All square in the Highlands

Kilmarnock's long trip to Inverness saw them take a point from an open game, which keaves both clubs looking for their first win of the season.

Andrew Shinnie netted the opener for Inverness in the eighth minute but Manual Pascali equalised deep into stoppage time at the interval. Danny Racchi had an opportunity to score Killie's first goal but Ryan Esson made a superb double save to deny the Killie sub.

Sell out Saturday was not what it said on the tin as a sparse away crowd was sprinkled across the away stand and the home fans bathed in sunshine on a beautiful summer afternoon. Only 3012 made the effort to watch this SPL encounter. Killie drew the first trick of the day and made Inverness play towards the North Stand in the first half. Not many knew what to expect for the first home game and it was pleasing to see Inverness trying to play the ball on the deck.

The home side started briskly and forced Kilmarnock onto the back foot and within four minutes the visitors brought on Danny Racchi for the injured Gary Harkins. A serious of forays forward saw Inverness win a corner and from this Aaron Doran's ball was played to Shinnie via Draper and he knocked the ball in fron the angle of the six yard box to confirm the home sides bright start to the match.

The home fans were certainly encouraged by the opening twenty minutes and the tricky Doran should have doubled the lead as he bore down on goal, but Bell stood tall and blocked the effort which was eventually scrambled clear by the under pressure Killie defence, one attempt being cleared off the line.

However, the early flurry from Inverness quickly dissipated and Kilmarnock realised they could give us a contest and the game then became more even with Killie now starting to dominate possession without really threatening to score.

A Doran free kick from 25 yards was comfortably gathered by Cammy Bell as the game became stretched but on the half hour mark Racchi was upended in the box by Draper as Killie began to turn the screw. He dusted himself down and took the penalty himself but Esson reacted brilliantly and threw himself to the right to block the shot, then managed to block the rebound from Dayton to keep Inverness ahead.

Not content with saving the penalty, we released the ball quickly and Shane Sutherland drove straight at the heart of the Killie defence but his 20 yard effort was easily saved by Bell.

James Dayton left the field on a stretcher after 36 minutes to be replaced by Rory McKenzie as Killie shuffled the pack once more before half time.

However, the five minutes of added time became a significant factor as Killie pressed for an equaliser before half time and as Inverness failed to clear another corner, Manual Pascali was on hand to bundle home a scrappy goal to level the contest in the 47th minute.

Half Time 1-1

The game continued in the same vein after the break with both sides looking to get the winner.

Doran, McKay and Sutherland all tried their luck with Shane being the only one to work the keeper, as the game became a bit tousy with a series of free kicks disrupting the flow of the game.

Inverness were fortunate not to fall behind as a free header went over the bar as Killie pushed forward, Liam Kelly squandering that opportunity, but chances went abegging at both ends, Kelly firing wide in another burst forward.

We saw a new side to Owain Tudur-Jones as the big Welshman literally saw red. As he surged forward with ten minutes to go, Fowler lived up to his name and brought down the gentle giant. He was booked for that, but not before big Owain thrust his head in the direction of Fowler's face and rightly was given a straight red for his rush of blood to the head.

Inverness brought on Gavin Morrison in an attempt to hold onto the point we had and we almost snatched all three but for a fantastic point blank save from Cammy Bell as he denied substitute Nick Ross the winner from Raven's cross.

Still time for Killie to make the home fans sweat as another free header went wide from Nelson and Esson saved a Kelly free kick but the home side held on for a deserved point.

Full Time 1-1

Overall, a point each was about right in an entertaining game where both sides always looked for a winner. Both keepers were outstanding and not for the first time Bell denied Inverness with some wonderful stops. Esson came back well after last weeks loose display and his double save at the penalty was superb. Doran started brightly but faded as the game wore on and the defence grew in confidence the longer they played together.

Men of the Match:- Both keepers made match winning saves and it's difficult to split them, Bell's save at the end from Ross had us all holding our head in our hands in disbelief.
 

10 th Aug 2012	Scottish Premier League	Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Inverness C.T.	1 - A.Shinnie (8)
	TEAM: Esson, King, Warren, Raven, G.Shinnie, Tudur-Jones, A.Shinnie (Morrison 81), Draper, Doran, Sutherland (Oswell 90), McKay (Ross 67)
	SUBS: Mathieson, Meekings, Polworth, Laing
	Booked: King (32)
	Sent Off: Tudur-Jones (79)
Kilmarnock	1 - Pascali (45)
	TEAM: Bell, Fowler, Nelson, O'Leary, Tesselaar, Johnson, Harkins (Racchi 4), Dayton (McKenzie 37), Kelly, Pascali, Kennedy (Boulding 75)
	SUBS: Letheren, Pursehouse, McKeown, Winchester
	Booked: Fowler (81)
	Sent Off: none
Referee	Brian Colvin
Attendance	3012