Jags’ young stars can stake a claim
inverneSS CT 3 Todorov (25), Doran (31), Storey (57) MorTon 1 Sutton (78)
Scott Kellacher hailed Caley Thistle’s fringe stars for heaping pressure on the men currently at the heart of Championship title ambitions.
Seventeen year-old prospects Roddy MacGregor and Cameron Harper impressed along with returning injury absentees like Sean Welsh and Kevin McHattie.
The third round victory – with finishes from Nikolay Todorov, Aaron Doran and Miles Storey – was completely straightforward.
But there was a late hiccup for the hosts when veteran John Sutton struck.
Kellacher said: “That’s the only disappointing element. We need to be ruthless in both boxes.
“If we took our chances, it could have been four or five. That was frustrating, but overall I was happy.
“Getting the young boys involved was good. Roddy MacGregor’s debut, I was delighted with – he grew into the game.
“Cammy Harper looked like he’d been playing there at left-back for years, no problem at all.
“They’ve really pushed their claim, but to be fair they have been for weeks and weeks. They push themselves to the limit every day, just like the fringe players.
“With performances like that, they give themselves every chance.”
The hosts quickly took a grip on play and the breakthrough came after 25 minutes.
The danger seemed only mild as Miles Storey’s short pass found Nikolay Todorov outside the left angle of the box.
But the ex-Hearts striker sent a beautiful, rising strike soaring over Ramsbottom high into the net. Six minutes later, it was 2-0. Aaron Doran showed lovely control after a defensive mix-up, dragging the loose ball towards Ramsbottom and then nicking a finish through the hesitant keeper’s legs.
It seemed all over bar the shouting after 57 minutes.
Sean Welsh’s long, angled pass to the right spotted Miles Storey in space and, using his nifty turn of pace, the Englishman surged away.
Cutting in from the right, Storey slipped the ball through Ramsbottom’s legs.
Caley Thistle should have added a fourth after 75 minutes when Morton’s McLean knocked down Trafford in the box.
But Todorov’s low penalty was weak and tipped around the post by Ramsbottom.
The home side paid for the miss with a Morton reply after 78 minutes.
Robbie Muirhead’s low cut ball from the left found substitute John Sutton stroking in a simple finish.
Morton manager David Hopkin stressed: “It wasn’t frustrating. We made nine changes.
“The most important part was those who played got a good 90 minutes.
“You could see a few of them, towards the end, were out on their feet, but we lost poor goals again.”