Club legend scores against old team as Nairn County beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle to book North of Scotland Cup final place against Staggies
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North of Scotland Cup Semi Final
Nairn County 2
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2
Nairn County win 7-6 on penalties
Scorers - Nairn: Tokely (45) Mackay (51) Inverness: Lodovica (65, 88)
Nairn County caused a massive upset as they defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle on penalties to reach the North of Scotland Cup final.
Ross Tokely scored on the stroke of half time and Steven Mackay found the net early in the second half to give them a two-goal advantage.
Harry Lodovica pulled one back midway through the second half and then scored with two minutes left of normal time to force the game into a penalty shoot-out.
After 13 perfect penalties, Dylan Maclean saved Zak Delaney's penalty to send them into the final.
They will now face Ross County in the final after they defeated Brora Rangers 3-0 at Dudgeon Park.
Inverness fielded a strong starting line-up which included new signing David Wotherspoon who was previously at St Johnstone.
Caley Thistle almost scored in the opening minute when a great ball from Jake Davidson found Harry Lodovica unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard box, but he nodded wide of the post.
Inverness kept up the pressure as a pass from Adam Brooks found David Wotherspoon through on goal, but his shot was well saved by Dylan MacLean who parried it out for a corner.
Inverness thought they broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, but were denied by the linesman after Lewis Hyde found Lodovica. His shot was diverted into the past of Adam Brooks who finished off from close range, but the flag was raised.
Inverness were forced into a substitution when Sean Welsh was forced off 10 minutes before half time when he fell awkwardly.
But Nairn County took the lead on the stroke of half time when a free kick found its way to Tokely and from 12 yards out, dinked it past Mackay to give them the lead.
The hosts doubled their lead six minutes into the second half, Tokely sent a ball into the box unchallenged by the Inverness defence. Steven Mackay nodded home from close range to double their advantage.
Inverness pulled one back midway through the second half when Lodovica fired a thunderous drive past Maclean to make it 2-1.
Nairn could have killed the game off when Kenny McKenzie pounced on a loose ball and sent a pass across the face goal which found Ciaran Young, whose shot hit the side netting.
But Lodovica fired in a late equaliser when his shot from 12 yards clattered of the inside right post and over the line to force a penalty shoot out.
Nairn County went on to win the penalty shoot-out 7-6.
Nairn County: D Maclean, C Maclean, Mackay, Tokely, Dingwall, Gillies, Nicolson (Dey 65), McKenzie (Gordon 83), Young, Macleod, Robesten.
Substitutes: Eadie, Gordon, Carnihan, S Macdonald, O MacDonald, Munro.
Inverness: Mackay, Davidson, Nixon, Welsh (Bray 40), Delaney, Devine (Walker 63) Brooks, Hyde, Lodovica, Thompson, Wotherspoon (Keogh 45).
Substitutes: Macleod, Meacher, Patterson.
Referee: Kevin Buchanan
