Inverness CT3–1St. Mirren

A well deserved win for Caley Thistle but not sealed until the last few minutes. St Mirren produced little in the first half except a goal. The home side took the lead in 13 minutes after continuous pressure. Ludo Roy conceded a throw on the right after making a mess of a pass back under pressure from Paul Ritchie. Ross Tokely’s quick throw went to Richie Hart who headed for goal and scored with a low angled shot which caught Roy by surprise. Mark Brown had nothing to do until the 24th minute when he picked the ball out of the net. St Mirren’s first attack led to a Ricky Gillies chip from the right and a header by Martin Cameron into the corner of the net. Despite attack after attack Caley Thistle could not find the killer touch and 1-1 at half time greatly flattered Saints. The visitors were more in the game in the second half but still Caley Thistle dominated. In 50 minutes Ritchie looked well placed to score from a Barry Robson cross but he failed to control the ball at the vital moment. In 62 minutes Bobby Mann strode out of defence and set up a Robson run on goal – with only Roy to beat the ball somehow ran past. Cameron netted for Saints in 69 minutes but an offside flag halted his shirtless celebrations. The reward for the home efforts came in 73 minutes when Dennis Wyness took a Robson cross in the box and hit cleanly past Roy under pressure from a defender. Saints substitute Jamie Dunbar brought out a diving save from Brown in 84 minutes before Wyness made it 3-1 two minutes later. A Robson run and cross left Ritchie and Wyness with a sight of the poorly-defended goal. Wyness eventually controlled it and hit low past Roy. At 2-1 there was always the fear that St Mirren could steal a goal but 3-1 was too much.