Match Report

Thursday, 13th November, 2008

by Euan Mcarthur

SPL: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-1 Falkirk

SUPERSUB Adam Rooney rescued Inverness with a late leveller to dash Falkirk's hopes of leapfrogging them.

The Irish striker headed home from point-blank range to salvage Caley Thistle a share of the spoils they merited for their spirited second-half showing.

Michael Higdon gave the Bairns what looked like proving to be the decisive goal in 19 minutes with a well-taken effort for his second goal in as many games.

But Rooney reacted quickest in 81 minutes when Barry Wilson's cross sparked a massive scramble inside the Falkirk box which saw Ian Black's header come back off the bar.

Craig Brewster stuck by the same Inverness side that ended their losing streak in style at Easter Road last weekend. And they almost got off to a dream start with their first real attack.

A sliced clearance from the Falkirk defence saw the ball fall kindly for Dougie Imrie.

His intention was to let fly first time and the effort flew just inches wide of on-loan Bairns keeper Scott Flinders' goal.

Falkirk, who hadn't previously threatened, went ahead against the run of play in 19 minutes.

It was pretty straightforward stuff from a Bairns side noted for their flowing football.

Neil McCann made a yard for himself wide on the left before delivering a tempting cross to the far post. Steve Lovell met it to head downwards into Higdon's path.

The on-form striker, fresh from netting a few days earlier against Hamilton, steadied himself and unleashedaleft-foot finish that took keeper Ryan Esson by surprise.

Esson seemed to think the ball was going wide but it crept into his bottom right-hand corner to send the small band of travelling fans wild.

Esson had the chance to redeem himself a minute later and he did so by holding Higdon's near-post header.

Inverness, though, weren't out of it and Don Cowie served notice of their ability to break at speed when he rifled a shot narrowly wide after Imrie and youngster Iain Vigurs had combined well to set him up.

In between times Vigurs and Falkirk's Kevin McBride were booked by ref Craig Thomson as the tempo lifted in the run up to half time.

In 37 minutes Scott Arfield broke clear at pace as the Inverness defence tried desperately to get back in time to thwart the danger.

But the final ball let him down, allowing Esson to come from his line and collect comfortably, after Higdon and Lovell had both made lung-bursting runs into the box.

Falkirk were dealt a blow when, on the stroke of half-time, McCann was forced to make way for Graham Barrett after the former Scotland winger pulled up with nobody near him.

Caley Thistle kept going in their search for an equaliser but Imrie's effort lacked direction as it flew straight into the arms of Flinders.

It was no surprise when Brewster made a double change at the start of the second half. Irish striker Rooney came on for Vigurs in the hope he could inject some much-needed pace into the hosts forward line.

He was joined by Andy Barrowman, who replaced Garry Wood after the youngster had found himself well marshalled by the Falkirk defence.

Yet it was still the visitors who looked the more lively and likely to grab the next goal.

Lovell found space on the right to cross for the unmarked Barrett.

But the sub lost his nerve by heading wide under no pressure.

At the other end Cowie's cross was nodded down by Barrowman but there was nobody on hand to apply the finishing touch.

This was a decent spell for the hosts and they almost snatched a leveller on the hour mark.

Ross Tokely's lofted cross into the penalty area looked meat and drink for Flinders. But the Bairns keeper fumbled the ball with Rooney ready to pounce before Falkirk finally cleared their lines.

That scare served to enliven the visiting team as Barrett's snapshot flashed just past Esson's goal.

In 62 minutes Inverness were appealing for a penalty. Again Tokely fired over a cross which Imrie went for with Jackie McNamara close in attendance.

Imrie went to ground claiming he had been held from behind but ref Thomson was up with play and waved away their appeals.

For the final push, Inverness introduced Wilson in place of Cowie and it was the veteran winger who delivered with the cross that led to Rooney's leveller.

MAN OF THE MATCH Michael Higdon (Falkirk)