INVERNESS CT 3
Duffy (30), Ram (39), Doran (68) STIRLING ALBION 2
Carrick (27, 45)
Billy Dodds blasted lacklustre Caley Thistle after the Championship side laboured to victory over spirited Stirling Albion.
Aaron Doran marked his 350th appearance for Caley Thistle with a second-half winner to sink the stubborn Binos.
The League Two team rattled the hosts in the first half with a Dale Carrick double either side of goals from home defenders Wallace Duffy and Max Ram.
But Doran pounced after 68 minutes on an uncomfortable day for the injury-hit Highlanders. Dodds was less than impressed. He said: “Stirling were a credit to their manager, but we were miles off where we wanted to be. I told the boys they have to look at themselves.
“They should take responsibility, play at a pace and tempo, but we had none of those today.
“For nearly all of the team to have an off-day made it hard for us, but we kept going and we got the winner.”
The hosts almost went behind after 23 minutes when a Kai Fotheringham attempt close in spun just beyond the angle of bar and post.
Four minutes later, they did concede. Stirling’s Jordan McGregor cut the ball back from the left side of the box and Fotheringham’s dunked cross was knocked high into the net by the head of Carrick.
Within three minutes, Wallace Duffy levelled with a downward header from Nathan Shaw’s leftside corner.
But right on half-time a mistake by home defender Danny Devine allowed Carrick to race through and calmly net his second.
Dodds’ men finally came good after 68 minutes, with a brilliant move ending in a goal for Aaron Doran on his 350th club appearance.
George Oakley, on the far right, flicked a pass to Nathan Shaw who drove towards the six-yard box and stroked the ball across for the Irishman to slot home close in.
Ryan Barrett, 21, a former Newcastle United youth signed as a free agent on the morning of the game, made his debut from the bench with eight minutes left.
Binos boss Derek Young said: “At 2-2 at half-time, the guys were happy and confident and wanted more of the same.
“We caused them a lot of problems after that, but it just wasn’t meant to be on the day.
“Overall, with the performance, I’m really proud and the fans showed their appreciation.”