Scottish Daily Mail

Killie title bid falters

Chalmers clinches victory for Caley

- ALASDAIR FRASER at the Caledonian Stadium

KILMARNOCK’S title bid stalled last night as a dramatic late comeback from Inverness Caley Thistle propelled Billy Dodds’ side into the race for second.

Ash Taylor’s second-half opener had moved the visitors to within a whisker of the Championsh­ip crown.

But two replies within six minutes turned the match on its head as Billy Mckay and then Logan Chalmers shot down the champions-elect.

It means Dick Campbell’s Arbroath side can climb back to within a point of the leaders today if they defeat visitors Queen of the South.

Caley Thistle can still catch Arbroath, but the character shown in a fifth game undefeated, featuring four wins, had the home support saluting them at the Caledonian Stadium.

Kilmarnock came north knowing a victory would take them to the cusp of the Championsh­ip title.

A win in Inverness and then an Arbroath defeat at home to Queen of the South the next day would have been enough to spring them back to the Premiershi­p at the first time of asking.

But Inverness remains a cursed venue, where they haven’t won in 12 years and 13 visits now stretching back to December 2010.

Despite a four-game unbeaten run, manager Dodds made three changes from the side that capitulate­d and threw away a 2-0 lead away to draw with Ayr United last time out.

Mark Ridgers returned in goal for the first time since February 9 at Cammy Mackay’s expense.

Also in were fit-again Danny Devine and striker Austin Samuels, with Mackay, David Carson and Aaron Doran dropping to the home bench.

With around 1,200 Killie fans making the journey and a healthy home turnout, there was a great buzz around the stadium on a mild night, perfect for a top-ofthe-table clash.

Killie threatened first inside the first couple of minutes with Fraser Murray’s cutback to the edge of the penalty area finding Blair Alston thrashing a shot just wide of the right hand post.

Seven minutes later, Kyle Lafferty had the ball in the net after tearing in behind, but the offside flag was raised.

Murray was posing problems for Caley and soon after swung in a dangerous free-kick that Ridgers reacted swiftly to punch away from waiting Killie bodies.

The home defence was having to dig deep for a spell with a fine overlap setting Dean Campbell clear from Oli Shaw’s pass.

The on-loan Aberdeen wide man struck hard at Ridgers’ goal but saw the goalkeeper push the attempt over the crossbar.

Finally, inside 25 minutes, Dodds’ men began to muster chances of their own.

Kirk Broadfoot’s long diagonal ball sent Chalmers racing away on the left and the on-loan Dundee United winger brushed the sidenettin­g with a left-foot attempt.

A minute later, more pressure saw Samuels blocked close in by away skipper Chris Stokes.

As play swung back at the hosts, central defender Devine made a superb and timely saving tackle on Shaw.

Shaw also nodded just over the bar from a Murray corner while, at the other end, Zach Hemming was sharp off his line to save at Mckay’s feet from a Sean Welsh high, angled ball forward.

Neither side made changes at the break, but both camps were seeking a spark of inspiratio­n to grasp the initiative.

Killie picked up the pace after the restart with Shaw sweeping a low ball across the box and Murray arriving, only to be blocked by Robbie Deas.

Twice within a couple of minutes, Hemming spared Killie with fine saves, tipping a Samuels attempt over the bar and then pushing Broadfoot’s 25-yard blast wide of the right-hand upright.

Alston’s deflected strike led to the corner that broke the deadlock.

Murray’s delivery caused chaos in the home penalty area and Broadfoot was unable to deal with a Lee Hodson header.

The veteran’s loose touch let Taylor in to dink the ball over Ridgers for the opener on the hour mark.

The home side persevered and finally got their reward after 76 minutes.

Chalmers’ cross found substitute Doran firing at goal eight yards out.

The ball ricocheted to Mckay, who forced a shot over the line via the goalkeeper’s body.

Six minutes later, the hosts were in dreamland. Welsh’s cross from the right was poorly dealt with by Killie and Chalmers pounced to strike low and hard into the back of the net from the angle of the six-yard box.

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 ?? ?? Logan’s run: Chalmers celebrates grabbing the winner for Inverness
Logan’s run: Chalmers celebrates grabbing the winner for Inverness

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