Proc lifts Inverness

Caley Thistle maintained their excellent away form with a 1-0 win over Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park, the Highlanders seventh successive victory over the Rovers.

David Proctor scored in the final ten minutes to secure the points for Terry Butcher’s men, pulling ICT to within five points of the league leaders.

Raith missed the chance to go top of the table but will surely be happy with their first quarter performance.

Caley Thistle made two changes to the side that went down to Queen of the South on Saturday with David Proctor and Dougie Imrie coming into the side and Robert Eagle and Dani Sanchez dropping to the bench. Imrie started up front alongside Richie Foran while Proctor played on the right of midfield, with Hayes playing left and Duncan and Cox taking up positions in the centre. The back four consisted of Ross Tokely, Nauris Bulvitis, Grant Munro and Stuart Golabek, while Ryan Esson kept up his 100% appearance record for Caley Jags.

The match started relatively quietly, the only effort in the early stages coming from Lee Cox, whose bobbling shot didn’t trouble Raith ‘keeper David McGurn. There was a shout from the home fans in ten minutes when it looked as though Ryan Esson picked the ball up outside the left hand of the 18 yard box but referee Crawford Allan was having none of it. Esson was again involved after 16 minutes when Raith’s lively Johnny Russell was released by a quick free kick and his low shot was turned aside by the Inverness stopper.

Russell was giving Inverness problems and was again involved in the 20th minute when he tumbled after a challenge on the edge of the box. There were a few anxious glances from the away support towards Allan but the referee booked Russell for diving in a situation when many whistlers would have given a spot-kick. Caley had there own appeal turned down seconds later when Dougie Imrie appealed after he put pressure on the Raith back line to win a corner. Again, the referee didn’t countenance an award.

There were few real opportunities in the first half but Raith probably looked the more impressive of the two sides, with the youngsters in the Fifer’s midfield and attack linking up well and showing good movement. Caley Thistle were failing to create many chances and looked lacking in imagination as they went forward.

Half time 0-0

The second half started at a decent pace – Richie Foran played a short ball to Dougie Imrie and the former Clyde forward homed in on goal only to pull his shot wide of the Raith post. While the shot failed to trouble the goalkeeper, it was a harbinger of things to come. Johnny Hayes began to look livelier for Caley - the Irish winger picked up the ball five minutes into the second half after driving through the Raith defence his shot was pulled wide of the post.

Raith responded to the increased threat from Caley Thistle by upping their own game. A good passing move across the edge of the box shuttled the ball to Darren Smith and his shot forced Ryan Esson into a fantastic diving save. Esson’s save was of the highest order, again demonstrating his importance to the Inverness men. Johnny Russell again threatened but ballooned his shot over the crossbar from a promising position.

Terry Butcher made his first substitution at this point, removing Dougie Imrie in favour of Dani Sanchez. Imrie’s return didn’t wildly impress although he showed his usual endeavour to suggest that when he is back to full fitness he can be a real asset for his team. Sanchez, however, made an immediate impact, picking up the ball 30 yards out, turning and sending a long range drive inches over the Raith bar. It was the start of a very promising display from the Spanish forward, whose close control and ability to pick passes gave valuable potency to Caley Jags’s attack.

With just over twenty minutes to go Caley forced a corner and after Hayes floated a ball to the back post, a scrum of players sent the ball towards goal, only for a Raith defender to clear when the ball looked to hit the bar and bounce down towards the line. David Proctor when freed himself on the right and sent a testing ball across goal for Johnny Hayes, who was denied by a fine headed clearance. From the corner Grant Munro sent a shot in but could only direct it straight at McGurn. Sanchez kept the pressure up by flighting in a free kick from 20 yards out following a foul on Russell Duncan but his effort was too high.

Butcher threw on Adam Rooney for Richie Foran with fifteen minutes remaining and the Irishman had a hand in the winning goal. Rooney burst onto a loose pass in the Raith defence and when his effort was pushed away by the keeper, David Proctor cut in from the right and side-footed the ball home from 15 yards out. The Caley Jags players showed how much the breakthrough meant with wild celebrations in front of the delighted travelling fans.

The last five or so minutes saw Raith pushing forward without carving out any clear cut chances. Johnny Hayes almost doubled the Inverness advantage when he latched onto a clearance and attacked the heart of the Raith back four but his shot was touched away by the keeper and Caley settled for a vital 1-0 win.

Full Time

This match brought to an end ICTs first quarter back in the First Division and also marked the fifth league match unbeaten away from home for Terry Butcher’s side. The contrast to between the Highlanders away form (the best in the First Division) and their home showings (the worst in the First Division) is the talking point of the season so far for Inverness fans. Certainly this match wasn’t a vintage performance but the side showed fortitude to drag themselves back into the game after creating very little in the opening half. The side also managed to cut out the damaging defensive errors that have been costing points at home – although there were a few shaky moments the back line held solid for the most part. The challenge that faces Terry Butcher is to translate this form at home, give the majority of the Caley Jags support something to cheer about and increase confidence across the whole squad. Only then will a sustained challenge at the top of the league be possible.