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St. Johnstone3–2Inverness CT

Donnelly 13′
Paatelainen 21′
Parker 90′
Paul Ritchie 64′
Paul Ritchie 73′
13 Mar 2004Saturday, 13 March 2004 · 3pmMcDiarmid Park, Perth

Lineups

St. Johnstone

St. Johnstone · Starting XI

  • Cuthbert
  • Robertson
  • McQuilken
  • Vata
  • Weir
  • Maxwell
  • Donnelly
  • Reilly
  • Paatelainen
  • Parker
  • McLaughlin

St. Johnstone · Substitutes

  • Hay
  • Stevenson
  • Fotheringham
  • Dods
  • Nelson

St. Johnstone · Subs used

  • Hay -> Paatelainen69′
  • Stevenson -> McLaughlin82′

St. Johnstone · Manager

  • Not recorded

St. Johnstone · Cautions

  • Maxwell
  • Robertson
  • McLaughlin
  • Parker

Inverness CT

Inverness CT · Starting XI

Inverness CT · Substitutes

Inverness CT · Subs used

Inverness CT · Manager

Inverness CT · Cautions

Match report

Saints pulled level on points with Caley Thistle thanks to an injury time wonder strike from Keigan Parker. The home side dominated in the first half and scored twice. The first came in 12 minutes after a flowing move from defence to attack. Jamie McQuilken cut in from the left to set up Simon Donnelly in the middle and he side footed into the net. Mark Brown denied Keigan Parker three minutes later with his legs then made a brilliant stop from a Mixu Paatelainen header in 21 minutes – as the ball broke Paatelainen tapped in to make it…Read moreRead less
Saints pulled level on points with Caley Thistle thanks to an injury time wonder strike from Keigan Parker. The home side dominated in the first half and scored twice. The first came in 12 minutes after a flowing move from defence to attack. Jamie McQuilken cut in from the left to set up Simon Donnelly in the middle and he side footed into the net. Mark Brown denied Keigan Parker three minutes later with his legs then made a brilliant stop from a Mixu Paatelainen header in 21 minutes – as the ball broke Paatelainen tapped in to make it 2-0. Saints continued to press and early in the second half Brian McLaughlin shot over then Brown dived to save a Donnelly header. Barry Wilson was impeded by Jim Weir in the box but no penalty was given. Caley Thistle moved up a gear when substitute David Bingham took the field on the hour mark. In 64 minutes he set up Paul Ritchie with a flick from the left - the striker turned and shot home his 17th goal of the season from eight yards. Nine minutes later Ritchie scored his 18th after a good move which started with a Ross Tokely cross from the right into the box. Bingham headed down, Barry Wilson touched it forward and Ritchie shot home as the defence hesitated. The scene was set for a great finish and Caley Thistle looked to have scored a winner in 77 minutes. Roy McBain crossed from the right, Kevin Cuthbert saved Ritchie’s header and Wilson netted from the rebound. The assistant referee called offside but this decision was contradicted later by TV evidence. Into stoppage time and Parker took a touch from Chris Hay as he stormed down the right into the box – he let fly with an unstoppable angled volley past Brown. It was a goal fit to win any match but for Caley Thistle it meant three league defeats in a row and a major setback to the league challenge. Clyde only took a point against Brechin and Falkirk lost to Queen of the South. Clyde now have a seven point lead and only Caley Thistle and St Johnstone look in a position to catch them – with vital games coming up for all clubs anything could happen.