Late Trafford goal against Alloa books Caley Thistle progress in Scottish Cup
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Alloa Athletic 2 (O'Hara x2)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3 (Doran, White, Trafford)
A late goal from Charlie Trafford saw Inverness Caledonian Thistle through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after a back-and-forth tie at Alloa Athletic.
Set-pieces dominated the day, but Inverness were never behind and might feel that they deserve their place in the next round.
Aaron Doran had put ICT in front before they were pegged back before half time, with the same happening after Jordan White scored in the second, but Trafford's goal was decisive in the end.
There was some good quality passing on display, but both sides struggled to make it count in the final third to open up sights of goal.
It looked like the kind of match where it might take an element of luck to make the difference early on, and when the opening goal did come it was indeed because of a slip-up at the back.
Caley Thistle captain Carl Tremarco switched the ball out to Rooney in space high up on the right flank, and the former Queen of the South man put a cross into a dangerous area.
There were bodies in the box for him to aim for, but a yellow-and-black shirt looked favourite to clear it until a defender slipped, and Aaron Doran took control to pick out the top corner with nine minutes on the clock.
Inverness would not hold on to their lead for long though, as Alloa would equalise after 18 minutes.
A set-piece proved to be ICT's undoing, as Iain Flannigan's in-swinging corner was met by Kevin O'Hara, who found the net at Mark Ridgers' near post.
From there normal service appeared to resume, with only shots from distance by James Vincent and the hosts' Flannigan coming close.
Ridgers was forced into action with a great save on the half-hour mark though, with an Inverness slip in their own box this time allowing Adam Brown time to try and wrong-foot the keeper, but Ridgers had it covered.
Brown would have a couple more efforts before the interval, but they were easier saves for Ridgers.
It was more of the same at the start of the second half, as Inverness struggled to really test Jamie MacDonald while Ridgers was needed at the other end.
This time it was Liam Buchanan who got a shot away from behind his marker, and his effort was bound for the top corner until Ridgers punched it away.
There was some good news for Inverness at this stage though, when Tom Walsh made his return from an injury lay-off by replacing Miles Storey.
And there was more when ICT when Jordan White put them in front for the second time in the afternoon.
Doran swung a corner in, and the target man did well to convert into MacDonald's far corner.
But once again crosses coming into the box spelled trouble for Caley Thistle.
O'Hara had to keep an eye on the ball, which was deflected on it's way in, but clinically volleyed home first time to beat Ridgers and square things up again.
That meant Inverness needed to score three to progress, something they had not done since October, ironically against Alloa.
And they would get it in the 86th minute, when Rooney headed Doran's corner back across goal where Canadian midfielder Charlie Trafford was waiting to head into the bottom corner.
There was time for one last chance for the hosts, but Ridgers was right behind the header as Inverness saw the game out to seal their place in the next round of the cup.
