Caley Thistle started their ViaPlay Cup campaign with a victory over Bonnyrigg Rose at the Caledonian Stadium thanks to a delightful double from Aaron Doran.
Doran hit his first after just four minutes on the clock as he got on the end of a long ball from Wallace Duffy, after the defender’s pass was misjudged by the Bonnrigg defender, and the Irishman’s volley flew past Patrick Martin.
Charlie Gilmour looked for a debut goal as he saw a shot saved by Patrick Martin after 10 minutes, while Adam Brooks was close to getting on the end of the rebound.
Nathan Shaw’s cross found Roddy MacGregor in the box after the half-hour mark but his header was held comfortably. Bonnyrigg threatened at the other end as Zak Delaney produced a fine challenge to stop Watson going through on goal. The striker then got to his feet and went down under another Delaney challenge but the referee showed him a yellow card for simulation.
Caley Thistle got their second before the start of the second-half, David Carson produced a fine ball down the right hand side and into the box as Adam Brooks laid it into the path of Aaron Doran, who smashed the ball into the top corner for his second of the match.
Cameron MacKay was called into action at the beginning of the second-half as the the ICT keeper pulled off a close range save after the ball fell to Osadolor in the box.
Just past the hour mark, Austin Samuels went close for Caley Thistle after he was played through by substitute Billy Mckay but the striker lashed his effort wide.
Billy Mckay thought he had a record equalling goal as he was played through by Sean Welsh but the striker’s shot was saved by Patrick Martin.
Aaron Doran was close to bagging his hat-trick after 76 minutes, he got on the end of Jake Davidson’s low cross into the box but his shot was straight at Patrick Martin and tipped over the bar.
Late on in the game Bonnyrigg pulled one back through Kieran McGachie as the striker scored with an unmarked header in the box.