Ayr United 1
Inverness Caledonian 2
Scottish Challenge Cup (Semi Final)

Match Report

League One leaders Inverness knocked out Championship hosts Ayr United as a 2-1 semi-final win booked their place in this season’s Challenge Cup final.

Jordan Alonge shot the Caley Jags in front in the first half but Everton loanee George Finney’s response came just seven minutes later.

With time fast running out, Alonge headed home the clincher to take ICT into the final where they will play the winners of Wednesday night’s Airdrieonians v Raith Rovers semi-final, with the final due to be played on March 28 or 29 or April 4 or 5.

Now they will bank £100,000 if they are runners-up or £150,000 if they win the silverware in this competition.

Kellacher said: “I’m just really, really happy tonight after what we’ve been through in terms of being in administration.

“Now, we’ve a cup final to look forward to and we’re top of the league. We have put ourselves in a good position, but we know the league is our bread and butter.

“Obviously, the club’s had a decent record in the cup over the years, so I think it’d be nice to add another one.

“We will look forward to the cup final when it comes around but we will park that now.

“We’re back to league action on Saturday and we know we’re in for a real tough game (away to Kelty Hearts).”

Kellacher praises his two-goal star
Before joining Inverness last summer, two-goal hero Alonge had most recently been with Rothes and Forres in the Highland League.

And that’s not lost on Kellacher, who added: “I’m delighted for big Jordan because I took him out of the team a few weeks ago when he was actually playing well, but I just wanted to tweak the shape a wee bit and he had to come out of it.

“I thought he was sensational tonight. I’m really delighted for him. He’s a boy that we’ve taken out of the Highland League, you know, and there’s a few more hidden gems in there as well, so I’m delighted for him because he stepped up and all the boys are delighted for him as well.”

Scott Brown’s Ayr, who sit fourth in the Championship, are well placed to secure a play-off spot with 12 league games remaining.

The Honest Men, who drew 0-0 with Ross County on Saturday, knocked out League Two sides Peterhead and Stranraer as well as Championship leaders St Johnstone in a penalty shoot-out last week to reach the last four.

They were hampered by several injuries for this one, naming just five outfield substitutes including academy graduate Rocco Devenny.


Alonge one of six Inverness changes
ICT manager Scott Kellacher made six changes from the side which drew 1-1 with Stenhousemuir in the league at the weekend, which maintained their five-point lead over the Warriors with 11 games to play.

Those promoted to starting spots were defender Oscar MacIntyre, midfielders David Wotherspoon, Alonge and Adam Mackinnon, winger Luis Longstaff and striker and assistant manager Billy Mckay.

The first chance was for on-loan Celtic kid Jude Bonnar, who flashed a low effort past the left post for Ayr after some slack passing from ICT.

The Caley Jags soon settled though, with a couple of set-pieces keeping the hosts in their toes.

Inverness took the lead on 27 minutes when Alonge raced on to a long ball from Longstaff and the former Rothes and Forres Mechanics player guided it home from close range, although goalkeeper Max Thompson might have felt he should have kept it out.

The bad news for ICT is they didn’t hold their advantage for long as Ayr, driven on by their vocal fans, levelled the scores on 34 minutes when Finney in the box knocked home his second goal this term after Mark McKenzie lined him up.

Ayr fans frustrated as ICT net win
Caley Thistle began the second half on the front foot, with Mackinnon and Longstaff’s crossing needing to be swiped away with great caution by United.

And it took several Ayr players to snuff out the threat from Mckay after he was picked out in the box by Paul Allan.

Ayr fans were growing increasingly frustrated as time marched on, with Inverness showing more composure.

Just after the hour mark, bright spark Ethan Walker surged forward and his low drive from 25 yards was gathered well by ICT number one Ross Munro. It was a decent strike matched by the save.

There were appeals from the away dugout when Ayr keeper Thompson challenged Mckay and he fell after racing into the box, but no penalty was awarded and Mckay himself didn’t claim for it.

There was then home anger when Wotherspoon clashed with Finnie in a challenge, with the latter needing treatment. Ayr players appealed for an elbow in that incident, but no action was taken.

With seven minutes to go, Alonge was ideally placed to guide a header past Thompson for the winner as he met another cracking delivery from MacIntyre.

Match report written by P&J