Resilient Gardyne is Inverness’ hero with late clincher

BILLY DODDS hailed evergreen Michael Gardyne’s fitness levels after the veteran returned from injury to fire Inverness Caledonian Thistle three points clear in the Championship title race.

The dominant hosts failed to add to an early free-kick opener from skipper Sean Welsh and were stunned by a late wonder-strike by Queen of the South’s Lee Connelly.

Rather than settle for a point, though, the unbeaten Highlanders again mustered a response with Gardyne — back from three weeks out — capping a brilliant show with the 81st-minute winner.

After six wins and a draw in the league, Inverness are playing with confidence.

Dodds said: ‘My players have resilience. They have confidence from winning games, but it is a worldy Connelly scores — I’ve watched it again and it’s incredible.

‘That can sink you as a team, but it shows we’ve got plenty about us. We could have just taken the point and stayed top of the league.

‘We kept going and it is a great finish from Michael Gardyne, just back in the team.

‘I thought he might not last the game after three weeks out, but he’s so fit at 35. He knows how to look after his body.’

Gardyne (pictured), a summer signing from Ross County, returned for the first time since hitting the winner at Kilmarnock after recovering from an ankle injury.

Queen of the South struggled to lay a finger on Inverness in the first period, with the home breakthrough coming on 12 minutes.

Manny Duku won a free-kick from Joshua Debayo’s foul almost 25 yards out and Welsh, starting his first league match, sent a wonderful, swerving, dead-ball finish past goalkeeper Solomon Brynn at his left-hand post.

Gardyne provided much of the threat with a series of dangerous crosses and, after 20 minutes, one swung tantalisingly across the six-yard box, only just missed by the arriving Tom Walsh.

Determination from Welsh in winning the ball back soon after sparked another dangerous foray, but Gardyne’s cross was nodded wide by Manny Duku.

By the break, 1-0 seemed a scant return for home dominance.

Caley Thistle substitute Reece McAlear, on-loan from Norwich City, tested Brynn with a fierce strike from distance after a subdued start to the second half.

Gardyne then lifted the crowd just after the hour with a superb individual run and 20-yard dig that Brynn parried for a corner. Moments later, Queens broke clear and Max Johnston whistled an angled strike just wide.

Into the last 20 minutes, Walsh’s cross struck the Queens crossbar after a lovely bit of control, but then came the visitors’ bolt from the blue. From a throw-in on the left, Connelly wove his way in towards the left corner of the penalty area.

He then managed to curl a superb finish high beyond the reach of Mark Ridgers into the far top corner of the net.

But, with nine minutes left, the home crowd erupted as the lead was restored.

Robbie Deas launched a high angled ball towards the box, flicked on by the head of substitute Lewis Jamieson. Gardyne controlled it on his thigh and flashed a superb eightyard finish high past the keeper.

Queens’ boss Allan Johnston said: ‘The goal was coming but it took a wee bit of magic from Lee Connelly. That should have been enough to at least get a point.

‘There are too many occasions when that has happened.’