Inverness Caledonian Thistle made to come from behind to save point against 10-man Raith Rovers
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Raith Rovers 1 (Connelly)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Welsh)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle were made to work hard for their point away at Raith Rovers, despite their hosts being reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Ross Matthews' sending off right before the interval infuriated Raith's players and fans alike, and it looked as though Caley Thistle would have the advantage after the break.
Aidan Connolly had other ideas however, giving Raith the lead before Sean Welsh scored an equaliser to save a point for the Caley Jags.
A dearth of quality from either side in the final third meant that sights of goal were difficult to come by.
Both teams were trying to press their opponents deep into their own half, but while that did lead to a multitude of misplaced passes they tended to go off the pitch instead of presenting the other team with a chance.
Interestingly, Raith and Inverness had different tactics to try and get forward. Raith remained patient, usually opting to play it back to the goalkeeper or a defender and wait for an opportunity to present itself, while Billy Mckay had a lot of running to do in chasing after long balls forward.
Mckay cut a frustrated figure for much of the first 45 minutes, as did Raith captain Kyle Benedictus, but while Michael Gardyne looked most likely to make something happen the hosts clearly recognised this as he was often surrounded by two or three blue shirts.
It took until the last five minutes of the half for anything of real note to happen.
First, Aidan Connolly flicked the ball over Scott Allardice to give himself room for a shot that came the closest to breaking the deadlock, even though it was deflected wide of the mark.
Caley Thistle got a boost right on the stroke of the interval though as Raith were reduced to 10 men.
Ross Matthews and Mckay were going for a loose ball, and referee Colin Steven judged the former's studs to be showing when he slid in on the striker, catching him above the ankle, and decided that was worthy of a straight red card despite the furious protestations of the other Raith players – and all of their fans.
Many in the ground would have expected the Caley Jags to have most of the play in the second half as a result, but it was Raith who forced the first save out of Mark Ridgers.
The ball was played all the way across to Reghan Tumilty on the right, and he took his effort early to try and catch Ridgers out. That proved to be unsuccessful, but it did need a dive low to his right to keep it out.
Inverness responded immediately though as Sean Welsh played a ball into space for Shane Sutherland to run on to. He cut back past his marker on to his stronger left foot and tried to curl the ball into the far corner, but there was just not enough swerve on the ball to go in.
Although the game appeared to settle down, the deadlock was broken just after the hour mark – and it was Raith who went ahead.
Dario Zanatta drove forward with a run down the left where he was able to find space, and he crossed for Connelly who picked out the top corner with a deft finish, leaving Ridgers no chance.
Again Inverness went forward, now looking for an equaliser rather than a goal to take the lead, and MacDonald needed to react quickly to tip Mckay's header from close range over the bar.
Billy Dodds tried to change things up to inject more energy into his frontline, bringing on Aaron Doran and Manny Duku, and the latter went close with a free kick that MacDonald was again forced to keep out 15 minutes from time.
Dodds was about to make a third change when Inverness equalised. Mckay did well to keep the ball alive at the byline, giving it to Gardyne who drove into the box.
The veteran attacker pulled it back to the edge of the box, and though his pass was out of MacGregor's reach Sean Welsh latched on to it and drove into the net.
That did add a few more nerves into the mix for the Raith supporters, but it was them who will feel they should have had a winner right at the end.
Matej Poplatnik held the ball up well for Dylan Tait to switch it to Zanatta in acres of space, but the Canadian blazed the ball over the bar one-on-one with Ridgers in added time.
Raith Rovers: 1. Jamie MacDonald, 2. Reghan Tumilty, 3. Liam Dick, 5. Christophe Berra, 6. Kyle Benedictus (12. Tom Lang 53), 7. Aidan Connolly (22. Ethan Ross 77), 8. Ross Matthews, 11. Dario Zanatta, 13. Brad Spencer, 15. Dylan Tait, 18. Ethon Varian (99. Matej Poplatnik 21).
Subs not used: 17. Robbie Thomson, 23. Blaise Riley-Snow, 26. Kieran Mitchell, 29. Greig Young.
ICT: 1. Mark Ridgers, 2. Wallace Duffy, 4. Sean Welsh, 5. Robbie Deas, 6. Danny Devine, 7. Michael Gardyne, 9. Billy Mckay (16. Lewis Jamieson 82), 11. Shane Sutherland (19. Manny Duku 72), 12. Roddy MacGregor, 15. Kirk Broadfoot, 18. Scott Allardice (10. Aaron Doran 65).
Subs not used: 21. Cameron Mackay, 14. Tom Walsh, 17. Anthony McDonald, 23. Reece McAlear.
