Inverness CT 1 - 0 Ross County: Eagle lands fortuitous final spot for Inverness

Published on Sunday 4 October 2009 23:37

ROBERT Eagle landed an Alba Challenge Cup final place for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and then confessed his winner was a complete fluke.

The former Norwich City midfielder's attempted cross nestled in the top corner just before half-time. Fierce rivals Ross County tore back at the hosts in the second period, but saw Paul Lawson smack the crossbar before time ran out.

For Eagle, helping Inverness reach the final for the first time since the First Division title-winning season of 2003-4 is a good omen for the campaign ahead.

Eagle said: "I'd like to say I stuck it in the top corner, but I'll tell the truth – it was a complete fluke. I saw Jonny Hayes at the back post and went to put it into that area and luckily enough it went in the top corner.

"A goal is a goal, I'll take it. I'm told the last time Caley Thistle reached the final and won they went on to win promotion, so hopefully we can repeat that."

Victory also brought vengeance for County's emphatic 3-1 league win here in late August. Five minutes into a cautious opening, Caley Thistle's Richie Foran's 25-yard free-kick forced Michael McGovern to save low at his left hand post.

It was not until the 27th minute that they troubled McGovern again when Foran's left-foot strike dipped just over from the edge of the area. There were shades of the previous week's display against Partick in the way Caley Thistle's superiority went unrewarded, but the breakthrough came in 44 minutes.

McGovern rose to meet Grant Munro's high ball into the box, but was beaten in the air by Foran. The header broke to Eagle to the left of the box and he lifted a half volley over County shirts and into the top corner.

Before the half-time whistle sounded, McGovern pulled off an acrobatic save to thwart a Nauris Bulvitis header.

County injected more passion after the break and Scott Morrison's driven free-kick dipped dangerously into the six-yard box, but evaded all contact. Substitute Garry Wood then drew a great parry from Esson with a 12-yard blast.

There was furore in front of the main stand after 66 minutes when Scott Morrison elbowed Hayes to the floor but escaped punishment. County's luck was not so good eight minutes from time as Paul Lawson's 22-yard strike clattered the bar.

Home manager Terry Butcher stressed: "You'd like to make it comfortable, but semi-finals are often not like that. We got a fortuitous goal, but at least Robert was aiming to put it into a dangerous area. This can give our players a lot of confidence and something for the fans to cheer here at last."

Opposite number Derek Adams said: "We were unfortunate not to score in the second half. I wish Caley Thistle well for the final."

Inverness: Esson, Proctor, Bulvitis, Munro, Golabek, Eagle, Cox (Stratford 80), Duncan, Hayes, Foran, Sanchez (Rooney 80). Subs: Barrowman, Ross, Allison.

Ross County: McGovern, Miller, Boyd, Watt, Morrison, Brittain, Kettlewell (Scott 46), Lawson, Vigurs (Wood 62), Gardyne (Moore 83), Di Giacomo. Subs: Keddie, Malin.

Referee: S O'Reilly