Killer Dutch from Schalk comes to the rescue for County

INVERNESS were just four minutes away from their most important derby win in years when Alex Schalk struck to salvage a point for County.

Flying Dutchman Schalk had missed a first-half chance to fire the visitors in front moments before when he protested that he should have had a penalty after going down following a tackle from David Raven.

But it was still cruel luck on Richie Foran’s side after Greg Tansey had given them an early second-half lead and they had twice hit the woodwork through Iain Vigurs and Billy Mckay. There was some consolation, however, for Inverness as they climbed off the bottom of the Premiership for the first time in several weeks, on goal difference over Hamilton.

County, meanwhile, remain four points clear of their rivals in ninth spot in the fight for top-flight survival.

While clearly disappointed to be so close to a second league win since the turn of the year, Foran said: ‘We had commitment and I’m delighted with the lads.

‘We’ll take the positives out of being a point better off than we were in the morning. But we must start turning draws into wins.

‘We played them off the park in the second half but goals change games and I was disappointed with the one we conceded.

‘We’re off the bottom, so that will give us huge confidence.’

Prior to Schalk just failing to get a touch on Jason Naismith’s perfect cross with the goal exposed, Vigurs clipped the crossbar in the fifth minute.

Caley went ahead three minutes into the second half when Tansey hit the target, albeit the ball striking defender County defender Marcus Fraser on the way to the net.

Visiting goalkeeper Aaron McCarey then produced a fine save to deny Tansey a second from a viciously struck free-kick.

McCarey also denied Henri Anier before Mckay struck the crossbar in the 76th minute.

County replied through Jim O’Brien but his shot was pushed over the bar by Owain Fon Williams.

The visitors were not to be denied, though, and they salvaged a point when Schalk — with his back to goal — swivelled to fire past Fon Williams.

County boss Jim McIntyre said afterwards: ‘I think we deserved our point and everyone at this stage is massive when you look at how tight the league is.’