INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE staged a remarkable comeback in the Highland capital last night to stun St Johnstone in the first leg of the Premiership play-off.
The home side came back from the dead to snatch two late goals that may yet come haunt the Premiership club who looked to have all but secured their top flight future when they cruised through the first hour at Caledonian Stadium.
But the illusion was shattered by local hero Reece McAlear in an astonishing seven minute spell that gave the Championship side at least a fighting chance in the return leg on Monday evening, albeit there was a suggestion of offside in the build-up to McAlear’s first goal during which Jamie McCart also sustained a head knock.
The portents were less than encouraging for the home side, given the manner of St Johnstone's lively start designed to increase the pressure on a Caley side missing five players due to a combination of suspensions and injuries, most notably Danny Devine and Shane Sutherland.
With the match only 40 seconds old Rooney flashed a warning that he was capable of exploiting any pocket of space when he broke down the right side and tried a dipping cross that was close enough to the target to cause a sharp intake of breath among the locals.
Mark Ridgers was then called on to make a fine save from Middleton before Murray Davidson hit a decent effort just wide.
Caley appeared incapable of relieving the pressure though it looked to be more a case of St Johnstone's superior skills rather than any desire to invite the opposition on to them by choosing to play deep.
The direction of play showed no signs of changing when Ridgers was forced to gather a shot from Rooney. It was no surprise therefore when St Johnstone scored after 18 minutes of one-way traffic.
Hallberg enjoyed a stroke of good fortune when the ball broke to him after Lewis Hyde had attempted to tackle James Brown, allowing him to deliver a cross to the back post for Rooney to score with a header from around 10 yards.
There was now a desperate need for the Caley players to compose themselves and come up with a fresh game plan in an effort to keep their hopes alive.
It turned out to be a forlorn hope when St Johnstone increased their advantage within six minutes of taking the lead.
Ridgers succeeded in parrying Callum Hendry's shot but his fellow defenders were unable to prevent the ball reaching Hallberg in a goal-mouth scramble and the midfielder finished off by finding the net from a handful of yards.
It was becoming increasingly clear that the Championship side were playing for pride in the form of damage limitation with any realistic hope of turning the situation around appearing to have disappeared.
Billy Dodds, the Inverness coach, looked shell-shocked heading to the dressing room at half-time, which was hardly surprising in the circumstances, given how markedly his team had been outclassed.
Dodds endeavored to effect change by replacing Aaron Doran and Joe Hardy with Logan Chalmers and Austin Samuels on the resumption of play. But the newcomers had no noticeable effect on the flow of play.
It was largely a case of Groundhog Day, albeit the St Johnstone players looked to have eased back a touch allowing their opponents a little more of the ball with the result that Jamie McCart was forced to head a dangerous Billy McKay cross behind.
That seemed to give the Caley players renewed hope and, with McKay prominent, they began to ask questions of the defence and all of a sudden St Johnstone looked far less self-assured and controlling.
What followed almost defied logic as Caley dug deep and unearthed a remarkable comeback in the space of seven minutes.
McAlear twice struck to stun the opposition who must have felt they more or less had the job done when they led by two goals with 17 minutes remaining and home advantage for the second leg.
His first resulted from a cross from Samuels from the left after McKay flicked the ball to Samuels who rolled a pass to the edge of the box for McAlear to complete a finish into the roof of the net.
Suddenly it was game on again and when McKay won a free kick as a result of being fouled by Davidson, McAlear stepped up to smash an absolute stunner into the postage stamp corner of the net and give his club hope that they may reach the promised land of the Premiership.
Dodds said: "Never known we're beaten is something I knew we had - that was a given.
"We didn't have to prove it but we did so again. It is an incredible thing to have in football.
"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up. We tried something different by matching up St Johnstone, going man for man.
"They moved us about, they are used to their system. I didn't think we did the right things within it. We didn't pass the ball well, we forced it, so I had to do something.
"Sometimes the manager has to take it on the chin. I hold my hands up as the 3-5-2 didn't work. I changed it and put on some pace. The subs were great and a threat when they came on.
"I knew the next goal was so important when it was 2-0. If we nick it, we can spook them and that's what we did.
"I don't like to mention individuals but Scott Allardice was nothing short of remarkable when he came on for someone who's not played for so long. He showed the composure.
"I told Reece before the game he hadn't scored in a while. He is a top lad. He gave the ball away a few times but my word he is special when it comes to striking the ball. He has proved it time and again this season. When you put it together it is nothing short of ridiculous.
"I just wanted to still be in the tie at McDiarmid. I thought we were out of the tie at half-time. I felt we didn't believe and then we got the goal and suddenly it changed and the belief is flowing through the team. I thought we could match if not better them.
"St Johnstone were great in the first half with their movement, they were Premiership class. To turn it around against a Premiership team when 2-0, I have told you all season how strong my team are mentally."
