League Play-Off

Alexandria
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rory Malcolmson started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Alexandria's goal looked a bit too open when Lloyd McRitchie came free, but Gregor McOmie reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some careless play in the Alexandria defense, Lloyd McRitchie kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Gregor McOmie. The Alexandria fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Gregor McOmie should have stopped the shot. A collision led to Inverness Caledonian FC getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Nick Simson hit a great ball. Alexander Whannell recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 9th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Alexander Whannell in the 13thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Rick McRath, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. If Rory Malcolmson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lloyd McRitchie fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gregor McOmie having to interfere. The nice shot from Alexander Whannell in the 19thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Rick McRath had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. In the 21st minute the ball was on its way in behind Alexandria's goalkeeper Gregor McOmie, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Lloyd McRitchie struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Gregor McOmie didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Inverness Caledonian FC. 28 minutes into the game, Jim McKeith was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Alexandria's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Inverness Caledonian FC the free kick. Lloyd McRitchie struck a weak shot in the 30th minute. Gregor McOmie didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Inverness Caledonian FC. Johnny Hewitson kicked well hit freekick during the 33rd minute of the match. Alexander Whannell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 42nd minute Barry Frizell shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gregor McOmie saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After the first half Inverness Caledonian FC were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Lloyd McRitchie was the one to do the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alexander Whannell in the 58th minute of play forced Inverness Caledonian FC's goalkeeper Rick McRath to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Stuart Deuchar kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rory Malcolmson in the 60th minute of play forced Inverness Caledonian FC's goalkeeper Rick McRath to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rick McRath showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rory Malcolmson in the 61st minute of the match. Gregor McOmie was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Lloyd McRitchie showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-2 in the 68 minute of play. In the 77th minute of the match, Lloyd McRitchie tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gregor McOmie saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After 78 minutes of play, Alexandria's Rory Malcolmson made it 3-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Rick McRath was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Rory Malcolmson came up free with the goalie in the 82nd minute, the Alexandria fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Rory Malcolmson couldn't finish the play. Alexander Whannell received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Rick McRath tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rick McRath showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alexander Whannell, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. If Rory Malcolmson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Barry Frizell struck a weak shot in the 91st minute. Gregor McOmie didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Inverness Caledonian FC. For all the effort they put into the match, the Inverness Caledonian FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Alexandria.