Foran's dramatic overhead wins the points
If ICT are crowned champions on May 1st, Richie Foran's 93rd minute strike may have a lot to do with it. Under extreme pressure to win our games to win the title we shipped three goals today but Foran spared our blushes with a last gasp injury time winner.
GRANTY 24's REPORT
It’s one step closer to the title as we managed to edge a hard fought encounter against Raith with a final score of 4-3 and a fourth league victory of the season against the Kirkcaldy side. ICT had the better of the opening ten minutes, despite neither side threatening, Ross Tokely watched his ambitious effort fly wide of the goal after just five minutes. However it was John McGlynn’s side who grabbed the initiative with twelve minutes on the clock, a darting run from Jamie Mole up the right flank led to a low cross where Iain Williamson was lurking to turn the ball in to the net, beating Ryan Esson at his near post. It was ICT who continued to push for goals, Jonny Hayes’ in-swinging free-kick was nodded over by David Proctor and Hayes himself saw his curling shot well held by David McGurn in the Raith goal. The pressure paid off 15 minutes before the interval; Hayes broke up the wing again and played an inch perfect ball into Adam Rooney, who did well to keep the ball in play before squaring back to Richie Foran who slammed in the equalizer. Our goal difference isn’t just far superior to everyone else’s because we stopped attacking, and that’s exactly what we did, we kept pressing and three minutes before the break we got our reward, a nicely slid pass from Foran found Rooney who burst past the defence to slam home his eighteenth league goal for this campaign.
HALF TIME ICT 2-1 RAITH ROVERS
There was a slow start to the second half from both sides but we managed to pick up where we left off, a bizarre goal on 57 minutes, a deep high ball from Rooney landed kindly at the feet of Eric Odhiambo who, despite looking about five yards offside, rounded McGurn and calmly rolled the ball into the net. We still continued to press Rovers and Rooney nearly managed to grab his second of the game, a neat low cross from Hayes was controlled brilliantly by Rooney but his shot flew wide of the target. Stupidly, we let Rovers back into the game just past the hour mark, a high swinging free kick from Allan Walker found the beast that is Gregory Tade unmarked, he took the gift and Rovers, suddenly had a chance to salvage something out of the game. And guess what... Raith equalized just eight minutes later, Tade flew past two or three challenges before smartly putting Jamie Mole one-on-one with Esson, Mole dispatched with ease, knocking the ball through the legs of Esson to level things up once again. Stephen Simmons saw red two minutes from time, a second bookable offence being given for a rough challenge on Hayes, his second or third of the game on our nippy winger We continued to push in search of a winner and Hayes nearly got one for himself, a good run up the left wing from Foran and his neat cut-back found substitute Danni Sanchez but the Spaniard couldn’t turn the ball goalwards, but the loose ball fell to Hayes but, reluctant to use his right foot, his shot was saved. FINALLY!! The goal that wins the game, four minutes into stoppage time, a deep cross from Stuart Golabek seemed to bob around the penalty area for what seemed like an age, Bulvitis and Rooney having stabs at the ball before Richie Foran pops up with an exquisite overhead kick which flew past McGurn into the bottom corner to send the fans, players and the whole club home happy.
3rd April 2010
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE
4 - Foran (29,90+3), Rooney (42), Odhiambo (57)
TEAM: Esson90, Tokely, Proctor, Munro88, Golabek, Cox46, Odhiambo⚽(Sanchez74),
Stratford (Bulvitis86), Foran⚽⚽, Rooney⚽, Hayes
SUBS: Allison, Eagle, Ross
RAITH ROVERS
3 - Williamson (12), Tade (66), Mole (74)
TEAM: McGurn, Murray45, Ellis, Armstrong (Gathuessi56), Hill, Davidson63(Ferry83), Walker,
Simmons7987, Mole⚽(Weir81), Tade⚽, Williamson⚽22
SUBS: O'Connor, Smith
Referee
A. Muir
Attendance
356
GINGER JAGGY's REPORT
Today was not a day for the faint hearted as we consolidated our lead at the top of the league, just, in the most dramatic of circumstances. Before kick off Caley Thistle were 4 points clear of Dundee after our terrific victory over Ross County in midweek. Today the supporters turned up in expectation against a Raith side that is struggling in the league but looking forward to a cup semi at Hampden next week. Daniel Stratford replaced the suspended Russell Duncan, this being the only enforced change from the midweek team. We made the worst possible start, as on 12 minutes our defence fell asleep as on loan striker Jamie Mole found some room on the right flank and was allowed to cut the ball into our area to find the unmarked Iain Williamson who had made a run to the near post. He tapped in past Esson and gave Raith and our title challengers a boost. Caley Thistle continued to look nervy in defence as Raith came forward on the break. But we had our chances with Hayes and Foran looking dangerous on the wings. Hayes had a couple of shots on goal but we still could not find the equaliser. Could it be that it wouldn’t be our day. But relief hit us all as Hayes had one of those great runs unsettling the full back to put Adam Rooney through down the right channel and he cut the ball back to allow Foran to coolly finish and level the game up. We almost took the lead immediately after getting level when an almost carbon copy of a free kick from Tuesday was deflected wide from the boot of the impressive Foran. We then took the lead when Foran played Rooney in down the left channel and our top scorer finished coolly with the attention of 2 defenders and the goalkeeper. We had taken the lead as half time beckoned and every fan suddenly felt confident unknowing of the drama in store.
HT 2-1
The second half couldn’t have started any better. The warning signs for Raith where there when Tokely headed over from a corner. That was the warning and we increased our lead when the ball was knocked over the top for Odhiambo to take it over the Raith keeper and to walk the ball into the net. The crowd got a sense of relief at the cushion even though Raith fans will feel hard done by the fact that Odhiambo was allegedly miles offside when he received the ball. The next minute and we almost had 4 when Hayes again tormented the Raith defence and cut the ball across and it only just evaded Odhiambo and the onrushing Foran at the back post. The game was in the bag and the question at that point will be how many will Caley Thistle win by? But then the mayhem started. First Raith forced a free kick just outside the box and the decent cross was met by a glancing header from Gregory Tade. Suddenly the atmosphere changed, as all our good work in recent weeks could have been undone. Were we about to let Dundee capitalise with the knowledge of them being 3-0 up at Dens against Ayr. Raith sensed they could take something from the game as they pushed us back for what would be a deserved equaliser. And to the horror of the home fans Raith did the unthinkable and equalised with 15 minutes to go. The very powerful and impressive Tade ran through our defence and set up Mole to convert past Esson and suddenly give rekindled hope to our title rivals. In the 57th minute we were 3-1 up at home against a team struggling in the league and with a golden opportunity to make it 4. But in the 75 it was 3-3 and the turnaround was remarkable. The final fifteen was anyone’s game as both teams pushed for a winner and 3 valuable points which would have repercussions at either end of the table. Caley Thistle continued to press but the atmosphere was tense as we all sensed that Raith could snatch something on the break. In the 88th minute we looked to have gained the upper hand when Raiths midfielder Stephen Simmons was sent off for a second yellow with a rather cynical scything down of the sprinting Jonny Hayes. In the early minutes of stoppage time we looked to have taken advantage when Dani Sanchez on for Odhiambo took too long to steady himself, and with the goal gaping saw his shot blocked. The ball then fell to Hayes at the back post who also tried to take a touch to much and saw his effort blocked. Then Raith felt hard done by again as Mole held up the ball against Munro, and turned the big central defender and was away but was taken down on the half way line by our captain. To the amazement of the most people in the stadium the referee brandished a yellow even though he was the last man and could probably warrant a red. The game looked to have finished with Raith on the attack but we mounted one last spell of pressure. In the dying seconds of stoppage time a Stuart Golabek cross was met by Foran on the volley as the ball nestled into the bottom corner. This sparked wild celebration as the players ran over to the dugout to celebrate what could be a crucial goal with our manager.
The game was a great one, but like many other Caley Thistle fans I will not like to see another game like that or my heart will just give in. It wasn’t a great performance but we really should have had the game done and dusted at 3-1. We got a bit complacent and allowed a decent Raith side back in it. But well done to the boys to show the grit and determination to grab a late winner which could be crucial to our promotion hopes. One thing that Butcher now knows for sure, there’s only one Russell Duncan. His passion was sorely missed this weekend and he will no doubt be restored to the team for this week’s next instalment at Cappielow.
