Caley Thistle fell to a 5-1 defeat against Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy as they exited the League Cup at the group stage.
Dylan Easton scored a hat-trick for Rovers, with Jack Hamilton adding another alongside a Remi Savage own goal. David Wotherspoon pulled one back for ICT at the start of the second half.
Head Coach Scott Kellacher was forced into two changes from the side that beat East Kilbride, with Calum MacLeod and Paul Allan missing out through injury. They were replaced by new signing Oscar MacIntyre and David Wotherspoon. The Head Coach made a further change to his side, with Jordan Alonge replacing Billy Mckay in the starting eleven, while the striker took a place on the bench.
Rovers took the lead after just three minutes. Dylan Easton met Jack Hamilton’s lay-off on the edge of the box and found the bottom corner past Ross Munro.
The home side were awarded a penalty after seven minutes. Luis Longstaff was penalised for a foul on Paul McMullen in the box, and Easton made no mistake from the spot to double Rovers’ lead—despite Ross Munro guessing the correct way.
The game began to settle down, though Liam Sole saw his effort hit the back of the net after 17 minutes, only for the offside flag to rule it out.
Scott Brown won the ball high up the pitch and fired narrowly wide after 34 minutes.
One minute later, Rovers extended their lead through Jack Hamilton. New signing Oscar MacIntyre was robbed by Dylan Easton on the right-hand side, and the forward’s shot was saved by Ross Munro, but Jack Hamilton was there to tap in for 3-0.
Caley Thistle pulled a goal back after 56 minutes through David Wotherspoon, who met Matthew Strachan’s excellent cross to finish past Josh Rae.
Raith won their second penalty of the afternoon after 63 minutes when Remi Savage was adjudged to have handled Josh Mullin’s goal-bound effort. Dylan Easton stepped up and sent his penalty the other side of Ross Munro to complete his hat-trick.
Rovers added a fifth in the closing stages. Dylan Easton’s shot from just inside the box was saved by Ross Munro, but the rebound came off Remi Savage and crept into the net for an own goal.
Caley Thistle now bow out of the League Cup at the group stage and turn their attention to league action, starting with a trip to Kelty Hearts next Saturday.