (Alex Fisher 85)
SUBS NOT USED: Ali Sutherland, Owain Fon Williams, Jason Brown, Lewis Horner
Referee will be Crawford Allan
Views : 8,800
