SAINTS STRUCK BY REECE LIGHTNING
Inverness loan star keeps promotion dream alive
INVERNESS CT 2nd leg, Monday, May 23, McDiarmid Park
WITH St Johnstone’s top-flight status on the line, the signs looked ominous for the Perth side’s players as they arrived in Inverness.
A giant billboard outside Caledonian Stadium advertised an upcoming concert at the ground where legendary crooner Andrea Bocelli will be singing hits including: ‘Time to say goodbye.’
Yet after hitting their Championship hosts with a twogoal salvo within the opening 24 minutes, Callum Davidson’s men were looking unlikely to be waving farewell to their Premiership status any time soon.
In opera, of course, it is not over until the fat lady sings. Or, in this case, until the on-loan Norwich City star strikes twice.
A remarkable second-half double from Reece McAlear brought the house down in the Highlands as Caley Thistle somehow clawed their way back into this previously one-sided contest.
Up until the intervention of McAlear, this was as close to a stress-free play-off as Saints could have hoped for. A year to the week since his Scottish Cup final winner against Hibs, Shaun Rooney had headed another big goal for the Perth side.
Six minutes later Melker Hallberg had doubled the advantage and Saints would go on to squander chances to put the game to bed.
But two goals in seven late second-half minutes turned this match right on its head when McAlear steered the ball into the roof of the net before leaving his best until last.
The 20-year-old smashed a 25-yard free-kick past Zander Clark who had barely had anything to do until picking the ball out of his net twice.
Caley Thistle had come into this match knowing they had to rewrite history if they were to return to the Premiership.
No team has ever come through all three rounds of the Premiership play-offs to go up to the top flight.
Billy Dodds had steered his side past Partick Thistle and Arbroath but his squad was hit with injuries allied to suspensions to Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy after their red cards at Gayfield last Friday night.
Shane Sutherland did not make the match while Austin Samuels and Logan Chalmers dropped to the bench. In came Billy Mckay, Cameron Harper, Joe Hardy and teenager Lewis Hyde. St Johnstone made five changes from the much-changed side that lost 4-0 at Hibs in the final Premiership match of the season.
Back came Clark, Liam Gordon, Murray Davidson, James Brown, Callum Hendry and Hallberg.
Out went John Mahon, Charlie Gilmour, Jacob Butterfield, Tom Sang and Nadir Ciftci.
The game had barely started when Mark Ridgers was required to stop Saints going into an early lead.
Glenn Middleton sent a strike on goal but the Caley Thistle keeper made a fantastic save.
Murray Davidson was next to try his luck from outside the box but his fierce drive skidded just wide of the left post.
It was no surprise when the visitors made the breakthrough on 18 minutes.
McAlear’s attempted tackle on James Brown on the left flank saw the ball break for Hallberg.
He looked up and sent a cross over for Rooney to outjump Cameron Harper to thump a header home.
Jeered whenever he touched the ball by the home fans, former Caley Thistle player Rooney was enjoying the last laugh. For now.
Inverness were facing an uphill battle when Callum Hendry’s shot was saved by Ridgers and the ball broke loose in the sixyard box.
Sean Welsh tried to stop Middleton netting and Kirk Broadfoot also intervened but Hallberg rammed the ball home from close range.
Inverness’ decision to switch to an unfamiliar three at the back had backfired and Dodds went back to a four after the break with Samuels and Chalmers replacing Aaron Doran and Joe Hardy.
The change of shape began to work for the home side and McAlear pulled a goal back when he steered a cutback from Samuels high into the net. But Samuels had looked yards offside when he picked up the ball on the right flank.
When Davidson fouled Mckay 25 yards out there seemed no real danger. But up stepped McAlear, curling a gorgeous free-kick into the top-left corner.
Drained of confidence, Davidson’s men hung on for the remainder of a match while Caley Thistle deservedly milked their standing ovation at full-time.
It has been a strange campaign that has witnessed St Johnstone go toe-to-toe with Galatasaray and their defence of the Scottish Cup ended by League One Kelty Hearts.
The Perth side has been on a journey that has taken them from Istanbul to Inverness.
Whether or not their final destination will be the Scottish Championship will be confirmed at the end of the second leg on Monday night at McDiarmid Park.
INVERNESS CT (3-5-2): Ridgers 6; Broadfoot 6, Welsh 7, Deas 7; Carson 7, Hyde 6 (Allardice 56), Doran 5 (Chalmers 46), McAlear 8, Harper 7; Hardy 5 (Samuels 46), Mckay 6. Subs not used: Mackay (GK), MacKay, Strachan. Booked: None. ST JOHNSTONE (3-4-1-2): Clark 6; Cleary 6, McCart 6, Gordon 6; Rooney 7, Davidson 7, Hallberg 7 (Butterfield 69), Brown 6; MacPherson 6; Middleton 6 (May 69), Hendry 6. Subs not used: Parish, O’Halloran, Gilmour, Mahon, Ciftci, Craig, Sang. Booked: Middleton. Man of the match: Reece McAlear. Referee: Bobby Madden.