INVERNESS CT marched into the fifth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup after extra time goals from Andrew Shinnie and Greg Tansey sealed a 3-1 victory over Dunfermline at East End Park.
The victory extends ICT’s unbeaten run to five games in all competitions, and means they can look forward to a fifth round tie against Cup holders Celtic at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium next month.
Dunfermline took the lead in the fourth round replay, but a horror show from ‘keeper Chris Smith allowed Jonny Hayes to get Caley Jags back into the game, before Shinnie curled in a stunning shot from the edge of the penalty box, and Tansey sealed the win to sink the Fifers.
Manager Terry Butcher made three changes to the side that won 1-0 at Motherwell on Saturday, Ross Tokely and Richie Foran returning to the side, and Jonny Tuffey replacing Ryan Esson in goal.
The opening goal came five minutes before the break as Joe Cardle controlled the ball and guided his cross onto the head of Barrowman, who leapt above Graham Shinnie to nudge the ball into the right hand corner of the net.
Butcher replaced Lee Cox with Andrew Shinnie after the break, and he almost had the perfect introduction, latching on to a tempting ball from Gregory Tade, but his shot flew wide of the post.
ICT equalised in startlingly similar fashion to the first game in the tie, Pars ‘keeper Smith mis-kicking, failing to clear and allowing Jonny Hayes to walk the ball into the net after 54 minutes.
Jonny Hayes and Richie Foran were involved in a bizarre bust-up midway through the second half, each picking up a yellow card for the trouble.
Dunfermline had a number of chances to win the game in the closing minutes, but Andy Kirk failed to make the pressure count, and the regulation 90 minutes finished 1-1.
Shinnie showed his class with a sublime effort from the edge of the penalty box three minutes into the first period of extra time.
The goal galvanised ICT, who pushed forward in the closing minutes of the first half of extra time.
Tansey scored ICT’s third with ten minutes of the second period left, to send the 54 travelling ICT fans wild.
Gregory Tade missed a chance to get on the scoresheet, as ICT took control and struggling Dunfermline failed to make an impact in the closing stages.
Inverness CT will host Celtic in a televised 12.45pm kick-off on February 4.
Dunfermline: Smith, Dowie, Rutkiewicz (Potter 75), Keddie, Boyle, Cardle, Thomson, Hardie, Graham (Willis 63), Barrowman (Buchanan 66), Kirk.
Subs not used: Goodfellow, Mason.
Inverness CT: Tuffey, Piermayr, Tokely, Golobart (Proctor 92), Cox (A Shinnie 45), Hayes, Tansey, Foran, Tade, G Shinnie, McKay (Ross 87).
Subs not used: Esson, Meekings.
Referee: Euan Norris
Attendance: 1,594
