INVERNESS squeezed into the third round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup after a penalty shootout in Arbroath last night.
Twice the Highlanders had the lead only for it to be cancelled out, and they then survived a late red card for Andrew Barrowman in extra-time to advance when Iain Vigurs converted his penalty.
Arbroath came close to the opener after 13 minutes
when Paul Tosh met Steven Weir's cross, only for Ryan Esson to stop his diving header.
Inverness took the lead on 18 minutes when Vigurs went on a mazy solo run past several home defenders before burying the ball past Scott Morrison.
Arbroath responded almost immediately with Tosh beating the offside trap to race onto a flick from Barry Sellars and chip the ball over Esson with the aid of a deflection off Jamie Duff.
Ian Black came close to restoring Caley Thistle's lead after 22 minutes when he met Don Cowie's free-kick at the back post, only for his spectacular volley to flash wide.
The second period saw Inverness midfielder Barry Wilson becoming increasingly influential and he had a hand in the second Inverness goal when his cross was poorly cleared by John Fraser, leaving Garry Wood with a tap-in.
There was then a late moment of controversy as Arbroath were denied what they felt was a penalty as Sellars fell under the challenge of Lionel Djebi-Zadi only for referee Alan Muir to wave away appeals.
However, Muir did award a spot-kick for the home side after 86 minutes with Djebi-Zadi this time fouling Sean Simpson. Sellars converted from the spot to send the game into extra-time.
Arbroath: Morrison, Rennie, Raeside, Bishop, Campbell, Masson (McMullan 61), Fraser (Simpson 80), Lunan, Weir (Gates 66), Tosh, Sellars. Subs not used: Hill, Reilly. Booked: Raeside, McMullan, Gates.
Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, McGuire, Cowie, Djebi-Zadi, Wilson (Imrie 79), Duff, Black, Vigurs, McAllister (Barrowman 79), Wood (Rooney 79). Subs not used: Fraser, Hastings. Sent Off: Barrowman (120). Booked: Djebi-Zadi, Barrowman, Esson, McGuire, Imrie.
Referee: A Muir Att: 596
The full article contains 364 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
