Four Seasons In One Day

It might have been four seasons in one day, but what a season it's been for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Inverness consolidated their third place with an ultimately convincing win over Dundee United who now have a fight on their hands to overtake St Johnstone for fourth position with only one game remaining.

It was a carnival atmosphere at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium with beach balls and sombrero's in abundance as the teams took to the field in bright,  blustery and changeable conditions that would end in a wintery downpour, but by the end the fans were not to be disappointed as they waited to applaud their Euro heroes for the seasons efforts.

Yogi gave starts to Aaron Doran, James Vincent, Ryan Christie and Danny Devine who is building valueable game time ahead of the Scottish Cup final in a fortnight.

United were as expected with like him or loathe him big Turk Nadir Ciftci the main threat. There's no denying the lads talented, but he would have better days.

The game was a slow burner with both sides starting tentatively. Inverness seemed happy enough to afford the visitors the majority of early possession but there was no threat to either keeper in the early exchanges.

Despite plenty of effort from both sides the only offerings in the first half hour were a couple of headers from Eddie Ofere and long range shots from Aaron Doran and John Rankin.

That would change with a flurry of action before the break. Graeme Shinnie might have done better after getting clear on the left side, but as he opened his body and shot, he only succeeded in dragging his effort wide of the near post. Warren then picked up a booking just outside the box but shifty Ciftci fired well over the bar from an inviting position.

Doran missed an excellent chance when through on goal and Ciftci did the same at the other end. United began to press for a goal before the break but Ryan Esson continued his superb form to deny the Arabs with outstanding saves from Charlie Telfer and Rankin, who should have done better when clean through after the Caley Jags defence parted like the Aegean Sea, but Esson stood tall and the former Caley Thistle man struck his shot straight at the chest of Esson.

Half Time 0-0

Esson continued to thwart United just after the interval saving brilliantly from Ciftci when the striker looked favourite to score.

A couple of corners later and Fojut directed a low header wide of the upright and Warren did likewise at the other end of the park. Josh Meekings then found himself wide open after a deep cross from Christie but he could not control his shot from wide of the six yard box. He would do better soon after that.

Tansey swung a deep ball to Warren following a corner and he headed it back into the six yard box. After a bit of a stramash with Doran involved, Meekings stabbed the ball into the net with his studs for the opening goal. Cierznaks had fumbled the ball to Meekings who reacted quickest to knock the ball forward, but Muirhead on the line clawed it away with his hand. However the goal was given and a booking duly dished out. Meekings claiming for hand ball on the goal line. How could you Josh.

Telfer came close to an equaliser after a surging burst forward from the halfway line when he unleashed a terrific shot from twenty six yards that narrowly missed the postage stamp corner. Good effort and a warning to Inverness that there was still work to be done.

Watkins desire to get a goal saw him shoot past from a tight angle after out muscling the defender down the left flank. A better option would have been to cut the ball back to Vincent who had made a late run into the box that went unnoticed.

United never learnt from the previous deep corner and Tansey again found Warren lurking there. His knock down was almost smuggled into the net at the near post after another stramash but Meekings was denied this time.

It was not to be Ciftci's day as the Inverness defence left him unattended when United forced their way down the left. When the cross came in Ciftci was given the freedom of the box, and he picked his place to put the ball. Unfortunately for him, that place was a dozen rows behind Esson in the away end.

Nick Ross had an earlier effort saved as he shot tamely goalward, but he would make amends in the eightieth minute. Again it was another stramash, but we don't care. Shinnie's cross went deep, Watkins, Vincent and Doran got involved and when the ball was laid back to Ross, he drilled it low into the centre of the goal.

That was the straw that broke the camels back as the Arab's heads went down.

The voices could now be heard in full swing as the beach balls were getting the better of the stewards who spent the afternoon stabbing as many balls as they could, booooo, but much to the amusement of the North Stand.

Three minutes later and Gary Warren powered in a header from a corner to cap off a convincing and memorable win for Inverness over a team that would normally have given us a hard time of it. Warren took out the keeper and two defenders as he scored and that resulted in Cierzniak being removed for repair.

The game ended as the heavens opened and the temperature plumetted, but it was party time on and off the pitch and what a way to round off your home campaign.

Full Time 3-0

Tremendous win for Inverness ahead of the cup final, but for United they will have to regroup as fourth place is now out of their hands, but it's a must win derby for them next week while we travel to Parkhead to Celtic's Champions party.

Inverness were best served by all who played today. If I had to be ruthless and choose somebody then Ryan Esson was again fantastic with three outstanding saves before we scored. His kicking was also assured and we are in good hands for the final.

The team came out for their encore with Graeme Shinnie winning the fans and players player of the year. What an occasion and send off for Graeme who has been consistently tremendous all season.

 
Date: 16/05/15  Venue: Caledonian Stadium    Attendance: 3508
Referee: Craig Thomson
 
Inverness CT: 3
Lineup: Esson, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, Devine, Tansey, Draper, Christie (Ross 66), Doran (Kink 84), Vincent, Ofere (Watkins 59)

Subs (not used): Mackay, Tremarco, Williams, Polworth

Scorers: Meekings (55), Ross (80), Warren (83)

Booked: Warren (36), Devine (77)
Sent Off: none
 
Dundee Utd: 0
Lineup: Cierzniak (Szromnik 86), Dillon, Dixon, Souttar, Fojut, Ciftci, Rankin, Muirhead, Erskine (Johnson 66), Butcher (Connolly 66), Telfer

Subs (not used): Smith, Spittal, Anier, Cotte

Scorers: none

Booked: Dixon (55), Erskine (55)
Sent Off: none