Still in the shadows
An exciting first SPL Highland Derby ended with the hosts taking all three points in a pulsating match at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. Inverness had taken an early lead when Ross Draper scored from a corner and as the game levelled out Andrew Shinnie stroked the second home near the half hour. An Ian Vigurs free kick brought County right back into the mix but a sensational volley from Aaron Doran sealed the points near the end.
A big away support was expected and the County fans delivered as they filled the away end, and the usually apathetic home support came out of the woodwork to welcome those from over the bridge to the SPL derby. It had been a bright sunny day but as the game loomed, rain clouds were getting closer and the match kicked off with a damp atmosphere above, but there was plenty of energy on and around the park.
Inverness made one change from the side that trounced Dundee United with big Owain Tudur-Jones replacing Gavin Morrison in the starting eleven where the Welshman's experience would prove invaluable as the game wore on. There was I suppose another alteration, Terry Butcher sat this one out in the stand with his walkie-talkie for company.
For County, Richard Brittain and Colin McMenamin were included from the start after missing last weeks games and Derek Adams was looking for a return to winning ways having lost the last two.
The half started with a bang inside the first minute. Legendary Inverness man Ross Tokely almost scored an astonishing opener at the wrong end for his new club as he crashed a tantalising cross from Doran against his own bar with Michael Fraser well beaten. And it was the home side that almost broke the deadlock a few minutes later as Jones broke into the box and flicked the ball goalwards with the outside of his boot only for Grant Munro to make a timely intervention to keep the ball out with Fraser once more beaten.
At this early stage it looked as though County were going to do well to keep the score down and it was no surprise when Inverness opened the scoring in the ninth minute. A Roberts shot was blocked by Tokely and from the resultant corner taken by Graeme Shinnie, Ross Draper rose highest to nod the ball into the top corner with some part of his body for a deserved opener.
County had been stung by this goal and they eventually wandered forward and they almost snatched an equaliser. Mark Fotheringham jinked across the defender and unleashed a superb curling shot that smacked back off the crossbar with Reguero beaten. Brittain struck a free kick narrowly over as County looked more positive now but the second goal was to come at the other end.
The visitors had almost weathered the early storm and were beginning to find there way, but it had taken them fifteen minutes to settle and just as the tide looked to be turning Inverness scored a sucker second. Unfortunately for Granty Munro, he won't want to see the video replays of that one again. He missed what looked like a comfortable clearance just inside his own half which allowed Richie Foran to scamper down the right wing. Foran on a great run of form just now unselfishly looked up and picked out the advancing midfield run from Andy Shinnie and he stroked the ball home from fifteen yards for a tidy second goal from the attackers point of view, but a defenders nightmare for County.
Munro almost atoned for lapse and turned a shot towards the Inverness goal, but Reguero pulled off a TV save, clutching the ball out of the air to thwart the ex-Inverness captain.
The next goal was going to be crucial and as County pressed for an opening, Inverness almost caught them out again. Phillip Roberts released Doran with a brilliant through ball but as Doran entered the box Fraser came out and diverted the ball away from goal with an outstretched leg. Was this going to be another blank day for Doran after yet another one-on-one miss from the Irishman.
As a contest, the game was more level now as half time approached but it was Inverness that had the all important statistic, and that was how it finished after the first forty five.
Half Time 2-0
I don't know what was said at the interval, but it appeared that the visiting players had the County managers voice ringing in their ears.
Referee Brines was to play a vital part as early as the third minute of the half when he awarded a free kick to County some twenty five yards from goal. Josh Meekings clearly had made a clearance and the County striker then collided with the defender. However Brines intervened and County took advantage. No complaints about the standard of the free kick though as Vigurs got it up, down and around the wall to leave a slightly mis-positioned Reguero clutching at thin air. Game On!
The Jaggies seemed to have handed the initiative to the Staggies and they now enjoyed the lions share of the game. We looked content to give them the ball and see what they could do, and they tried hard enough but our defence held firm and the County storm eventually blew over. It had been a frenetic second half punctuated by frequent stoppages for free kicks from ever the annoying Mr Brines.
Draper could have put the game beyond Dingwall as he latched onto a ball on the edge of the six yard box, but Fraser again stuck out a leg to push the ball away. Quinn made Reguero work with an angled drive, but the keeper was always favourite to block it as County pressed the game. It looked as though an equaliser was coming as the game progressed with the ball fizzing around the Inverness box, the home fans were starting to look through gaps in their fingers when a goal fit to win any competition sealed the victory with three minutes of normal time left.
Graeme Shinnie lofted a long free kick forward to diminutive target man, substitute Billy McKay. Now he is not the tallest of players but he has a big heart. He out jumped two defenders to nod a hopeful ball in the direction of Doran who had already missed two glorious chances. He would not miss a third. As the ball dropped from height around twenty one yards out, he volleyed a thunderous low shot that went like an arrow into Fraser's net right inside his post and the keeper had no chance, despite a full length dive, to keep the ball out.
Cue scenes of joy at the North Stand as the South Stand began to empty. There was still time for a couple more efforts from both sides and a mazy wee run from McKay, but no further goals were forthcoming and Inverness Caledonian Thistle owned the Highlands once more to keep County in their shadow. It had been a superb advert for the SPL with both teams showing plenty of skill and the wider TV audience were surely treated to some special goals tonight, none moreso than Doran's clincher.
Full Time 3-1
5th Oct 2012
Scottish Premier League
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Inverness C.T.
3 - Draper (9), A.Shinnie (28), Doran (87)
TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Meekings, Warren, G.Shinnie, Doran, Tudur-Jones, Draper, Roberts (McKay 85), Foran (Pepper 60), A.Shinnie (Morrison 75)
SUBS: Mathieson, Cooper, Polworth, Oswell
Booked: Draper (35), Raven (64), Pepper (89), Doran (90)
Sent Off: none
Ross County
1 - Vigurs (48)
TEAM: Fraser, Tokely, Fitzpatrick, Boyd, Munro, Quinn, Vigurs, Brittain, Scott (Kettlewell 76), Fotheringham (Glen 76), McMenamin
SUBS: Brown, Kovacevic, Macphee, Ross, Dingwall
Booked: Scott (32), Fotheringham (65), Brittain (89)
Sent Off: none
Referee
Iain Brines
Attendance
6766
