The Real McKay

A Billy McKay hat-trick earned Inverness a vital three points in a pulsating encounter in the Highland Capital. He even had the luxury of missing a penalty before securing the points with his third poachers goal of the game. Birmingham bound Andy Shinnie rifled one home in the first half as Inverness blitzed the Steelmen before they staged an amazing comeback to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. James McFadden scored a double and top scorer Michael Higdon converted a penalty as the roller coaster went into overdrive, but it was the hosts who showed their mettle and snatched all three points.

It was a less than pleasant early summers day as the teams took to the park, but it was a momentous day for Chris Hogg as he returned to first team action at the heart of the defence with David Raven and Gary Warren absent. Owain Tudur-Jones found himself on the bench with Nick Ross included in the starting eleven. Motherwell unsurprisingly were unchanged from the side that humped Celtic the previous week.

The game got off to a blistering start and it was the visitors that created the first attacks around the hosts goal, twice in the first couple of minutes. However, Inverness responded by opening the scoring as chief poacher Billy McKay nicked in ahead of the defence at the near post to convert a Meekings cross after a free kick had been charged down by the Motherwell wall.

Just the start Inverness needed and they took the game by the scruff of the neck, attacking Motherwell at pace and creating plenty of optimism amongst the crowd.

Well were being pressed at every opportunity by the hungry Inverness attack and this led to Foran almost scoring a second goal. Randolph played his defence into trouble with a loose pass and Foran latched onto an even looser pass from Hately. He drove into the box exchanging a one-two with Andy Shinnie and almost scored a spectacular goal from a tight angle as he smacked the post with Randolp beaten.

It wouldn't be long before Inverness would extend their lead and McKay turned provider this time as he held up, juggled with the ball then layed off for Andy Shinnie to show why Birmingham want the young Scot as his quick feet took the shot early and the ball whistled low past Randolph for a superb second goal.

The third goal was coming as Inverness went looking for more. A long ball forward by Motherwell aimed at Higdon was dealt with by Meekings and Foran sent Andy Shinnie scampering down the right side with a perfectly weighted through ball. He returned the compliment to McKay who once again got across the defender at the near post to direct the ball into the net for another supeb goal.

Was this really the same team that played so negatively at Perth last week and had the fans doubting their belief. Twenty seven minutes gone and 3-0 to Inverness. Dreamland!

But Motherwell are not second in the league for no reason, and James McFadden threw them a lifeline when he drove a low twenty yarder beyond Reguero to give the Steelmen some hope before the break.

Half Time 3-1

Stuart McCall obviously had a wee word in their ear at the interval and Well came out of the blocks flying and within four minutes Higdon had the ball in the net from the spot. Hogg was adjudged to have clipped Ojaama who had got in behind him, the big striker calmly slotting home the penalty, his seventh goal against Inverness this season.

Enter Henrik Ojamaa, the flying Estonian would play a big part in the next few moments. He found himself in Willie Collum's book for diving, right on the edge of the box after Chris Hogg went near him and shortly after this he almost scored as Motherwell had Inverness on the back foot now and it took a fine block by Reguero to deny him as he raced in on goal.

Inverness should have restored their two goal cushion as Nick Ross was knocked over in the box in a rare break forward. Unfortunately Billy McKay made the job easy for Randolph as his spot kick was weak and predictable, the big keeper diving low to his right to turn the ball away one handed. Two penalties so far and I'm not convinced about either of them.

Inverness struggled to clear a concerted Motherwell attck and Ojamaa fed McFadden who drilled home from eight yards. 3-3 in an incredible game where Motherwell should have been out of site by half-time, but were now looking the most likely to go on and win the game.

Ojamaa then sprinted clear on the right but Nicky Law could not keep his shot down as he curled one a foot over the bar. Henrik's next involvement would be his last. A rash challenge in midfield on Andy Shinnie drew a second yellow from Collum, and off went Henrik.

This turned the game once more and Inverness smelled blood. The outstanding Josh Meekings took the bull by the horns and thundered a 25 yarder towards goal which Randolph did well to parry, diving to his right, but who else, Billy McKay was onto it in a flash to poach his third goal of the game.

Inverness saw out the rest of the game without any more problems, but it was not one for the faint hearted and the three points were much needed with the news that St Johnstone had defeated Dundee United to remain one point adrift of us.

Full Time 4-3

Well well, who would have thunk it! What a game with both sides giving it laldy, a tremendous advert for the SPL and a far cry from some of the dreich stuff we have been subject to lately. Hats off to Chris Hogg in his first team comeback in such a crucial game, just like he had never been away. Loads of heroes today. Billy McKay is the obvious one, but Andy Shinnie was involved in everything. Graeme Shinnie had his finest game in a long time, subduing the speedy Chris Humphrey and Josh Meekings just gets better and better every time I see him play, outstanding. It would be unfair to single out anyone after that performance, but I'll play it safe and go for Billy McKay. He not only scored a hat-trick, he missed a penalty, set up a goal and ran his little cotton socks off..........bless him!

4th May 2013	Scottish Premier League	Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Inverness C.T.	4 - McKay (3, 27, 84), A.Shinnie (25)
	TEAM: Reguero, G.Shinnie, Hogg, McKay, Draper, Foran, A.Shinnie (Tudur-Jones 89), Ross, Meekings, Doran, Devine
	SUBS: Mathieson, Sutherland, Polworth, Pepper, Taylor
	Booked: Foran (5), Draper (57)
	Sent Off: none
Motherwell	3 - McFadden (36, 64), Higdon (pen.49)
	TEAM: Randolph, Hammell, Law, Hutchinson, Hateley, Humphrey (Kerr 81), Ojamaa, Higdon, Lasley, Ramsden (McHugh 85), McFadden
	SUBS: Hollis, Higginbotham, Carswell, Francis-Angol, Cummins
	Booked: Hutchinson (7), Hammell (41), Ojamaa (50), Law (57)
	Sent Off: Ojamaa (73)
Referee	Willie Collum
Attendance	3857