Scotland Under 17 International midfielder Dale Gillespie proved to be the difference as Inverness Caley Thistle ran out three two winners over Elgin City after extra time in an entertaining ITP North of Scotland Cup final at Mosset Park

The Borough Briggs outfit went with their north based first team players for this one although their Caley Thistle loansters were ruled out of the line up which faced a young ICT side coached by Gary McSwegan and Scott Kellacher and containing Shane Sutherland, Daniel Park and former City man Iain Vigurs.

Inverness Caley Thistle got their noses in front in the 13^th minute of the game with a fine strike from distance by Dale Gillespie.  The ball was picked up 25 yards from goals by former Scorrie Shane Sutherland who took a touch and quickly laid it into the path of Dale Gillespie who subsequently drilled a right footer low into the corner past Barry McCraw.

Elgin City looked to reply in what was an open game and they came close twice in the following ten minutes.  Firstly Craig Frizzell danced his way in from the touchline and from 20 yards he drilled a low shot towards the bottom corner but it was well saved by Andrew McNulty.

The ICT number one was beaten just moments later when Darren Shallicker poked a Martin Charlesworth cross towards goal after the ball initially seemed to be stuck between his feet.  However the inside of the post came to the youngster's rescue as the ball hit the woodwork and skewed across the face of the goal.

At the other end Shane Sutherland sent Stuart Lesslie away on the right and his deep cross was met full on the volley by Gavin Morrison by from eight yards out, on the angle his well struck effort ruffled the sidenetting.

Just a minute before the break City were level and incredibly it was stand in goalkeeper Barry McCraw taking the credit.  His long punt from hands bounced once about 30 yards out and skidded high over the keeper and took one further bounce before hitting the back of the net (although I have the feeling it may have got a touch off the boot of Martin Charlesworth on the bounce).

ICT responded in style and were ahead  before the half time whistle sounded.  Good play involving virtually the entire midfield culminated in a touch and hit which came back off the post into the path of Shane Sutherland who volleyed it first time into the back of the net.

Half Time: Elgin City 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 2

As the rain began to pelt down the second half started fairly slowly with a deflected effort from Craig Frizzell the only shot on target before Elgin levelled.  With ICT number 6 off receiving treatment for a head knock (which saw him return with the number 18 shirt just after the goal) Elgin used their numerical advantage to get the ball wide. 

Craig Frizzell delivered the ball into the box from the left and when Martin Charlesworth's fair challenge ensured the keeper could not make a clean catch the ball eventually fell to Darren Shallicker who drilled it into the net past the covering Caley Jags defenders.

Halfway through the half there was very nearly a third for the City when Craig Campbell slipped the ball through to Darren Shallicker in the channel.  With the keeper coming off his line quickly all Shally could do was flick the ball into the centre of the penalty box tempting Craig Frizzell to slide in but he was met by a robust challenge which kept the ball out of the goal.

Elgin City introduced Anthony Tansley to the fray (replacing Darren Shallicker) and he could have opned his account within 20 seconds of coming on.  He was left with time and space inside the box just 12 yards out but his attempt to curl a right footer inside the post failed as he pushed the shot wide of the keeper's left hand post.

With the clock ticking Inverness Caley Thistle registered their first shot on goal in the second half when Jake Inglis' low cross was intelligently flicked into the path of Dale Gillespie by Shane Sutherland but on this occasion Barry McCraw was equal to the number 8's effort.

They went even closer when another drilled cross from Inglis went as far as sub Sam Ward at the far post but Mark Nicholson's tackle was enough to defelct the effort wide of the post.

It was an incredible finale with the youngsters pushing for a winner as the Elgin legs began to tire.  They really should have won the game in the final minute when a counter attack saw Shane Sutherland dink the ball over the top of the covering City defenders allowing Stuart Leslie a clear sight of goals.  However from 8 yards, under no pressure he struck his shot wide and the game went into extra time.

Full Time: Elgin City 2 Inverness Caley Thistle 2

The first effort of the extra time period saw Dale Gillespie try his luck with a first time volley from twenty five yards which saw Barry McCraw get down quickly to his right to parry the effort.

Elgin City's resistance was being lead by Craig Frizzell and having pinged one effort over the bar in the 96^th minute he forced McNulty into a save within sixty seconds with a shot drilled high towards goal.

However the crucial counter was to come at the other end with Man of the Match Dale Gillespie crashing a ball cleared as far as the edge of the box high past Barry McCraw and into the top corner of the net.  It was a goal worthy of winning any match from a player who showed his class throughout. Report by Steven Rattray(highlandleague.net).

All photos courtesy of The Lours