Any landing you walk away from: Caley 1-1 Montrose

By: Ian Rose | July 25th, 2009

The season’s first competitive match saw Caley Thistle stumble out of the blocks today, going to extra time then to penalties with Third Division side Montrose in the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup. We went up 1-0 just before halftime on an officially-scored own goal, then gave one back around the 70th minute, and that was going to be all as far as regulation goals were concerned. It was a nervy day all around the highlands, as the only two matches not decided in 90 minutes were ours and Ross County’s (spit).

Extra time provided no particular gains in terms of style or production. There were a few chances for us, most notably Adam Rooney’s lob that hit woodwork, but for the most part, we were wanting to dribble it into the net rather than shoot. And so it went to the lottery of penalty kicks, a lottery that, this time, we won (5-3).

I’ve said it before, and this match didn’t make me a liar – our preseason friendlies have been too easy. Montrose should have been on the weak end of the teams we faced in our run up to the First Division kickoff, but instead they were a step up from a series of Highland League whipping boys (that we still didn’t precisely whip).

But, there are ugly wins and pretty losses and all things considered, I’d rather take the former. Caley Thistle move on to the round of 16 in the Challenge Cup, with the next round coming in mid-August, after the start of the league season. Three of our First Division leaguemates are already out (Ayr, Livingston and Raith Rovers), and so we can count ourselves happy to not be on that list.

Mon the Caley.