Caley Jags coast to pre-season win at Elgin City
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NEW signings Billy King and Kevin McNaughton played tonight (Tuesday) for Caley Thistle in their 3-0 friendly win at League Two Elgin City.
Carl Tremarco, Scott Boden and Liam Polworth were the scorers on a night when the Ladbrokes Premiership club impressed again under new boss Richie Foran following wins at Highland League sides Nairn and Clach over the past week.
Hearts midfielder King, who agreed a one-year loan deal this afternoon, and former Scotland, Aberdeen and Cardiff City defender McNaughton got their first official run-outs in ICT colours in their last pre-season game before the Betfred Cup starts on Saturday at Cowdenbeath, also of League Two.
The visitors started well, settling well into the game and Greg Tansey tested keeper Stewart Black with a stinging 20-yarder.
Carl Tremarco almost found the net when he emerged from nowhere in the box, but the offside flag would have cancelled it out in any case.
Elgin were not shy in attacking either though and Kyle McLeod tested Ryan Esson with a glancing header on 35 minutes.
Caley Thistle broke the deadlock, however, on 37 minutes when a ball played into the danger area by Iain Vigurs was finished off by Carl Tremarco.
King had a low drive cleared off the line moments before the break and Ross Draper drew a decent stop from Black.
Inverness CT didn't have long to wait in the second half before er-Newport County forward Scott Boden's fine finish beat Black from close range.
Brian Cameron tried to half that advantage and, following a swift and sweeping move, he guided the ball just beyond Ryan Esson's left post.
The scoring was completed on 63 minutes when sub Liam Polworth picked up play 25 yards out and he steered a swerving shot high into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Caley Thistle will now head to Cowdenbeath on Saturday confident they can get three group points in their opening Betfred Cup clash.
Elgin City: Black, Cooper, McPhee, Nicolson, Duff, Reilly, Dodds, Cameron, Mcleod, Sutherland, Moore. Subs: Watson (GK), Gunn, Stewart, Smith, McLeish, Bruce, Cullen.
ICT: Esson, Raven, McNaughton, Warren, Tremarco, King, Tansey, Draper, Boden, Vigurs, Mulraney. Subs: Mackay (GK), Sutherland, Brown, Horner, Macrae, Polworth.
