MATCH REPORTS

V FORRES THISTLE 5TH AUGUST 2008

by Duncan McKenzie - 17:32 on 07 August 2008

TWO goals in the dying stages of the match denied Inverness City their second successive victory in the Grill League Cup on Tuesday night.

After City’s confident opening day win against RAF Lossiemouth they were brought down to earth with a bang as Forres Thistle snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

After a bright start to the game by both sides it was the visitors who carved out the first chance in 5 minutes, a close range shot which drifted just wide.

City then enjoyed a good spell of possession and in 12 minutes they created their first real opening. The ball was played though the middle by Colin Mason for Michael Tuner who slotted the ball home. However, his effort was chalked off for offside.

A minute later City keeper Michael Kerr had to look lively to turn a long range effort onto the bar which his defence scrambled clear.

On the 20 minute mark Stuart Pearce turned neatly on the edge of the area but his shot lacked power and was easily gathered by the Thistle keeper.

But in the 34^th minute City made the all important breakthrough. Graham Stewart’s reverse pass picked out MASON who drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

And a minute later City might have doubled their advantage when Stewart’s ball in from the right found Pearce, but the ball came off his shin and dipped over the crossbar.

Michael McGuinness pounced on a poor clearance two minutes later, but his shot from the edge of the area went wildly over.

City had Kerr to thank again just before the break when he dived low to his right to deny the Thistle forward.

Both side began the second period positively, but it was the home side who nearly added to their tally in 55 minutes. Stewart headed the ball back across goal and Pearce met it on the volley, but his effort was well saved by the Thistle keeper.

Gary Miller tried his luck from range in 60 minutes with a beautifully controlled volley, but the ball dipped just over.

City made a double substitution in 67 minutes with Gavin Nicholson replacing Pearce and Stevie Sanderson coming on for Andy Bannerman.

Kerr pulled off a save akin to Gordon Banks’ stop from Pele in the 1970 World Cup in 75 minutes to keep City alive.

Just when it seemed City would hold on to claim their second league victory of the season disaster struck in 87 minutes. The outstanding Kerr for once flapped after arriving for a cross and when the ball fell to a Thistle player he played the ball across goal and it was tapped in at the far post.

Then with a minute to go a long ball over the top saw Kerr and the Thistle striker challenge for a 50/50 ball which struck the visiting player’s leg and trundled into the net.

Team: Kerr, K.Fraser, D.Beaton, J.Fraser, McGuinnes, C.Mason, Bannerman, Miller, Stewart, Turner, Pearce

Subs: Mapplebeck, Sanderson, P.Beaton, Nicolson, Murdoch

Managers Thoughts - by Mike Pollard:

"I was very disappointed with the scoreline but there were a lot of positives to take away from the game. We need to sit down and dissect what we could have done differently but the pleasing thing was the effort and fitness showed by the players. We have a hard game away to Deveronside this Saturday, which we know that this will give us another opportunity to show what we might be able to achieve in the Junior league this year.

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