Super Caley

We were at the Scottish Cup Final between Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It is the climax of the football season and Caley's first ever appearance in the final of the competition. Although from a lower league Falkirk have a bigger average home support and probably more resources at their disposal. Caley could be said to have been punching well above their weight for a few seasons now; a tiny Highland club finishing third in the SPL this season, now assured of lucrative European football next season and of course cup finalists today.

The magical dream did not unfold without some nerve jangling moments. Caley were well on top in the first half and scored the opening goal before the interval. Falkirk have a very good coach and he clearly fired his team up with the half time talk. Falkirk dominated much of the second half with speed, accurate passing and several attempts which could have been goals on another day. It got worse for Caley; their defender Carl Tremarco, under no pressure, dithered a bit on the ball and lost control of it. A Falkirk player pounced on the loose ball and as he headed towards goal a retrieving tackle from Carl was seen as a bit wreckless. In such a case (if the foul is on the man heading for goal and it is seen as a lost scoring chance) then the rule is that the defender is sent off; a red card.. With ever more pressure Falkirk equalised and their supporters started to really get behind them. Caley looked stretched and tired. If all square at 90 minutes the prospect of extra time with ten men must have been soul destroying. I feared a second Falkirk goal was imminent
Then it all changed. Caley's Marley Watkins picked up a loose ball in his own half and raced forward. There were still Falkirk players around him and no support was near him. Eventually  James Vincent appeared to his right in space, the sideways pass was on but he took a shot. It had good direction but not much pace to it. It should have been an easy save for the keeper, either to hold or put round the post, but he parried it back in to the path of the still on running Vincent.

"GOOOOAL!" 

The story was unbelievable. Falkirk and their support were stunned and there were just a few minutes left. Falkirk continued to threaten but finally finally the final whistle went.

There will be much celebration in the Highlands tonight.