Caley Thistle 1-1 Cove Rangers: Dramatic headed goal from Cove keeper Balint Demus delivers blow to League One leaders Inverness
Who was picking the keeper up? Scott Kellacher felt his League One leaders Inverness only had themselves to blame after Cove Rangers keeper Balint Demus salvaged a last-gasp 1-1 draw.
Alfie Stewart’s long-range shot fired the Highlanders in front uring a first half they largely controlled.
They had to stand up to more pressure in the second half and a dramatic header from Demus three minutes into stoppage-time secured a point for Paul Hartley’s men.
Cove, in eighth spot, are now three points in front of Hamilton, who lost 3-1 to Queen of the South, ahead of Accies visiting the Balmoral Stadium next Saturday.
Kellacher, whose team host Peterhead in their game in hand on Tuesday, admitted his side paid the price for a poor second half showing.
He said: “To say it was hard to take would be an understatement.
“We started very well, very positively in the first half. I couldn’t have asked for more and we had a few chances before we scored the goal.
“The frustrating thing was we were not ruthless enough in the first half.
“The second half was really disappointing. We actually came out and started the first five minutes brightly.
“Jordan Alonge had a great opportunity to make it 2-0 and the game would have been done.
‘Who was picking the keeper up?’
“We then seemed to run out of steam, run out of ideas. We tired and didn’t play the way we know we can. It wasn’t anywhere near good enough.
“We’ve gone from having a really good first half to having a really poor second half. It was probably our poorest 45 minutes. We need to be better than that.
“We need to look after the ball and do the right things at the right times.
“Then we had a chance to take it into the corner. We didn’t and Cove went up the park, won a corner, which we didn’t deal with.
“When the goalkeeper was coming up, who was going to pick him up?
“Credit to Cove. They threw everything at it and the goalkeeper got into the box, but it was a sore one.
“We never looked like we were in trouble. As much as we were controlling the game, when it’s 1-0, teams will have a go in the last 5-10 minutes. They have nothing to lose.
“We only have ourselves to blame.”
Hartley’s praise for scoring keeper
Cove host Hamilton next weekend in what would be a big match to win against the team one place and three points behind them.
Cove boss Paul Hartley was thrilled to see their second half improvement rewarded in such fashion.
He said: “It was a big point. Inverness are a good team and they were the better team in the first half.
“At 1-0, you always have a chance and in the second half we came out and played some good stuff without having an end product. We threw everything at them.
“They were maybe a wee bit off it in the second half, but we capitalised on that and passed the ball after being a bit rushed in the first half.
“We sent the big man up for the last kick of the ball. He came in today because Robbie Mutch is injured. He made a great save in the second half, but then it’s a great header.
“You need that wee bit of luck in football. Balint had a good game. He was confident and calm, so I was really pleased with how he performed.
“I am delighted to come away with a big point. Every point is really important at this stage of the season. This season has been tough for us with injuries, but we’ve had players back.
“It’s a big game against Hamilton, but every game is a big one between now and the end of the season.”
Stewart cracker gives Inverness lead
Both teams went into this north clash on the back of wins a week ago, with ICT beating Montrose 3-1 and Cove beating Peterhead 2-1.
Inverness fielded the same starting XI, with Cove’s sole switch being goalkeeper Balint Demus coming in for injured Mutch, in his first league start of the season and his first start overall since a Challenge Cup defeat to Partick Thistle in mid-December.
The Caley Jags began with plenty of intent with a Joe Chalmers shot with too much height and Billy Mckay and Jordan Alonge efforts ruled out for offside inside the opening six minutes.
Cove were struggling to find a way through until 33 minutes when a drive from on-loan Dons starlet Cooper Masson required a strong hold by home goalkeeper Ross Munro.
Seven minutes before the break, a tidy move from Caley Thistle led to on-loan Aberdeen midfielder Stewart crashing an unstoppable shot high into the net from 25 yards after Paul Allan found him with a pass.
It was ICT’s 100th goal of the season, adding to their already best tally in a single campaign and it was worthy of that milestone.
It took Stewart’s tally to six goals for the term in Inverness colours.
Chris Maguire came close to hitting back for the Aberdeen side, but his shot was blocked in the final chance of the first half.
Pressure pays off with Cove leveller
Inverness almost doubled their advantage in the first attack of the second half when on-loan Kilmarnock right-back Ben Brannan’s cross found Alonge, but Demus was equal to his shot with a decent stop.
Cove then enjoyed some time in the Inverness half, but a wasted Maguire free-kick summed up the frustration.
That said, they continued to press, with the scoreline remaining at 1-0.
A driving run and swerving shot from Cove substitute Joseph Teasdale was just off the mark, as tension grew within the home stands.
Caley Thistle came close again though when another cross from Brannan was guided goalwards by Alonge, but Lewis Parker made a goal-line clearance to prevent ICT celebrations.
With Cove still sensing a chance, a corner delivered in the 94th minute was headed home by Demus to spark celebrations for the Aberdeen side instead.
Caley Thistle v Cove Rangers ratings
CALEY THISTLE (4-2-3-1): Munro 6, Brannan 6, Devine 6, Savage 6, MacIntyre 6, Allan 6 (Mackinnon 62), Chalmers 6, Stewart 7 (Longstaff 73), Alonge 7 (MacLeod 81), Bavidge 6 (Wotherspoon 62), Mckay 7 (Zimba 73).
Subs not used: Ross (GK), Longstaff, Robertson, Willox.
COVE RANGERS (4-1-3-2): Demus 7, Bisland 6 (Teasdale 69), Darge 6, Parker 6, Harrington 6, Yule 6, O’Donnell 6 (McAllister 78), Masson 7 (Carrol 69), Emslie 6, Megginson 6, Maguire 7 (David Eguaibor 85).
Subs not used: Mutch (GK), Strachan, Justin Eguaibor.
Referee: Jamie McCunnie.
Attendance: 1,823.
Man of the match: Alfie Stewart.
[Source: Press and Journal]
