Tenth for Rooney

Inverness hosted Raith Rovers at a fogbound Tulloch Caledonian Stadium where Adam Rooney scored the only goal of the game - his 10th of the season - in a 1-0 victory.

Inverness had loan player Stuart Duff on from the start with Lionel Djebi-Zadi keeping his place at left back after impressing at Palmerston the previous week. Absent were the red card boys Foran and Duncan who were ably replaced by Sanchez and Duff. Eric Odhiambo surprisingly kept his place in the team after a poor showing in Dumfries but he quickly erased last weeks display with some fleet footed work early on.

Inverness hosted Raith Rovers at a fogbound Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. The freezing fog threatened to stop the game as the match progressed, lifting briefly around half time. That was when the couple of hundred Rovers fans became visible from the North Stand before the fog rolled in again engulfing the extremities of the pitch once more. Inverness had loan player Stuart Duff on from the start with Lionel Djebi-Zadi keeping his place at left back after impressing at Palmerston the previous week. Absent were the red card boys Foran and Duncan who were ably replaced by Sanchez and Duff. Eric Odhiambo surprisingly kept his place in the team after a poor showing in Dumfries but he quickly erased last weeks display with some fleet footed work early on.

The game started in thick fog and conditions were to get worse before the end as the opposite end of the park was barely visible from the North Stand. Inverness started brightly and created numerous opportunities with the Raith defence struggling to contain the lively Eric and Jonny Hayes. Eric had two or three flashing attempts in the first ten minutes as we tore the Raith defence to shreds. The phenomenal Jonny Hayes was teasing them with his pace and tried his luck but the ball slid just wide. Raith had very few moments to get excited about and their best attempt was a prodded effort from ten yards that sailed high over the bar. Lionel started where he finished last week and had a tremendous sliding tackle as the Raith winger was angling towards the Jaggies box, he then rampaged forward and put a dangerous cross into the box. He was to go on and have another good day at the office. Another teasing cross from Hayes saw Eric drill a low shot just wide. We were to fare better a few minutes later as cult hero Adam Rooney broke free inside the box. He latched on to a Hayes ball and he looked as though he was being ushered wide but he squeezed home a low angled drive from his left side into the net from around ten yards. Excellent goal and another boost to Adam’s confidence. Inverness were continuing to dominate the proceedings and Hayes brought out a fantastic diving save from Raith’s busiest player McGurn with a stinging twenty five yard free kick. Just before half time Sanchez had a glorious chance but his shot went straight at the keeper.

Half Time 1-0.

We were almost gifted an own goal early in the second half as a tantalising Hayes free kick was bundled past his own post by Hill with Bulvitis about to poke the ball in. A great run down the left flank by Lionel ended when his low cross was met by Lee Cox about eight yards out, unfortunately for him, McGurn made a point blank reaction save to thwart the industrious midfielder who was back to his pre-season best. Raith were reduced to ten men around the seventy minute mark when Hill was sent packing after a crude challenge on Adam Rooney. It was a second yellow for Hill and he had to go. Raith made one of their sporadic forays into the mist. Their attempt would not have been out of place at Murrayfield as the strike from thirty yards cleared the South Stand. That was about as close as it got for a dismal Raith side. Yet another swift counter attack from Inverness saw Cox get on the end of a Rooney cut back and again he was denied as McGurn flicked the ball onto the post, it then rebounded onto his head and he eventually gathered the ball and scrambled it clear. Inverness were in total control and the only thing missing was the second goal their fluent play deserved. This was as one sided a match as it gets and practically every Inverness player tried his luck at scoring. Munro had a header saved as we pushed forward in search of the elusive killer second goal but it never arrived. Lionel burst into the box after some neat interplay on the left and he was unceremoniously halted, but the excellent Frank McDermott waived away the appeals.

Full time 1-0 and the ref blew his whistle to take the pressure off the overworked Raith defence who were saved time and time again by the outstanding McGurn. So, three well deserved points for Inverness in the fog. Stuart Duff had an effective debut for Inverness and never put a foot wrong. His midfield partner Lee Cox had his best game for us and never stopped running and was unlucky not to score a couple of goals. Eric started brightly and certainly deserved his place in the starting line up. Big Lionel was another who showed that he can play at this level and was as good going forward as he was in defence. Little Jonny was once again outstanding, the downside of this is he will be attracting a lot of attention from bigger clubs. Danni Sanchez looked good and his vision is second to none at the club. Give him the time and the space and he will provide. Our back line were never tested in this game, but that does not mean they never played their part, well apart from the spectator that was Ryan Esson, he won’t have an easier days wages. Referee bashing seems to be a popular sport these days, so I suppose it’s only fair to applaud them when they do get it right, and todays ref was a breath of fresh air compared to last weeks villain, so well done Frank McDermott.

It was difficult to pick a Man of the Match for this one as so many players shone through the gloom today, but for his all round bustling style and general harassment Adam Rooney gets the nod ahead of Cox and Hayes. He took his goal brilliantly and never gave up on lost causes. That I believe was Rooney’s tenth goal of the season and it looks like there are plenty more goals in his locker so well done that man.