2018: Inverness CT 2 Dunfermline 2

Memorable Match #34
Ladbrokes Championship
Caledonian Stadium, Saturday 21st April 2018

The penultimate league match of the 2017-2018 season had all the makings of being an absolute cracker. Having struggled to adapt to life in the Championship for most of the season following relegation the previous season, John Robertson’s Inverness side had managed to pull together a nine game unbeaten run and now had a genuine chance of gaining a promotion play off place this season.

With St Mirren having already claimed the Championship title and Livingston in one of play off positions, the second and third play off places were still undecided.

Dunfermline versus Inverness was basically a play off for a play off place. Fifth placed Caley Thistle were sitting on 50 points, Dunfermline on 55 but with the Highlanders with two games to play. The Pars final match would be at home to Dumbarton but an away win at the Caledonian Stadium would end the contest. A draw would be enough to put their fate in the Fifers own hands.

Inverness’ game in hand gave them continuing hope of clinching a play off place at the expense of Dunfermline or even Dundee United. A home win over the Pars would leave the Highlanders needing to win their last two games (v Livingston and Morton) to be certain to finish above Dunfermline.

Pars manager Allan Johnston made an unusual move for him, voluntarily changing a winning team. Declan McManus found himself on the bench to make way for goalscorer the previous week, Andy Ryan. Callum Morris had to pull out in the warm up the previous Saturday and his replacement Jean-Yves M’Voto retained his place.

Robbo, in search of his sixth successive win, made three changes to his starting eleven. Gary Warren was injured, Iain Vigurs suspended and Ricky Calder dropped to the bench. Into the team came Carl Tremarco, Collin Seedorf and Charlie Trafford.

On a very fine spring day, Dunfermline kicked off through captain Nicky Clark attacking the goal at the bridge end and as Ryan Williamson forced a corner within 48 seconds, they looked eager from the start. They tried to get their passing game going but despite having the better of the territorial advantage, the ball spent much time off the park as the match became peppered with throw ins.

The perseverance of Lewis Martin earned the Pars the 12th minute opener. The left back hung on to possession up the left and laid the ball back for RYAN to hit the net from 12 yards out. 0-1

The only snag was a yellow card shown to Higginbotham for booting the ball into the home support. The lead unfortunately lasted all of four minutes. Oakley first missed a chance that looked easier to convert but when Lee Ashcroft conceded a 16th minute free kick some 25 yards out, Joe CHALMERS stepped up and hit the ball low into the bottom right corner. 1-1

Higginbotham was being given the pantomime baddie treatment from the home support but revelled in it next forcing Mark Ridgers out to hold his free kick. At the other end James Craigen cleared after Nathan Austin had lofted the ball in the Pars box. Then in 31 minutes Ryan got the better of Brad Mackay out on the right, he advanced and cut back an inviting ball but Fraser Aird delayed his effort and when executed did not have enough on it to beat Ridgers.

The home side were a threat on the counter with Austin the main problem and Williamson was yellow carded for halting the no.8s progress just a minute from the break. When Liam Polworth lobbed the ball in from the free kick Lee Robinson held the awkwardly falling ball.

52% possession for the Fifers in the first half but Caley had more shots. All to play for in the second half as the sides went in all square.

Half time: Inverness Caley Thistle 1 Dunfermline 1

The home side started the second 45 strongly with Robinson having to hold from Polworth after just one minute but then in 48 minutes a strong run by AUSTIN that left Ashcroft in his wake, let the striker in to net from 16 yards. 2-1

Tremarco headed a 52nd minute chance from a corner narrowly wide but ICT kept up the heat. Robinson was swiftly out to put Polworth off his attempted chip over him and then Seedorf fizzed a cross through the Pars box.

Clark reduced the pressure, winning a 56th minute corner down on the right and Aird’s delivery was fisted away by Ridgers and Craigen’s follow up was blocked. Higginbotham latched on to the loose ball and forced another corner as Ridgers turned the ball around his left hand post. M’Voto connected from the resultant corner but his effort fell wide left.

The home crowd got in their final boos as Kallum Higginbotham was replaced by Declan McManus in 66 minutes and Dunfermline pushed extra player up front. It was the other sub, Joe Cardle who livened things up however beavering away on the edge of the box to pick out Clark and then getting the ball back to launch a shot that fell narrowly wide right.

The travelling support feared the worst as Oakley had a glorious chance of putting the game beyond the Pars. He ran on to a long ball from Charlie Trafford in 71 minutes but the 22 year old striker delayed his attempt and M’Voto closed him out.

With the time draining away McManus did well on the left side of the penalty box to lay the ball off for Clark 15 yards out but he was off target. Cardle launched a high ball into the Caley box from a free kick on the left but Ridgers held. The home side got deeper and their clearances more desperate.

Callum Morris was thrown on in 90th minute in place of Craigen and the home side were to face six nervous minutes of added time. In the fifth minute of that added time Cardle swept a free kick in from the right and CLARK got the touch for the goal that sent the team and the travelling support delirious. 2-2

No time for Caley to respond and it was Allan Johnston’s side who were nearer to the play offs. A draw the next week at home to Dumbarton would be enough to assure that. The flavour of the entire season changed with that 95th minute equaliser.

Even though Dundee United went down 3-0 away to Queen of the South they had their play off place. Dunfermline would defeat the Sons 4-0 at East End Park but failed to get past United in the two leg play off.

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: Mark Ridgers: Collin Seedorf, Brad McKay, Coll Donaldson, Carl Tremarco (c), Liam Polworth, Joe Chalmers, Aaron Doran (Riccardo Calder 90), Charlie Trafford, Nathan Austin (Daniel Mackay 60), George Oakley.
SUBS NOT USED: Connor Bell, Jake Mulraney, Jack Brown, Zach Elbouzedi, Ryan Esson (GK).
SCORERS: Chalmers (16), Austin (48)
YELLOW CARD: B Mackay (32)

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Jean-Yves M’Voto, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham(Declan McManus 66), James Vincent, James Craigen (Callum Morris 90), Fraser Aird (Joe Cardle 60): Andy Ryan, Nicky Clark (c).
SUBS NOT USED: Dan Armstrong, Nat Wedderburn, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Ryan (12), Clark (90+5)
YELLOW CARD: Higginbotham (13), Williamson (44)

REFEREE: Stephen Finnie
WEATHER: 18C Sunny
ATTENDANCE 3316

NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Dumbarton, Saturday 28th April 2018, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park.

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