A slick Inverness Caley Thistle side moved into the final of the ITP North of Scotland cup, seeing off a brave performance from Wick Academy to triumph 2-0 at Harmsworth Park.  

With a mixture of younger and more experienced players, Inverness looked the better team from the start and gained plenty of possession in the opening period of the game.

It was Wick though who had the first opportunity to break the deadlock when the ball broke to Craig Shearer at the edge of the box only to see his shot fly inches wide of Caley keeper Andrew McNulty's right hand post.  

Academy began to press more after that and got extra possession but it was Caley who were given a huge slice of luck on 20 minutes to take the lead. Stuart Leslie's corner was ricocheted around the box and landed on the head Jamie Duff whose header was inadvertently knocked into his own net by Bryan McKiddie.  

This failed to dishearten Wick though and Gary Manson set up Shearer with a half chance to equalise but the midfielder shot straight at McNulty.  

Caley then got off to a blistering start to the second half dealing a hammerblow to Academy's chances of reaching the final. Less than a minute into the second period former Wick player Shane Sutherland broke down the left wing and slid a low cross into the path of the incoming Iain Vugurs who slammed home their second goal of the night.

  It was then that Inverness began to show their class and they had a number of chances to extend their lead further. Scorries keeper James More had to be on fine form to keep out first Leslie and then a superbly struck Rory McAllister free kick. Sutherland then let fly with a 20 yard shot which went just over the crossbar and the youngster then embarked on a mazy run but ended up pulling his shot wide of the right hand post after 68 minutes  

A spirited Wick side battled on though and a well worked free kick ended with Gary Farquhar's effort deflecting into the path of the newly introduced Gary Weir only for his shot to be saved by McNulty.  

Having recovered from injury, Wick captain Martin Gunn came on with under 20 minutes remaining and his first action was to screw a shot a foot wide of the post. Gunn was then played in one-on-one with McNulty but the keeper advanced from his goal line to block the shot.  

 Caley then held off a late surge from Wick which saw Richard Macadie attempt an ambitious long range shot only to see it drift wide and then Gunn scuffed a shot high and wide from 12 yards out. There was no way through though for Academy and the Inverness youngsters booked a place in the final where they will meet Elgin City.at Mosset Park Forres on Sunday September 16 Kick off 2.00

Final Score: Wick Academy 0 Inverness Caley Thistle 2

Reporter: Sam Hendry