Bairns’ woodwork comes to four
Paul Hartley was left cursing the football gods after Falkirk struck the frame of the goal FOUR times.
Craig Sibbald was twice denied along with Reghan Tumilty and Andrew Nelson in the opening 45 minutes as Bairns drew a blank for the first time in 10 games.
Dumbarton, who remain nine points adrift of eighthplaced Falkirk, started and finished with great chances.
But the Bairns boss said: “If you look at the first-half
Scott Tif foney opened the scoring and won a penalty for Gary Harkins to slot home as Ton made it six wins from seven matches to move up to third.
But John Robertson’s Inverness are now 10 points adrift of the play-off zone with 12 games left.
Caley Thistle had two goals chalked off, hit woodwork twice and had a penalty claim waved away – but Jim Duffy’s men were strong and took their chances.
The Cappielow boss said: “The table looks good but this league is
Falkirk ................ 0 Dumbarton ........ 0
performance we hit the post and crossbar four times. You come in at half-time thinking it’s not going to be your day.
“We had enough pressure and should have won. Their goalkeeper made some good saves in the second half as well. We had a sloppy first half in terms of gifting them a chance. But we had the so precarious you can easily lose three games on the spin. It’s great to see boys who have come through the ranks make an impact.”
Morton had managed only two draws in nine visits here dating back to 1999 and the home side set about inflicting more misery.
A Highland penalty shout was turned down in 13 minutes when Michael Doyle challenged George Oakley. Inverness then had the ball in the net from a Gary Warren header but it was ruled offside.
For all the home possession it chances and it was one of those days.”
Sons midfielder Stuart Carswell fired wide inside three minutes before the siege started. First Sibbald saw a shot from Joe McKee’s corner hit the upright then Tumilty’s cross-cum-shot cannoned off the post.
Nelson’s 40-yard drive smacked the bar with Scott Gallacher scampering back after a poor clearance. And incredibly Sibbald’s shot then glanced off the under- was Morton who took the lead on the half hour, Tiffoney with a cool finish from a tight angle.
Robertson’s side twice went close just before the hour. First an Oakley header was cleared off the line then Joe Chalmers hit a post.
Iain Vigurs also struck the bar and the misses cost Inverness in 71 minutes. Tiffoney was clipped in the box by Colin Seedorf and Harkins slotted the spot-kick.
Home sub Daniel Mackay saw his goal chalked off for as foul on keeper Derek Gaston and gutted boss Robertson said: “The first goal is criminal from us. We had a couple of chances but didn’t do enough right at times.” side of the bar five minutes before half-time.
Gallacher repelled the Bairns in the second half, stopping McKee’s low drive before getting his fingertips to Nelson’s rising effort.
Falkirk No.1 Conor Hazard then parried Carswell’s injury-time shot before sub Mark Stewart bundled wide.
Sons boss Stevie Aitken said: “We had the best chance in Stuart’s – that sums our luck up in front of goal. But we deserved a point.”