Caley Thistle’s most stern test of pre-season ended in a gutsy display in a 1-0 defeat away to Championship hosts Raith Rovers on Saturday.
Three trialists were fielded by ICT with boss Duncan Ferguson hoping circumstances will allow a potential signing or two.
The Kirkcaldy side were runners-up to Dundee United in last term’s second-tier and lost to Ross County in the Premiership play-off final.
Ian Murray is reshaping his squad for a serious assault at winning the league this time around.
In contrast, cash-strapped Inverness are relying heavily on a group of academy players, guided by seniors such as captain Billy Mckay and vice-skipper Danny Devine.
The Highlanders are now a League One club after losing to Hamilton Accies in May’s relegation play-off final.
Their warm-up matches last week saw them defeat Highland League opponents Clachnacuddin 2-0 and Nairn County 3-1.
Stood up well to Rovers’ key threats
This was another level and the last thing Ferguson wanted was his mainly young group to suffer a punishing defeat at Stark’s Park.
They passed this test with flying colours. Yes, it was a friendly and it lacked intensity overall, but they will take heart from how they performed.
After standing up to some early pressure, ICT had a pop at goal when striker Adam Brooks’ stinging long-ranger was beaten clear by goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski.
Rovers knocked at the door for a way through, but the sides went in scoreless at the break.
Early in the second half, Raith’s Sam Stanton’s 30-yarder was superbly saved by on-loan Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Newman, who then was equal to a Paul Hanlon header moments later.
The woodwork came to the visitors’ rescue after 68 minutes when, from a Callum Smith pass, Dylan Easton crashed a shot off the left post.
The winner came with four minutes to go as Hanlon reacted quickest to slam the ball past young sub keeper Szymon Rebilas, stemming from a Lewis Gibson corner.
Trialists called in, Gilmour returns
There was a surprise in store when the team sheets arrived as ICT had four trialists named in their starting 11. Goalkeeper Newman was one of them.
The others were ex-Ross County midfielder, 21-year-old Adam Mackinnon, who was on loan last term at Arbroath, former Rothes centre-half Callum Haspell, also 21, who spent the second half of last year at Queen’s Park, and left-back Flynn Duffy, 20, who was on loan from Dundee United at Peterhead earlier this year.
Ferguson was satisfied by the trio’s performance and hopes to get another look at them against Brora on Tuesday, although any move will depend on incoming money, most likely from defender Nikola Ujdur moving on, with Queen’s Park linked to the Australian.
Midfielder Charlie Gilmour, who has missed the games so far due to recovering from his knee injury, also made a surprise return to the line-up.
Rovers fielded three of their new signings from the start – former Hibs duo Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson and ex-Dundee midfielder Shaun Byrne.
Newman impresses in first real test
Keeper Newman, capped five times for Scotland’s under-21s, would have been expecting a long afternoon in Fife, but it wasn’t really until the second half that he had to really work.
The quick-fire saves from Stanton and Hanlon showed sharp awareness and offered confidence to the group in front of him.
As well as some punching clear of crosses, he also denied Lewis Gibson in a one-to-one moment before he was subbed off.
Newman has come from Tannadice for a reason – to play games every week in what ICT will hope will be a successful year – and he’ll get an opportunity to showcase what he can do.
Looking for luck on the injury front
Main striker Billy Mckay took a foot knock in the first half and didn’t appear for the second other than clutching a bag of ice.
With a wafer-thin squad, Inverness will seek to avoid a list of casualties, which has been a common theme in recent years.
Squad rotation is going to be so crucial for Ferguson next season. Everyone will be required to play their parts to the maximum request.
ICT’s final pre-season game, before visiting Annan Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup group stages next Saturday, comes with a trip to Brora Rangers on Tuesday.
