Roasted for 45 mins each side



Inverness were like Turkey's in the first half as County held the upper hand and roasted us. Stuffing would have completed the menu but Inverness managed to turn the heat up after the break and once Marley Watkins levelled Yoann Arquin's opener, there was only going to be one winner, but Mark Brown was in sensational form and single handedly kept the score level and a share of the points it was.

We can't complain really after a hideously poor first half where Dean Brill kept the score respectable as County outplayed their shambolic hosts.
 
What is it about us and first half rubbish. Maybe it's the South side of the park that's the problem. Whatever it is it's starting to grate as we continually turn in terrible performances over the first 45 and end up chasing the game. Never before has there been such a contrast between the two halves. County v Brill first half, Inverness v Brown second half.

Inverness as expected were unchanged and James Vincent was on the bench with Danny Williams and Nick Ross. Ross County had a late change with Michael Gardyne failing a fitness test and he missed out, but Scott Boyd was back at the heart of the defence.

The early kick off and live TV coverage ensured there would be a low turnout of fans at this one. Our Dingwall visitors alleged dislike of our stadium was stronger than the lure to support their side as a less than half full stadium saw Inverness kick off in the first Highland derby of the season.

The first few minutes gave a false impression that Inverness were going to take the game to the travelling side as Billy McKay danced towards the box, but he shot tamely at Brown and the former Inverness keeper saved easily.

Thereafter, it was Brill who would be the busier keeper as County outplayed Inverness for the next forty minutes making a mockery of their lowly position as they made the home defence look laboured. The possession game has been monitored closely by most clubs now and as in the Dons game, we fluffed our lines on more than one occasion.

Rocco Quinn should have done better as he tried to guide a volley goalwards after a poor headed clearance from Gary Warren who would soon be involved in the next goalmouth action. He played a poor ball to Draper in the possession game and he was woefully short with an attempted pass back to Brill. Kiss took advantage but Brill blocked his shot and the rebound was knocked back at the goals but Kiss was left offside. A let off for Brill who was none too happy with the guys in front of him.

Lesson not learned as County grew in confidence and Inverness were being made to look like the team at the bottom. Another poor clearance eventually made it's way to Quinn on the left. His looped cross was met by Yoann Arquin and he attacked the ball seven yards out with the static home defence spectating. First blood to County as Inverness struggled to cope with the powerful running and drive of the basement club.

Brill blocked another angled drive from Quinn after he was set up by some tidy skill from Jackson Irvine who had flicked the ball over the hapless tackles to tee up Quinn on the left edge of the six yard box.

A few seconds later and another chance for County. We continued to concede possession too easily and in the next surge forward Kiss laid it on a plate for Arquin who should have scored, but Brill pulled off a magnificent save as the big lad whacked the ball from ten yards, Brill diving to his left to palm the ball away, the struggling Meekings completing the clearance.

A rare foray forward saw Ryan Christie flick out a boot at a bouncing cross and Brown tipped the ball over the bar, but other than that it was practically all one way traffic.

The Inverness turkey's had been well and truly roasted and they almost fell two behind before the interval, but once more it was Brill who came to the rescue as he dived full length to his left to make a finger tip save from a netbound Carey free kick. Superb execution from Carey and equalled by Brill's save.

I doubt many home fans applauded the team off at the interval, and they left the field with boos ringing in their ears.

Half Time 0-1

It only took County ten seconds to carve open the home defence again and once more Arquin was the danger. He latched onto a long ball on the edge of the box, skipped inside Warren and hit a curling effort with his left peg, but it dipped just over the bar.

The home support started groaning again and there was little evidence that anything was about to change. However, it did. The short passing was binned and the longer ball became fashionable once more. Maybe the boos had the desired effect for that was the last time in this game that County would threaten the home goal.

A Brown clearance was wrestled away from the County midfielders by Christie and Tansey. The youngster sprinted towards the box and whipped a cross towards the far post. Boyd stooped and deflected the ball but only succeeded in teeing up Watkins who coolly prodded the ball past a wrong footed Brown.  Game on!

Inverness had woken from their slumber and began to believe in themselves. The tide had turned and Inverness now surged forward at every opportunity with the visitors looking ragged and throwing bodies in front of the ball, blocking with any part of the body they could get in the way. Warren was denied by a combination of Brown and Boyd and Doran shot wide as we searched for the winner.

Watkins chased a ball wide on the right and deftly back heeled the ball into the path of McKay who sped into the box. He held of the bulkier Frempah but he slid his angled shot across the face of the goal and just the wrong side of the post. Heads in hands all round.

Christie, Doran and Draper all came close as we pressed County back and Mark Brown saved the day with a miraculous acrobatic stop as he twisted and clawed away a point blank flick from McKay after Warren had headed on a long ball.

Ross Draper hit a piledriver at Brown and once more the keeper knocked the ball away from danger. Draper turned provider on the touchline as he slipped a ball into Christie. His quick feet flummoxed the defence and he burst into the box only to be thwarted once again by the brilliant Broonie.

County were clinging on and put up the shutters as Inverness marauded forward, the visitors offering nothing in attack in a role reversal of the first half. It was probably a fitting tribute to both keepers that no more goals were scored and the game drew to a close with Inverness desperately trying to get forward one more time, but after 94 minutes, Thomson closed the game by sounding the final whistle in a tale of two keepers.

Full Time 1-1

Not sure if the highlights do the second half onslaught justice, but have a deek.............

   

tm4tj MotM:- Two contenders for this accolade and it was a joint award this week with Dean Brill and Mark Brown taking the plaudits. Fantastic saves from both keepers . Brill kept Inverness in the game in the first half and Brown did likewise for County in the second period, that instinctive save from McKay drawing some disbelief and applause from the North Stand. Others who showed up for Inverness in the second half were Watkins and Doran. Christie also came alive in the second half and his twinkle toed runs are becoming suitable for the showboating videos on Sky Sports' Soccer AM.

Can't complain really about a point apiece with both side having their moments. It would have been some game if it all happened at the same time instead of separate half's, but, it's a funny old game as they used to say.