Inverness CT 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen scored another dramatic late goal as Steve Lovell made an immediate impact on his comeback. The Dons had failed to seriously test the Inverness keeper until Lovell came on in the 79th minute - a minute after Bayne had given Inverness the lead. In the 88th minute the striker crashed an overhead kick of the cross bar and a minute later he bundled the ball over the line for a sensational equaliser that maintains the Dons unbeaten record against Inverness but fails to lift either side into joint second place.

Aberdeen kicked off and enjoyed the early possession without creating a clear-cut chance. The home side were then awarded a soft free kick in the 5th minute when Hart was adjudged to have fouled Dargo. Fortunately the chance was wasted as the wall blocked the set play and Dargo fired the loose ball well wide of the target. Five minutes later Nicholson strode forward but was crowded out allowing Inverness to break and win the first corner of the match. The set play was over hit and rolled harmlessly out for a goal kick.

A second and third corner followed in the 14th minute and although the delivery was better Langfield comfortably claimed the ball. Severin, full of confidence after last week's goal, tried from distance and Dempsey had a pot shot in the 20th minute but neither tested the keeper. A minute later a Dargo shot had Langfield scrambling across his goal as the effort drifted inches wide. Aberdeen then went close in the 26th minute as Smith delivered a deep cross that Anderson failed to steer towards goal.

Two minutes later Aberdeen won a free kick inside the D when Mackie was brought down, but the best Smith could do was win the Dons first corner as the ball deflected off the wall. Inverness cleared comfortably and Duncan tried an ambitious effort from 40 yards but Langfield easily held the shot. Clark then won the Dons second corner in the 31st minute and after the ball was half cleared Jamie Smith whipped in a deep cross but once again Anderson couldn't convert. Three minutes later Smith had a shooting opportunity but fired well wide under pressure from Tokely.

Langfield was then forced into a save from Rankin in the 39th minute after Dargo had won another soft free kick. Clark then won another corner two minutes later but Dempsey was penalised as he went for Nicholson's delivery. Neither side were able to carve out a chance in the closing minutes but the Dons finished the half on the attack.

Aberdeen won a corner in the opening minute of the second half and although Smith sent in a dangerous cross no one attacked the ball and keeper Brown collected. A minute later Mackie was tumbled on the edge of the D and once again Jamie Smith failed to get the ball round the wall. Seconds later Chris Clark whipped in a cross and once again Anderson was inches from connecting with the ball. Former Don Russell Duncan became the first player to be booked in the 50th minute then three minutes later Inverness won a free kick on the edge of the box but Rankin hit the wall before Dargo went close with the loose ball.

Another corner in the 58th minute was wasted as Clark hit a weak effort that was well off target. Mackie and Dempsey then combined well but were eventually crowded out by the Inverness defence. Munro was causing Aberdeen problems with an effective long throw and after a strong start to the second half by Aberdeen the home side were enjoying most of the play at this stage. Calderwood then made his first change in the 67th minute as Considine replaced Clark allowing Severin to move into midfield. Two minutes later Smith skipped into the Inverness area before the ball was cleared.

Considine then collected a rather soft yellow card two minutes after taking the field. A shot from Nicholson in the 71st minute won the Dons a corner but Aberdeen were finding it difficult to break down a resolute defence. Mackie was denied seconds later before a Hart cross was cut out, as Aberdeen looked more positive after the substitution. Inverness then grabbed the lead in the 78th minute when Bayne headed a cut back past Langfield. Calderwood immediately replaced Dempsey with Lovell. Two minutes later Hart made a terrific challenge on Wilson as the Inverness player looked to con the referee into awarding a penalty.

With seven minutes remaining young Chris Maguire replaced Darren Mackie as Calderwood went all out for an equaliser. Lovell managed to last five minutes before referee McDonald decided to show him a yellow card then Langfield spilled a corner and just managed to keep it out of the net. Lovell almost made a sensational comeback with an overhead kick that crashed off the bar in the 89th minute and was then headed over by Considine. He was more successful a minute later when he forced the ball over the line for a sensational late equaliser.

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Match Stats:

		ICT	Dons
Goal Attempts		9	12
On Target		6	4
Corners		7	6
Possession		53%	47%

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