Inverness CT 2- 0 Elgin City: Thistle leave it late to grasp the nettle against Elgin

Published on Saturday 8 January 2011 13:42

Inverness CT 2 Sanchez 92, Rooney 95 Elgin City 0

ELGIN City's impressive 1,200-strong support had waited 17 years for a resumption of hostilities in Inverness, yet saw their hopes of a shock collapse in the short space of stoppage time.

Goals from the rarely-seen Dani Sanchez and the coveted Adam Rooney rescued a cup passage and sealed a first victory for the stuttering Highlanders since 20 November against Hibernian.

The contribution from Malagan son Sanchez, after only 146 minutes' action this season, was timely as Terry Butcher looks to make space in his squad budget for new signings. Butcher, indeed, hailed the Spaniard as the first "new signing" of the January window after he scored one goal and set up another to dash brave, battling Elgin City at the death.

"You want to go and blitz them, score lots of goals and entertain the crowd, but that was never going to happen," Butcher said.

"Elgin had their own mission and challenge and that was to keep it tight and stop us playing. They almost succeeded but for our 'new signing' Dani Sanchez. It's good to see him involved.

"He's only had 146 minutes this season so far and he's one who has found it hard to get into the side.

"But wow, he made a fantastic contribution today and set up the second goal for Adam Rooney as well."

The late clinchers put a gloss on what proved a mighty struggle for the SPL side.

There was no questioning the hosts' overall superiority, but it was a cruel outcome for tireless Elgin City who saw Craig Frizzel ripple the side-netting from a great position with the score still level at 0-0 on 66 minutes.

From the start Caley Thistle gradually worked their way into ascendancy and began to find their passes, with teenage full-back Graeme Shinnie making some penetrative runs. But more often than not, ex-Caley Thistle defender Jamie Duff was positioned to clear for the Third Division side.

As moves broke down repeatedly for Caley Thistle, frustration grew as the pattern continued.

Finally, with a replay beckoning, home pressure told.

Substitute Sanchez scored with a terrific strike high into the net, then touched on a cross to lay on an easy Rooney finish close in.