CALEY JAGS CUE UP ARBROATH CLASH
AUSTIN SAMUELS was the Highland hero all over again as Inverness Caley Thistle booked a Premiership play-off semi-final against Arbroath. Billy Dodds’ side secured the 3-1 aggregate win to leave Partick Thistle contemplating another season in the Championship after a tense 90 minutes in Inverness. After eight wins from their last 10 games, momentum is with Caley Jags, now in their fifth season outside the top flight and having their second tilt at the play-offs. The young fans in the home ‘singing section’ opposite the main stand served a pre-kick off reminder of just how high the stakes were, unfurling a banner reading: ‘Take your place in history’. That was a reference to the fact no team had ever made it from the 3rd against 4th showdown to the top flight since the play-offs were introduced in season 2013/14. The first threat came after five minutes with Richard Foster’s slack ball forward striking Logan Chalmers. The Inverness man raced forward but scooped his attempt way over the bar. Partick always looked dangerous when playing balls into the home box and Scott Tiffoney’s delivery forward ended with Robbie Crawford volleying over the bar. Slackness from Kirk Broadfoot also gave Brian Graham a sniff of a chance at the edge of the 18-yard line, but the big striker shot high and wide. Amid the high tension, the first piece of calm, measured play produced a fine opener in the 29th minute. A loose pass from Partick’s Kevin Holt sparked danger, and the two men who combined for Caley Jags’ Firhill winner did the rest. Shane Sutherland punished the slackness, threading a through pass perfectly into the path of pacy Samuels. About 10 yards out, he smashed his angled shot hard and high, beating keeper Jamie Sneddon.
Partick’s luck was out four minutes later. Stephen Hendrie’s corner created havoc in the home penalty area and, after a couple of rapid-fire blocks, Graham’s snapshot rattled against the crossbar and away to safety. Graham was foiled again six minutes from the break as he met Foster’s delivery with a header which Mark Ridgers saved. For the hosts, on half-time, Billy Mckay glanced a header beyond the far post from Robbie Deas’ measured cross. Caley Thistle went agonisingly close to a second from Reece McAlear’s 55th-minute corner, with Broadfoot’s powerful header brilliantly palmed wide by keeper Sneddon. It became even more tense, heated and scrappy as the second half progressed, Partick desperately trying to find a spark, Caley Thistle hellbent on dousing it. A stunning save from Sneddon denied Sutherland at the death. For Caley Thistle, it’s on to Arbroath.