Caley Thistle give themselves a fighting chance going into final day

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE claimed a much-needed point in their battle against relegation as they fought for a 1-1 draw at Dunfermline.

The visitors edged the early possession and on-loan Ross County forward Alex Samuel had an effort blocked midway through the first half as Caley pressed for an opener.

But the Pars turned the tide and Kyle Benedictus headed them in front four minutes before the break as he nodded Paul Allan’s assist home for a narrow half-time lead.

Inverness were awarded a penalty after Owen Moffat handled the ball in the area – 10 minutes after the break – but Deniz Mehmet saved Billy Mckay’s spot-kick which was heading for the bottom corner.

The away side continued to push for an equaliser as Sean McAllister fired wide, while Aribim Pepple made his effort count as he slotted home a leveller, 15 minutes from time, as they took their fight to the last day of the season against Morton.

They sit ninth, a point behind Queen’s Park, who are outside the relegation play-off spot by a point with a game to go after a 5-0 win at relegated Arbroath.

Just 17 minutes had gone when Dom Thomas put the visitors ahead with a volley from 20 yards.

The well-travelled Cillian Sheridan made it two – 11 minutes later – when he finished well after a ball over the top. Sheridan then turned provider when, 33 minutes in, he teed up Josh Scott for his first goal for the club.

Sean Welsh’s volley (59) made it four and a second from Thomas nine minutes from time capped things off.

Partick Thistle and Ayr United could not be separated in 0-0 stalemate at Firhill Stadium.

Kerr McInroy fired narrowly wide of the Honest Men’s post in the early exchanges but it was Thistle who nearly scored in the 34th minute as Scott Robinson saw his close-range shot deflected just wide.

Brian Graham did bag for the Jags on the stroke of half-time, but the offside flag denied him the opener.

Neither side could make the breakthrough, with the best chance of the second half falling to Aidan Fitzpatrick only for him to be frustrated by Josh Clarke when he took aim in the 80th minute.

Morton and Raith also played out a goalless draw at Cappielow.

The home side enjoyed the better of the first-half chances, with George Oakley seeing a goal ruled out for offside in the 29th minute before firing inches over the crossbar after a strong run shortly before half-time.

Kirk Broadfoot headed wide for Morton after the break, while at the other end Aidan Connolly saw a curling effort comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Ryan Mullen. Raith goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski did well to keep out a Robbie Crawford header in the 74th minute and again to deny Callum Smith six minutes from time as the game remained goalless.