PICTURES AND REACTION: Caley Thistle beat valiant Clach to lift revived Inverness Cup
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Barry Wilson reckons hat-trick hero Harry Lodovica can prove a handful to defences this season after a stunning contribution in tonight's Inverness Cup final.
The revived contest for the 128-year-old silverware after an 18 year mothballing proved entertaining before four to five hundred supporters at Clach's Grant Street Park.
Lodovica's treble and another brilliant strike from young Lewis Mackie were enough to seal it for the Premiership side despite Calum Ferguson's second half reply.
The hosts played some great football, but were overpowered at set plays by a visiting side featuring eight first team starters from the current fringes of Billy Dodds' squad.
First team coach Wilson felt a few players had a point to prove and a claim to stake – Lodovica among them.
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He said: “We haven’t seen much of Harry yet in terms of game time with the first team.
“We’ve been trying to get him up to speed, fitness-wise.
“But he showed tonight he can be a handful. He is still a bit rough around the edges but we can work with that.
“He took his goals really well and gives us a different dimension with his stature and presence, something we don’t otherwise have – a big powerful lad.
“He is an option we have and can turn to if needs be.
“Overall we’re happy with the night’s work
Wilson felt there was valuable game-time for a number of players in an occasion that brought the best out of both clubs.
He said: "It was a good night – a great atmosphere and turn-out, and we got an entertaining game.
“It could have been just a glorified friendly, but the fact it was played for a cup brought a crowd in and, with regards to our fringe players, it was good for them to play in front of.
“It made them do the right things, whereas it can get slack at times in a friendly.
“They were at it and to be fair I thought Clach came onto a game and made it hard for us.
“We deserved our victory, but Clach take a lot of credit from the game.
Clach manager Jordan MacDonald, after a difficult start to the season, was also full of praise for the way his team approached the game ahead of Saturday's tough test against Brora Rangers
MacDonald stressed: "I thought we were really good.
“I’m disappointed with the goals we gave away because they were set pieces, but our shape, workrate and the way we played was brilliant.
“We played football and didn’t resort to lumping it forward.
“We need to now use that as a springboard, go to Brora in the league on Saturday and give the same performance.
“That will give us an opportunity, if we play like that.
“We’ve been frustrated this season, I’m not going to sugar-coat it, but we’re upbeat people and an upbeat dressing room.
“It helps when things aren’t going well. We changed a few things tonight and it worked for us.
“We’re going into a tough game on Saturday against Brora, but it not one we’re frightened off
“It is a game I firmly believe we can win.”
