Queens Park2–1Inverness CT

Spiders Stun the Caley Jags



Kerr Smith kept his place in defence but Liam Sole and Alfie Stewart dropped to the bench with Ryan Duncan and Roddy MacGregor starting. Queens Park had Ben Brannan starting with Nikolay Todorov on the bench. An early strike from Graeme Shinnie set us on our way.... or so we hoped. Alas Queens were 2-1 ahead before the break following two errors that saw them move forward to score when we were up the other end of the park. We squandered numerous half chances in a second half onslaught but the Spiders held out to claim the three points to lift them off the bottom of the table. Meh!

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Luis Longstaff had our first effort after a ball was laid across the box, but he fluffed his shot and the danger was cleared. We did better in the sixth minute after Ryan Duncan's curling shot was palmed away by keeper Mitchell, however the ball went to Graeme Shinnie who took a touch before firing across goal high into the net from the left side some fifteen yards out. Great start for the visitors. Queens Park equalised after quarter of an hour after Remi Savage gave the ball away halfway up the park. Queens transferred the ball forward well before a low strike from Connolly just evaded the fingertips of Ross Munro. A disappointing goal to lose all round. A dipping shot from Luis Longstaff was saved by Mitchell and the follow up from MacKinnon was diverted for a corner. A whipped shot from Ryan Duncan from twenty-five yards brought out a low diving save from the keeper as Inverness looked to restore their lead midway through the half. Ten minutes before the break a MacKinnon header from a corner was cleared from the bottom corner as the visitors pressure mounted. FFS, a second mistake handed Queens Park the lead before the break after Calum MacLeod lost the ball high up the park on the right wing and Connolly is the benefactor once more as he strokes the ball into a vacant net on the break against the run of play. What a disappointing end to the half in a game we were well in control of.

HALF TIME: 2-1

No changes at the break for Inverness apart from the mood, but Callum Smith replaced Ben Brannan for the Spiders. The hosts made a lively start to the second half and could have scored a third following an early corner but the ball ended up in the keepers arms. Not the pub, but a save by Ross Munro. He had to make another stop a few minutes later as ball was fired at him from a tight angle by Lewis Stewart. After fifty-seven minutes Kellacher had seen enough and hooked Duncan, MacGregor and Longstaff for Sole, Alfie Stewart and Bavidge. MacKinnon fired over as we upped the pace and following a corner headed against the bar from three yards. Alfie Stewart curled an effort just over from the edge of the box before Junior Osong came on to be blocked on the line moments later with fifteen left. Alas everything was getting a bit frantic as we struggled to create the clear opportunities that our play deserved. On a break forward Queens almost flicked one goalwards from six yards to force three corners as we approached the final ten minutes. Liam Sole drove goalwards only for his effort to be deflected for a corner. Last throw of the dice saw Spoony replace MacKinnon. It was a bit of an onslaught towards the end and another rasping shot by MacLeod from distance cleared the bar as the Spiders clung on by a thread. Sole stung the keepers hands as the clock ticked down. Osong turned on the edge of the box but he shot wide. Another wasted cross into the box wasted more valuable seconds and another and another. A last minute corner was easily cleared with Munro up the park but it would just not run for us and Queens held on for the win.

FULL TIME: 2-1

Who saw that coming? Really disappointing result after a promising performance at the weekend and that keeps us out of the top four. All down to basic errors and when we needed a bit of extra quality at the end we simply didn't have the composure to stick the ball in the net.

Apparently 23 shots and only 1 âš½ to show for it.