The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Differing emotions as Pars grab late leveller
Dunfermline: Late strike is great news for Fifers – but spells woe for Caley
INVERNESS CT 2 DUNFERMLINE 2
It was a goal that sent one set of fans into delirium and another into deepest doom and gloom.
Barring another remarkable late twist in the Championship season, Nicky Clark’s finish a full five minutes into stoppage time may be remembered as the “Sliding Doors” moment for both clubs.
Seconds before, it was Caley Thistle who seemed destined to take the promotion initiative, dreams of a rapidfire Premiership return burning brightly.
One flash of the head from Clark and the dream was all but dead, leaving Dunfermline the team now eyeing extended action into May.
For Inverness, after a magnificent winning run to wrench themselves back into contention, it was a sickening sensation. For Dunfermline and Clark, the former Rangers and Queen of the South striker, it was simply joyous.
The 26-year-old admitted: “We heard on the Tannoy there were six added minutes. We were keeping in touch with the referee asking how long was left and I knew it was nearly the last kick of the ball.
“So it is just an unbelievable feeling to grab a goal and end up celebrating with the fans that travelled a long way up to support us.
“As soon as the ball hit my head, I knew it was going in. It was a great turnout from the travelling fans who have supported us all season.
“We just have to make sure we do the business at home to Dumbarton in the final game and make sure we are into the play-offs. It’s massive for us. We knew we had to get a goal back to get it back into our hands and we’re delighted to do that.
“Obviously, we know what we need to do at home to Dumbarton. We’ll treat that game like we’ve treated all the other games. We know we need to play well and, hopefully, we’ll do that.”
Clark admitted Dunfermline lost their way after a brilliant start saw Andy Ryan net a 13th minute opener, smashing a finish past home keeper Mark Ridgers from Lewis Martin’s cut-back.
Joe Chalmers’ stunning free-kick from 25 yards levelled the match within three minutes and, early in the second half, Caley Thistle seemed to be heading for an eighth win from nine games when Nathan Austin scored after a fantastic solo run.
The six added minutes cranked up tensions to unbearable levels, though and Clark left the hosts devastated with his flicked header from a fine Joe Cardle free-kick.
Clark said: “It was backs to the walls for a while but we always knew another goal was all we needed and luckily, we got it in the last minute.”
Only a Dunfermline lapse at home to Dumbarton and Caley Thistle victories at Livingston and Morton this week will reverse the damage done by the Pars draw.
It is just an unbelievable feeling to grab a goal and end up celebrating with the fans that travelled a long way up to support us. NICKY CLARK