Inverness CT 1-0 Livingston: Welsh strike takes Livi scalp

Inverness striker Miles Storey (r) had a shot cleared off the line in his side's win

Sean Welsh's second-half free-kick was enough to squeeze Inverness Caledonian Thistle into the last eight of the Scottish Cup at Livingston's expense.

The Premiership team lost at Ross County in midweek and did not threaten their second-tier hosts sufficiently on their return to the Highlands.

The hosts' Miles Storey had a shot cleared off the line and Lyndon Dykes' volley was Livi's best late effort.

But it was Welsh's 61st-minute free-kick that took the Highlanders through.

Twenty years on from their historic cup win away to Celtic, John Robertson's team now go in to Sunday's quarter-final draw, which takes place after Clyde's tie against Celtic.

• Reaction & as it happened

Hosts master conditions

In blustery, wet conditions, the first chance fell to the visitors but Steve Lawson pulled his shot wide from the edge of the area.

Scott Pittman struck over the bar from inside the box and Ciaron Brown and Ricki Lamie had headers cleared off the line.

For Inverness, Welsh tugged a shot wide and Storey also had an effort cleared off the line and fired over the crossbar.

The breakthrough came when Storey was fouled 20 yards from goal by Steve Lawless and Welsh powered in a right-footed strike.

As Storm Ciara made her presence felt in the Highland capital, the visitors pushed for an equaliser.

Substitute Craig Sibbald had a shot from outside the box cleared by Brad McKay and Dykes' volley went straight at Inverness keeper Mark Ridgers as the home side prevailed.

'Our win's not a shock' - reaction

Inverness CT manager John Robertson: "It's a measure of this club's history in the Scottish Cup that people don't really see our result today as a shock. A surprise maybe, but not a shock."

Livingston manager Gary Holt: "We talked at half-time about not making mistakes, and it's a mistake that cost us, simple as that."