When Jamie MacDonald spilled a Marley Watkins shot in the dying moments of the second half, James Vincent made history by clinching Caley Thistle’s first-ever Scottish Cup triumph.
It was four years ago today but for ICT supporters now watching their team grind it out in the Championship, it must feel like a lifetime ago.
Riding on the crest of a wave after finishing third in the Scottish Premiership, Inverness came into the final as heavy favourites against second-tier Falkirk.
Having already seen off Celtic in the semi-final in controversial circumstances, it was thought that the Bairns would provide little resistance to Caley Thistle’s challenge.
It certainly seemed that way when Marley Watkins opened the scoring in the first half, latching on to an Aaron Doran through ball and calmly rounding MacDonald.
The sending-off of Carl Tremarco on 75 minutes created a huge momentum shift however and Peter Grant levelled the scores five minutes later with a bullet header.
With the Falkirk fans in great voice as their team chased down a second, a swift counter-attack led by Watkins saw him fire a hopeful side-footed shot at goal.
MacDonald, a solid performer all season who many thought should be playing at a higher level, should have gathered it easily but instead parried the ball weakly to his left.
Substitute Vincent, having just run the length of the park to join the attack, was there to slide home the rebound with just four minutes to play.
Inverness held out for a famous triumph and a huge party started in the Highlands.
A Europa League adventure followed and although Caley Thistle suffered the heartbreak of relegation just two years later, nothing will ever take this win away from their fans.
