We welcomed Montrose to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium today in the 1st round of the Alba Challenge Cup and Manager Terry Butcher gave three of his new signings starting places.  Daniel Stratford, Lee Cox and Jonny Hayes were the men involved along with 17 year old Nick Ross, who has been impressing during pre-season.  Midfielders Russell Duncan and Lee Cox both recovered from recent knocks but Dougie Imrie and David Proctor missed out through injury.

The start of the game had a pre-season feeling to it and it took until the 31st minute for us to threaten the Montrose goal when a Daniel Stratford free kick to the back post was headed back across goal by Richie Foran but Andy Barrowman just failed to connect so the ball ran behind for a goal kick.

Seven minutes later Richie Foran appeared to be impeded by Chris Hegarty in the box but referee Euan Norris waved away the penalty appeals.  Jonny Hayes picked up an injury shortly afterwards and was replaced by Roy McBain on the 41st minute.

In stoppage time of the first half we finally took the lead when a Roy McBain's effort was helped over his own goal line by defender Sean Crighton.

Striker Andy Barrowman was replaced in 52 minutes by Adam Rooney as we attempted to increase the tempo of the game.  On the 67th minute a Chris Hegarty cross from the right flank caused Ryan Esson a problem but thankfully the ball bounced just past the back post.

Ross Tokely came close to doubling our lead in the72nd minute when he jumped the highest at a Daniel Stratford corner but his header went over the bar.  Tokely was booked a minute later for his reaction to a free kick awarded against him.

Four minutes before the end Richard Hastings came on for Richie Foran.  Montrose shocked us by equalising with three minutes to go when substitute Jordan Leyden got in between Ross Tokely and Daniel Stratford to lob the ball over Ryan Esson.

The tie moved into extra-time, on the 98th minute a Russell Duncan drive from 25 yards fizzed past the far post and five minutes later Adam Rooney struck the post with a delicate lob as we put pressure on the Montrose goal.

Right on the final whistle Adam Rooney saw his overhead kick pushed away from Montrose goalkeeper Steven Coutts but the corner kick came to nothing and the tie went to penalties.

We scored first through Adam Rooney and then Ryan Esson saved from Chris Hegarty.  Ross Tokely was up next and coolly slotted the ball home and then Hugh Davidson smashed his kick home.  Captain Grant Munro made it 3-1 but Montrose made it 3-2 through Sean Crighton.  Russell Duncan's emphatic kick smashed into the net and John Gemmell made it 4-3 which left lionel Djebi-Zadi the task of sealing the tie 5-3.

Full-time score: ICT 1 (McBain 45 mins) - Montrose 1 (Leyden 87 mins) AET

ICT win 5-3 on penalties.

ICT Team

Esson

Stratford, Tokely, Munro, Djeb-Zadi

Ross, Duncan, Cox, Hayes

Barrowman, Foran

Subs: Allison (GK), Rooney for Barrowman (52 mins), McBain for Hayes (41 mins), Hastings for Foran (86 mins), Morrison

Attendance: 1072