Caley Thistle had to settle for a 0-0 draw after a battling display at Arbroath in the Championship today.
Both these sides kicked off their league campaign with draws last week, with the Angus outfit taking a 0-0 result from Ayr and ICT held 1-1 by newcomers Queen’s Park.
And this was a meeting between last term’s second v third-placed finishers, with the Caley Jags ending Arbroath’s promotion dreams thanks to a dramatic penalty shoot-out win here at Gayfield in May.
Ultimately, Billy Dodds’ team missed out in the promotion final, losing 6-2 on aggregate against St Johnstone after a 2-2 home draw.
Inverness are widely tipped as one of the 2022/23 title favourites, alongside relegated Premiership side Dundee, while few would rule out Arbroath after they finished just two points behind champions Kilmarnock last season.
Dodds made two changes from the 11 who began against Owen Coyle’s Queens Park.
In came Danny Devine and George Oakley for Steven Boyd and Austin Samuels, while defender Robbie Deas served the second of his two-match suspension.
There were three changes for the hosts, with Mason Hancock, Luke Donnelly and Daniel Fosu coming into the line-up for Thomas O’Brien, Kieran Shanks and Keaghan Jacobs.
Oakley close to breaking deadlock
On three visits to Gayfield last season, ICT posted two 90-minute goalless draws after kicking off the campaign with a 1-0 victory thanks to a Shane Sutherland strike.
They were seeking a repeat of those solid performances, with the killer touch to try and take three points back up the road.
They started well enough and were a fraction away from going one up after just eight minutes when Oakley’s lob over goalkeeper Derek Gaston was cleared off the line by Colin Hamilton.
Arbroath responded and Bobby Linn’s swerving shot was gathered gratefully by ICT goalkeeper Mark Ridgers.
On-loan Hibs winger Daniel MacKay was next to have a go for the Highlanders as he cut inside the box and forced a comfortable save from Gaston.
Nathan Shaw showed what he is capable of when he’s on the move as he broke forward at pace and, a few passes later, Billy Mckay had a drive from the edge of the box, but it spun wide of the left post.
That was as good as it got in the first half and the teams went in for their pep talks.
Penalty call turns into home booking
Arbroath were riled by an early call by referee Colin Steven when he flashed a yellow card to Fosu when he appealed for a penalty when he hit the deck under a challenge. The official considered it to be simulation.
Colin Hamilton was the next to threaten for the hosts when he met a Linn corner, but guided his header beyond the right post, although Ridgers had it covered.
ICT substitute Samuels had the ball in the net on 59 minutes, but the offside flag denied the striker the glory as he latched on to a Daniel MacKay pass.
Arbroath midfielder Nicky Low had an effort from fully 30 yards in a bid to make the difference, but Ridgers was equal to it as he got down to hold the ball.
There was another home claim for a penalty when Ridgers challenged substitute Kieran Shanks in the box as he scrambled to deny him a scoring chance after initially saving his attempt. Again, the calls were ignored.
The ICT goalkeeper then had to keep an eye on another powerful Low snap-shot, as the Angus side upped the ante, pinning Caley Thistle back.
Certainly, the subs James Craigen, Dale Hilson and especially Shanks were adding energy to their efforts.
However, time ran out on both sides who had to walk away from this with their second single points of the opening fortnight.
Arbroath return to league action on Friday with a short trip to Dundee, with ICT hosting Cove Rangers just two weeks after beating them on penalties in the Premier Sports Cup.
ARBROATH (4-4-1-1) – Gaston 6, Gold, 6 Hamilton 6, Little 6, Hancock 7, Low 6, Donnelly 6 (Craigen 68), Stewart 6 (Shanks 76), McKenna 6 (Hilson 68), Fosu 6, Linn 6 (Corfe 68). Subs not used: Gill (GK), Jacobs, Paterson.
CALEY THISTLE (4-4-2) – Ridgers 7, Duffy 6 (Delaney 46), Harper 6, Devine 6, Carson 6, Billy Mckay 6 (Doran 76), MacGregor 6, Oakley 6 (Samuels 56), Daniel MacKay 6 (Boyd 67), Allardice 6, Shaw 7. Subs not used: Cammy Mackay (GK), Hyde, Delaney, Nicolson.
Referee – Colin Steven.
Attendance – 1861.
Man of the match – Mark Ridgers.
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