Elgin City 1 – 2 Caley Thistle
Caley Thistle came from behind to defeat Elgin City at Borough Briggs, with manager John Hughes insisting the concession of an early goal acted as a stern wake-up call for his side.
Craig Gunn gave City the lead just three minutes in, before goals from Billy McKay and Marley Watkins turned the game in the Caley Jags’ favour.
Hughes was pleased with his side’s response to the early setback and felt his players took control of the game.
He said: “We caught ourselves cold and our goalkeeper Dean Brill should have done better. It was just a low one into the box, he should have gathered it. It’s something we probably needed as well to get us going again.
“It’s not about winning football matches at this time of the year. That will come, starting August 9. It’s about getting all the stuff we’re working at on the training pitch implemented. The most important thing for me is dictating and controlling the football for the whole game, and credit to the players because I felt we did.”
Elgin City assistant manager Graham Bayne reckoned his side felt the absence of experienced first-team players such as Dennis Wyness and Jamie Duff and said: “The players were outstanding, their attitude and work-rate was great. They were very disciplined in their shape, although Caley Thistle had the lion’s share of possession and you could see we were really quite tired in the last 25 minutes.
“It didn’t help we had a few players away, we didn’t have as many substitution options as they did. I’m disappointed to lose the game but I thought we did well.”
Elgin took the lead with the first chance of the match just three minutes in. Former Caley Jags forward Shane Sutherland nipped ahead of Josh Meekings and shot across goal, with goalkeeper Brill unable to hold the ball allowing Gunn to lash home the rebound from close range.
Inverness equalised on 22 minutes as Graeme Shinnie dispossessed Ceiran McLean before driving at goal and squaring the ball into the box for McKay to score from six yards.
On 74 minutes Inverness grabbed what turned out to be the winner, with Meekings delivering a cross from the right-hand side which Watkins met with a downward header beyond Michael Fraser.