Caley Jags almost stung by brave City fightback
INVERNESS CT 3 Oakley (5, pen 47), Shaw (36) BRECHIN CITY 3 Mchattie (27), Mcgrath (73), Spark (79)
Inverness CT win 4-3 on penalties
Caley Thistle coach Barry Wilson admits his side almost paid the penalty for taking their foot off the gas too early against Brechin.
The Championship hosts saw a 3-1 lead whittled back in the last 17 minutes before finally sealing passage to the last 16 by winning 4-3 on penalty kicks.
Wilson said: “The boys took their eyes off the prize a wee bit at 3-1 and dropped their guard.
“We couldn’t go up a gear again.
“It wasn’t pretty but we got boys some good game time.”
Caley Jags made eight changes for the tie, retaining only Cammy Harper, Danny Devine and Zak Delaney from the 3-2 league triumph away to Dundee.
Andy Kirk’s Brechin featured two changes from their Scottish Cup win over Jeanfield Swifts.
Michael Mcarthur and Aaron Arnott came into the Highland League leaders’ line-up.
It looked like a comfortable day might be in store for Billy Dodds’ side after only five minutes.
From Aaron Doran’s corner, defender Max Ram’s header was saved and then Danny Devine cut the ball across the face of goal to lay on a simple close-range finish for George Oakley.
Home sub Matthew Strachan was assured pub quiz question status after being booked midway through the second half for kicking the ball away while warming up on the sidelines as a Brechin player went to take a throw-in.
A minute later, the hosts were stunned by a leveller.
It opened up for ex-caley Thistle defender Kevin Mchattie, who sent a curling finish beyond the reach of home keeper Cammy Mackay.
The hosts restored the lead nine minutes before half-time after a slip from Brechin defender Nathan Cooney allowed George Oakley to race free. Oakley swept the ball to Nathan Shaw to strike home from eight yards.
Two minutes into the second half, it was 3-1 after Cooney chopped down Wallace Duffy and Oakley tucked away the spot-kick.
In the 73rd minute, Brechin were back in the game after a breakaway ended with Scott’s low cross being stabbed home by Grady Mcgrath.
There were a couple of scares for the hosts after the lifeline for Brechin before Cooney’s cross set up Spark for a cushioned finish into the corner of the net 11 minutes from time.
The hosts triumphed 4-3 on penalties after Jamie Bain and Ryan Mcinnes had their kicks saved. Robbie Deas kept his cool to hit the clincher.
Brechin boss Andy Kirk said: “I thought the players were magnificent. They gave everything they had.
“Some of our play was excellent and with a wee bit of luck near the end we might have got the fourth goal. I’m immensely proud.”