15 Points And You F***ed It Up

Wednesday 21st April 2010. Long time league leaders Dundee travelled to Kirkcaldy knowing anything less than a victory against Scottish Cup semi finalists Raith Rovers would consign them to another season in the First Division.

Raith 1-0 Dundee

A result which virtually guaranteed Raith safety from relegation, but, over 100 miles to the North, meant just as much to the good men and women of Inverness...

It's been a long, hard slog in the first division after relegation from the Scottish Premier League last season, and when Lee Cox scored deep into stoppage time at East End Park to beat Dunfermline Athletic 1-0 on the opening day of the season, it looked like a positive sign of things to come. However, it was another month before Caley fans witnessed their team earn another league win. A 3-0 away win over Morton coming after draws against Dundee and Ayr, and a 3-1 home defeat to local rivals Dross *ahem* Ross County, who would later go on to reach the Scottish Cup final, emanating ICT's famous cup victory over Glasgow giants Celtic.

Cup results were encouraging for Thistle over the first few months of the season, but league form, at home in particular, left a lot to be desired, and many fans fearing a quick return to the big time would have to wait at least another 12 months. In fact, they would have to wait until the final day of October for their first maximum at the Caledonian Stadium. Morton again the victims of a 3 goal margin; 4-1 the final score. The next league match was another disappointing defeat to Ross County, this time 2-1 in Dingwall.

November 22nd was the date for the ALBA Challenge Cup final between Dundee and Inverness. ICT went in at half time 2 goals up and looking good to collect their first silverware of the season. After the break, however, things took a turn for the worse. A Nauris Bulvitis own goal at the beginning of the half set the wheels rolling for an unlikely Dundee comeback, completed when Craig Forsyth scored 7 minutes from time. Dougie Imrie, who left the club for SPL football with Hamilton Academical in January, was sent off in injury time to cap a miserable afternoon for ICT and the fans.

The cup final defeat to Dundee seemed to set a precedent for the season, with the Dees 15 points clear of ICT at the turn of the year and surely heading for the league title and promotion. Things started to get better for Caley though. On 18th January they knocked SPL side Motherwell out of the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win. Bulvitis and Imrie (his last goal for the club) were the scorers. This win set the ball rolling and by the end of March the club had gone 15 games unbeaten, propelling them to the top of the First Division table. The final game of the March programme saw Ross County return to the scene of their 3-1 derby day victory over Inverness. However, this time round they were facing a very different side. ICT raced into a 3-0 lead at the break. A stalemate in the second period dampened the affair a little but there was no stopping the party atmosphere within the Caledonian Stadium. 3-0 the final score and revenge for the two previous league defeats to County earlier in the season.

April saw a mini revival at Den's Park, but as much as Dundee were doing to keep in the title race, Caley were doing more. A last minute Richie Foran goal, a smart overhead scissor kick 4 minutes into injury time, ensured 3 more points against Raith Rovers, who had battled back from 3-1 down to seemingly earn what would have been a well deserved point. Wins away at Morton and Queen of the South, the scene of a 1-1 draw back in December which started ICT's 19 match unbeaten run, put them within touching distance of a swift return to the SPL. Morton then nearly pulled off an unlikely win over Dundee, a result that, coupled with ICT's 2-0 win over Dunfermline that same saturday afternoon, would have confirmed the Highland side as Champions. As it was, Dundee hit back with 2 goals and the game ended 2-2. These results meant Caley could now only be caught by Dundee on goal difference. At the time however, Dundee's was 14, while ICT had a healthy GD of 32. A huge swing of 18 goals would be required for Dundee to take the title.

As I may have mentioned previously, Dundee lost on April 21st to Raith, thus confirming Inverness Caley Thistle as worthy winners of the Scottish First Division.

The following saturday, ICT travelled to Ayr for their penultimate game of the season. A huge following travelled down from the Highlands and set about creating a brilliant carnival atmosphere at Somerset Park. The mood amongst the away fans certainly wasn't going to be dampened, and in just the second minute, Jonny Hayes scored to set ICT on their way to their biggest ever away win in the SFL. Further goals from Adam Rooney, Richie Foran, Eric Odhiambo, Danni Sanchez, Robert Eagle, and Gavin Morrison made the final score Ayr 0-7 ICT, and sparked three pitch invasions from the jubilant Caley fans, after the 6th and 7th goals, and at the final whistle.

Now all that remains is to play Dundee in the final game of the season, where the Dees players will (should) form a guard of honour as the Inverness players emerge from the tunnel at the Caledonian Stadium for the final time as First Division players, for one year at least(!)

My personal thanks and congratulations go to Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas on the fantastic job they've done this season, to the players for the effort they've put in and the results they've produced, to everyone at the club for the work that's gone on this season, and to my fellow fans, for roaring our boys onto league glory and promotion.

Here's to another 5 years (and hopefully many more) of SPL football in Inverness.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Irn Bru Scottish First Division Champions 09/10