Inverness Caley 1 Dunfermline 1
Saturday, 22nd Oct 2011SPL: Jason Thomson and Alex Keddie returned for the Pars. Tade (33) 1-0; Buchanan (86 pen) 1-1.
MATCH PICTURES
Jason Thomson and Alex Keddie returned for the Pars in the SPL basement battle on Highland soil. Ryan Thomson and Andy Dowie dropped out. Terry Butcher made one change from the side that lost to St Johnstone - Greg Tansey replacing Stuart Golabek.
Pre match there was a tribute to the Armed Forces, one could only hope that the RAF Rescue helicopter that circled the ground was on the Fifers side. Conditions were dry but there was a strong westerly wind blowing across the pitch and with the sun struggling to come through the dark clouds overhead, the floodlights were on from the start. Around 200 Pars fans travelled north to support Jim McIntyre`s team who were seeking their third away win of the season.
Paul Burns and Andy Kirk got the match underway with the visitors attacking the goal at the Kessock Bridge end. Thomas Piermayr put Joe Cardle up in the air to earn a yellow card within 90 seconds. Cardle was instrumental in sending Paddy Boyle down the left in fifth minute and the former Partick man provided a good cross for Kirk but not good enough to give the Northern Ireland internationalist an opportunity to shoot.
In eighth minute Potter swung a free kick to the far side of the Pars box and Boyle got up high to head the ball in the direction of the goal but Ryan Esson gathered. Next Burns found Thomson 25 yards out and the on loan Jambo threaded a pass into the path of Kirk but he sent a great chance just outside the left goalpost.
Dunfermline continued to press when Thomson drove a low ball into the Caley Thistle box but the defence cleared that. The Pars won the first corner of the match on the quarter hour and Cardle tried the move that created a goal previously this season, short to Burns back to Cardle and laid off for Thomson to shoot but he blasted the ball high over the bar.
Caley Thistle then had their first real period of attack but without causing any problems for Gallacher. Thomson forced another corner in 21 minutes after latching on to a David Graham pass. Cardle`s corner from the right was headed out by a defender but Burns turned and hit a fantastic shot that caught the wind to hit the inside of the far post. The Fifers fans were ready to celebrate but the ball ran along the line and out on the right for a goal kick.
There was a let off for the Pars when Caley seemed to be queuing up to shoot but Nick Ross hit the ball on to Keddie`s outstretched leg. Back to the other end and another corner from the right was forcefully headed on target by Potter but Esson fisted that away. In 27 minutes Esson was made to pull off a great save to stop a cracking shot from Cardle.
On the half hour a Cardle free kick was pumped into a crowded penalty box. There were several attempts to get a shot in but the defence won the stramash only to lose possession and allow another Pars cross but Keddie was penalised for climbing over a defender as he tried to head home.
Just as it looked as though Dunfermline were really controlling the game a slip up by Austin McCann on the left let Foran break and cross into the box where a diving header from Gregory TADE sent the home side into the lead. Caley were lifted by the goal and threatened again when Shinnie`s shot was blocked by Thomson and then Tansey had a header saved by Gallacher.
Having commanded the game for more than half an hour a period during which the Pars should have scored, the break came with them a goal down and facing dropping to the bottom of the league.
Half Time: Inverness Caley Thistle 1 Dunfermline 0
Bright sunshine greeted the teams when they returned for the second half but after just two minutes Ryan Thomson had to come on for Jason Thomson who appeared to have picked up a foot injury. Paddy Boyle`s 49th minute cross fell nicely for Kirk but he sent his shot just over the crossbar.
Caley`s first threat came from a Tansey free kick from 30 yards out that also went over the bar. The Pars went back up the park and Boyle had a couple of bites at it before Cardle`s flick on was cleared. A Pars free kick conceded by Tokely in a centre area 30 yards out as well, was driven low through the wall but held by Esson as he dropped to his knees.
After eleven minutes of the second half Liam Buchanan replaced Andy Kirk. Another Boyle delivery created mayhem on the edge of the box but Mason couldn`t win the tussle for possession and Inverness got it away. Cardle had two good crosses in from the left but just couldn`t get on the end of the chances. Then as they turned up the pressure Boyle cut back for Buchanan to belt a shot but straight at Esson from six yards.
There was much more hope now for the Fifers and their supporters broke out into song. But that was all too brief. Josh Meekings came on for Piermayr and he immediately put over a dangerous ball. That was cleared but then Tade crashed another shot at goal but was well wide right.
As the match entered its final quarter it became end to end and Ross had a glorious chance that Gallacher beat away. Dunfermline tried hard to save the situation but couldn`t get the breaks. Boyle in 79 minutes picked out Buchanan but his touch to Cardle still failed to make any difference. The Pars continued to attack as they desperately sought a goal that would prevent them sinking to the foot of the table.
Four minutes from time David Proctor brought down Buchanan as he sped in from the right. Referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot and it wasn`t a hard decision. Liam BUCHANAN grabbed the ball and he sent the spot kick low to the keeper`s left to make it 1-1.
The goal was no less than they deserved for all their good play but Gallacher had to save from Meekings to hold on to the point that suited the Pars better than the Caley Jags. In 90th minute it could have got even better when sub Steven McDougall laid the ball back for Mason on the edge of the box but he pulled his shot narrowly wide left.
INVERNESS CT: Ryan Esson; David Proctor, Ross Tokely, Graeme Shinnie,Greg Tansey; Andrew Shinnie (Lee Cox, 71), Thomas Piermayr (Josh Meekings,66), Nick Ross, David Davis, Richie Foran, Gregory Tade (Shane Sutherland 81)
SUBS NOT USED: Kenny Gillet, Billy McKay, Aidan Chippendale, Jonny Tuffey (GK)
SCORERS: Tade (33)
YELLOW CARD: Piermayr (2), Tokely (74)
DUNFERMLINE: Paul Gallacher, Jason Thomson (Ryan Thomson 47), John Potter, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); Paul Burns, Gary Mason, Paddy Boyle, David Graham (Steven McDougall 84), Joe Cardle; Andy Kirk (Liam Buchanan 56).
SUBS NOT USED: Kerr Young, Craig Easton, Shaun Byrne, Chris Smith (GK)
SCORERS: Buchanan (86 pen)
REFEREE: Steven McLean
WEATHER: Dry Windy, 14°C
ATTENDANCE 3241
NEXT MATCH: (home) SPL v Dundee United
Saturday 29th October 2011, kick off 3.00pm
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Preview Inverness Caley Thistle
Wednesday, 19th Oct 2011The Pars record against the Highlanders is not the best and they have won only twice at Inverness in 10 visits.
This Saturday Dunfermline travel to face Inverness Caley Thistle in the Highland capital for the first time since April 2010. Back then the home side were on the crest of a wave just a couple of results short of securing their return to the SPL. Now the teams meet in the Highlands in the SPL for the first time since 12th May 2007, the day Dunfermline were relegated. [Funny to think that Pars side included the likes of Adam Hammill, Sol Bamba and Dorus de Vries who have all gone on to play at a higher level in England.] League Record v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) Pld W D L F A 10 2 2 6 9 15 The Pars record against the Highlanders is not the best and they have won only twice at Inverness in 10 visits. The 2-1 win in April 2000 won them promotion to the Premier League after a year`s absence and the other a 3-1 win on St Patricks Day 2007 was Stephen Kenny`s first league victory after 16 attempts. Milestones Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Away) Last League Victory 3-1 SPL Last League Defeat Best League Victory 2-1 Sc Div 1 Worst League Defeat *Pre league reconstruction This is the twenty second league match between the sides, so far Dunfermline have won four of them, there have been eight draws and nine have ended in defeat. The first meeting this season at East End Park was rescued by a special from Martin Hardie after Andy Kirk had twice put his side in the lead. Dunfermline are 3-1 against for the win but the bookies are giving 40-1 for another 3-3 draw. Date H/A F-A Scorers Terry Butcher`s men had a bad start at home, losing to Hibs and Rangers but since then they have recorded victories over Kilmarnock and St Mirren and drawn with Hearts. Dunfermline`s away form started well with wins at St Johnstone and Dundee United but then there were defeats at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen. Inverness`s recent form has been better than Dunfermline`s. Seven points from the last six games as opposed to the Fifers one. A consequence is that Caley Thistle are now just one point behind Dunfermline. They have to fancy their chances given they are unbeaten in the last six meetings with the Pars. Last Time Out DUNFERMLINE (v Hearts): Paul Gallacher, Andy Dowie, John Potter, Austin McCann (c); Paul Burns, David Graham, Ryan Thomson (Paul Willis 77), Gary Mason, Paddy Boyle, Joe Cardle (Liam Buchanan 62); Andy Kirk (Pat Clarke 77).. INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: (v St Johnstone); Ryan Esson; David Proctor, Ross Tokely, Graeme Shinnie, Stuart Golabek; Andrew Shinnie (Billy McKay 74), Thomas Piermayr, Nick Ross (Aidan Chippendale 58), David Davis, Richie Foran, Gregory Tade (Shane Sutherland 56). Terry Butcher is looking for a better attitude from his players after feeling that they failed to focus in their defeat to St Johnstone. He is looking for the kind of performance that his troops put in at Celtic Park where although they lost 2-0 still did well in the game. Inverness played Dundee United in a bounce game in midweek but Johnny Hayes was unable to make that and remains a doubt for Saturday. Referee will be Steven McLean. Come on ye Pars!
Last 12 League Matches v Inverness CT
06/08/11
H
3-3
[1-0] Kirk, [1-1] Tansey, [2-1] Kirk. [2-2] Hayes, [2-3] Tansey, [3-3] Hardie
17/04/10
A
0-2
[1-0] Rooney, [2-0] Foran
19/12/09
H
0-0
.
17/10/09
A
1-1
[0-1] Proctor, [1-1] Kirk
H
0-1
[0-1] Cox
12/05/07
A
1-2
[1-0] McIntyre, [1-1] Hastings, [1-2] McAllister
17/03/07
A
3-1
[0-1] Paatelainen, [1-1] Glass, [2-1] McIntyre, [3-1] Glass
23/12/06
H
0-0
A
0-1
[0-1] Tokely
06/05/06
H
0-1
[0-1] Morgan
08/02/06
H
2-2
[1-0] Hunt, [2-0] Burchill, [2-1] Dargo (p), [2-2] Wyness
05/11/06
A
1-2
[0-1] Black, [0-2] Proctor, [1-2] Makel 
Current League Form
Inverness CT
Dunfermline
League Points
8
9
League Position
12
11
Goal Difference
-11
-11
Form Last 6 League Matches
WDLLWL
LLDLLL
Home / Away Record
P5, W2, D1, L2
P4, W2, D0, L2 
SUBS NOT USED: Chris Smith (GK), Kerr Young, Steven McDougall, Craig Easton.
YELLOW CARD: Burns (45), Graham (68), McCann (87)
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Meekings, Lee Cox, Kenny Gillet, Jonny Tuffey (GK).
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