Liam Polworth’s stunning injury-time strike secured Caley Thistle a 1-1 draw against Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park.
Hamilton looked to be on course for all three points after Brazillian forward Alex D’Acol had given them a first-half lead, however Polworth’s long-range effort three minutes into stoppage time extended the Highlanders’ unbeaten run to five matches.
Caley Thistle came into the game on the back of a convincing 3-1 win against Dundee the previous weekend, with manager Richie Foran making just one change, replacing Irish midfielder Jake Mulraney with Iain Vigurs.
The visitors began brightly and an early cross from Lonsana Doumbouya caused problems for Accies goalkeeper Remi Matthews who was forced to palm it over the bar as it moved towards his far corner, before Brad McKay’s header from Vigurs’ resulting corner was hacked off the line by Accies midfielder Louis Longridge.
Accies’ first effort did not come until the 17th minute, when former Caley Jags attacker Dougie Imrie teed up Longridge who blasted his shot well over Owain Fon Williams’ goal.
The hosts took the lead just a minute later however, when Fon Williams initially did brilliantly to keep out Ali Crawford’s header from Grant Gillespie’s delivery, however the ball fell kindly for D’Acol to steer the rebound high into the net.
Accies took confidence from their breakthrough, and should have doubled their lead when Crawford’s delivery picked out the unmarked Georgios Sarris, however he steered his effort over the bar.
Inverness had Fon Williams to thank for denying the hosts a second goal on the half-hour mark, when he reacted superbly to tip Crawford’s dinked effort over the crossbar.
Inverness needed to show a response, and they were close to a leveller on 33 minutes when Vigurs’ free-kick drifted narrowly over the bar, before Warren’s bicycle kick was well taken by Matthews following another Vigurs corner.
In a second-half of few opportunities, Caley Jags posed the greater threat in their pursuit of a late equaliser, with substitute Scott Boden dragging wide after a neat exchange between Liam Polworth and Ross Draper, before McKay lashed over from a fine position following Carl Tremarco’s cross.
Accies were forced to change their goalkeeper after Matthews landed heavily collecting a cross, with substitute Robbie Thomson making an instant impact with an excellent save to thwart Draper’s header.
Just as time looked to be running out for the visitors, Polworth struck in the dying moments to earn his side a share of the spoils.
