It was Highland heartbreak for Kilmarnock as they threw away three points in Inverness.
The Ayrshire side led at the Caledonian Stadium until the 76th minute thanks to a sublime chip from Ash Taylor, but Billy McKay and Logan Chalmers strikes ensured Derek McInnes’ side headed back down the A9 empty-handed.
Over 1000 Killie fans headed north to cheer on their heroes, but ultimately they were left disappointed with a result that now swings the door wide open for Arbroath to close the gap at the top of the Championship to one point.
The Lichties square-off against Queen of the South tomorrow with a victory slashing the deficit from four points to one.
Blair Alston had the first chance of the match when he fired a shot off in the second minute, but his effort couldn’t find the target as it fell wide.
Kyle Lafferty had the ball in the net after 10 minutes, but the Northern Irishman saw the offside flag being raised to deny him an early opener.
Dean Campbell tried his luck with a drilled effort in the 20th minute, but one-time Killie keeper Mark Ridgers was equal to the effort.
McKay had an chance up the other end but Zach Hemming got out well to deny the Caley No 9.
Austin Samuels tried a speculative effort from 25 yards in the 52nd minute, Hemming was alert to tip the effort over the crossbar. Two minutes later Kirk Broadfoot had a shot from a similar distance, but again Hemming was equal to it this time tipping wide.
But just before the hour mark it was the visiting side who took the lead as the Killie fans were sent into delirium.
Taylor latched on to a poor header pack from Broadfoot and the centre back calmly chipped it over the oncoming Ridgers just like his teammate Lafferty would have done.
Chalmers forced Hemming into action in the 71st minute after a nice passing build-up from Caley, but the on-loan shot stopper was alert as he got down well to hold the effort.
Inverness got themselves back level in the 76th minute thanks to McKay who was in the right place at the right time to tap home from close range.
Chalmers struck the devastating blow to Killie as he fired home eight minutes from time.
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