Caley Jags hold third-placed Hearts
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Aaron Doran scores ICT's goal in Saturday's 1-1 SPL draw with Hearts.
CALEY Thistle held third-place Hearts to a 1-1 draw in the Clydesdale Bank SPL on Saturday – with both teams appealing for second half winners.
This entertaining match at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium also saw ICT defender Ross Tokely red-carded for two bookable offences with 13 minutes to go.
On-loan Blackburn forward Aaron Doran shot Terry Butcher’s side into an early lead, but Stephen Elliot replied for Hearts just after the break to ensure a share of the spoils.
The Caley Jags, who missed out on clinching a top six spot last weekend, were unchanged from the side which drew 1-1 at Kilmarnock.
They began with pace and purpose and visiting keeper Jamie MacDonald saved well from Adam Rooney early on when the striker connected with a cross from Richie Foran.
However, on six minutes, the Inverness side deservedly grabbed the lead when Doran slammed home a low delivery from Rooney after Foran had won possession in midfield.
The Highlanders were well on top and MacDonald moved smartly to turn a Rooney header over the bar on 19 minutes, with Lee Cox swerving a cross in from the left flank.
Rooney saw his effort blocked on 36 minutes after a neat lay-off from Nick Ross then Hearts had their first attempt of note when Andrew Driver fired just over the crossbar.
ICT goalkeeper Ryan Esson then denied Driver as the Hearts ace headed goalwards from a cross from the impressive Suso Santana.
In the closing moments of the first half, Tokely was booked for a foul then Stuart Duff kept Caley Thistle in front with a vital goal-line clearance from Rudi Skacel.
Hearts boss Jim Jefferies must have read the riot act at half-time as the visitors looked much livelier after the interval.
The Tynecastle side felt they had levelled when Ryan Stevenson connected with a knock-on from Elliott, who met a Santana corner, but referee Crawford Allan felt Rooney cleared the ball from the goal-line and to safety via the crossbar.
However, Hearts hauled themselves level on 53 minutes when Elliott scored from eight yards after a cut-back from Spaniard Santanta.
The Edinburgh team upped their game and Esson saved again from Driver before turning a Stevenson drive around the post moments later.
On 69 minutes, Foran felt he’d given his side the lead when his header from a Cox delivery looked over the line before Andy Webster hooked it away, but play was waved on and it remained 1-1.
Tokely then got an important touch to divert a Stevenson shot wide as both teams searched for the winner.
Tokely’s afternoon was ended, however, on 77 minutes when he was booked again for a foul on sub David Templeton.
Butcher brought Doran off and shored up the defence with Grant Munro.
Caley Thistle held firm though and took a deserved point, with no clear cut chances late on.
Inverness CT now have to wait until Easter Monday (April 25) for their next SPL clash when they head down the A9 for a date with St Johnstone.
For Hearts, they host Motherwell on Saturday as they close in on sealing third place in the table.
Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Duff, Cox, Foran, Rooney (MacDonald 72), Hayes (Sutherland 74), Ross, Gillet, Doran (Munro 78), Hogg. Subs not used: Tuffey (GK), Duncan, Innes, Morrison.
Hearts: MacDonald, Palazuelos, Santana, Black, Elliott, Driver (Templeton 70), Webster, Stevenson, Skacel (McGowan 64), Bouzid, Thomson. Subs not used: Balogh (GK), Glen, Zaliukas, Robinson, Mrowiec.
Referee: Crawford Allan.
Attendance: 4,336.
