Caley Thistle may fall short in their efforts to reach the Championship promotion play-offs, but Saturday’s spirited 2-2 draw against leaders St Mirren shows they will keep their charge going until it is impossible.
It would have been easy for Inverness to resign themselves to defeat when the Buddies went two goals to the good on 70 minutes through Lewis Morgan’s free kick.
It looked to have compounded an afternoon of frustration for John Robertson’s men, who had fallen behind to Harry Davis’ early penalty, before conceding another spot kick which the same player saw saved by the outstanding Mark Ridgers, while Inverness’ own appeal resulted in Aaron Doran being booked by referee Alan Newlands for simulation.
Inverness did not feel sorry for themselves, however, and two goals in three minutes from Gary Warren and Liam Polworth were the result of a spirited comeback which earned the Highlanders a draw.
That keeps the gap beneath fourth-placed Dunfermline to 11 points and the efforts to reduce that will begin at home to bottom side Brechin City tomorrow in the first of eight remaining games.
Caley Jags came into the game looking to cap off a perfect week, which began with the previous weekend’s IRN-BRU Cup final triumph and was followed by Tuesday’s league victory over Dundee United, from which Robertson named an unchanged side.
The hosts could not have made a worse start, however.
Newlands did not hesitate in pointing to the spot after just three minutes when Coll Donaldson tugged Danny Mullen to the ground following Stephen McGinn’s clever ball over the top. Davis took on the responsibility and although Ridgers went the correct way, the shot had too much pace for the goalkeeper as it nestled in the goalkeeper’s bottom-right corner.
The goal gave the Paisley side a strong footing and Ridgers’ interventions were required to prevent them scoring further. A quick short corner from Morgan found Liam Smith on the edge of the box, with Ridgers turning the ball wide on 13 minutes. Ridgers was called into action once again on 28 minutes, diverting Celtic-bound winger Morgan’s effort wide after he had been set up by Cammy Smith’s pass.
Most of the action had gone Ridgers’ way and he was forced into another outstanding save from Mullen’s header, however it looked like his work would be undone seconds later when Newlands awarded a second penalty, adjudging Tremarco to have nudged Davis.
The goalkeeper had other ideas. Ridgers had been close to saving Davis’ first effort, but on this occasion he gave his team a lifeline by blocking the defender’s spot kick with his legs.
Boosted by the save, Inverness went in search of a leveller after the break. Doran was then left furious when he looked to have been tripped by Smith on the hour mark, only to be booked for diving.
Saints looked to have secured all three points on 70 minutes when Morgan curled a stunning free kick in off the post only two minutes after he had been denied by another fine Ridgers save.
Caley Jags were not finished, though, and Polworth’s corner set up skipper Warren to nod home on 78 minutes before the turnaround was complete within three minutes courtesy of a curling free kick from Polworth.
It was a grandstand finish to a thrilling game, with teenager Daniel MacKay coming closest to a winner when his header was clutched by Samson, but a point was a fair result.
CALEY THISTLE (4-3-3) – Ridgers 9, Tremarco 6, Warren 6, Polworth 8, Austin 5 (MacKay 59), Doran 6 (Calder 67), Vigurs 6, Oakley 6, Mckay 6, Donaldson 6, Trafford 6. Subs not used – Esson, Chalmers, Seedorf, Elbouzedi, Bell.
ST MIRREN (4-3-3 ) – Samson 6, McGinn 7, Mackenzie 6, Magennis 6, Morgan 8, L. Smith 6, Flynn 6, Davis 6, C. Smith 6 (Baird 72), Mullen 7 (Reilly 65), Eckersley 6. Subs not used – Stewart, Demetriou, Sutton, McShane, Hippolyte.
Referee – Alan Newlands 4
Attendance – 3,025
Man of the match – Mark Ridgers.