Brothers combine to help Caley Thistle stroll
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THE Shinnie brothers shone for Caley Thistle on Wednesday night as Terry Butcher’s SPL side strolled to a 7-0 pre-season victory at Highland League hosts Forres Mechanics.
Trialist Andrew (21) netted twice in this midweek Mosset Park stroll to move closer to a permanent deal, while Graeme (19), playing in left midfield, chipped in with a goal in a team mainly packed with young talent.
Nick Ross, Richie Foran, Andy Greig and Martin Laing also found the net to leave boss Terry Butcher beaming ahead of Saturday’s friendly at Third Division Elgin City.
As well as Andrew Shinnie, fellow trialist, defender Josh Meekings was also in the starting 11, while ex-Falkirk keeper Michael Andrews played in the second half as he aims to capture a move north.
Summer signing from Stockport County, Greg Tansey, got his second appearance of the week, having played in Monday’s 2-0 win at Clach.
Three goals in four minutes demonstrated Caley Thistle’s attacking style and left the Can Cans reeling.
The first came on 18 minutes when Gavin Morrison sprayed the ball out to David Proctor and his cross from the right was clipped home by Nick Ross.
Proctor was involved again two minutes later when he looped a shot high over the Forres defence and, although it was heading over the line, captain Foran ensured it crossed the line for the second goal.
Then Andrew Shinnie, moments after slicing a shot wide of target, made no mistake from another Proctor assist to put the game out of reach by 22 minutes.
The hosts dug in well for a while after this and Kevin Shortreed and Garry Tweedie tested keepers Jonny Tuffey and Andrews either side of the interval.
Caley Thistle went 4-0 ahead though on 69 minutes when Graeme Shinnie drove home from a right-sided cross from Foran.
Andrew Shinnie then bagged his second of the night when he connected with a deep cross from Ross.
With 10 minutes to go, Morrison’s deft pass found Greig and he applied a cool finish to make it 6-0.
In the final attack of the match, sub Liam Polworth and Nick Ross combined to set up another sub, Martin Laing, who kept his cool to steer the ball into the net.
Inverness CT: Tuffey (Andrews 46), Meekings, Tokely, Proctor, Gillet, Graeme Shinnie (Skinner 87), Andrew Shinnie (Laing 83), Tansey (Polworth 87), Foran (Greig 70), Morrison, Ross.
