Old Dog Shows A New Trick!

INVERNESS CT 2

HEARTS 1

GOLDEN oldie Craig Brewster produced a stunning scissor-kick in the dying seconds to cap a fairytale win and secure Caley's first points of the season.

The 41-year-old player-boss came off the bench with five minutes left and the score tied at 1-1 then stole the showby magically volleying home Alan Morgan's cross to kick-start the Highlanders' campaign.

After six league defeats on the trot Inverness badly needed the victory and Brewster couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

They had fallen behind to an Ian Black own goal in the first half but when Hearts crazily changed their team around at half-time they handed the initiative to Brewster's men.

Dennis Wyness scored a tap-in to make it all square then the gaffer rattled home one of the best goals of his career to end Caley's miserable SPL start.

Afterwards Brew said: "Could you have written a better script? I don't know if it's my best ever goal but it's certainly an important one.

"It's not easy deciding to put yourself on and I left it late because we had the ascendancy in the game and were creating chances.

"I put Alan on too and thankfully it has worked for us. He pinged in a great cross and it hit off me!

"Seriously, when Laryea Kingston hit the post with a free-kick it was a pivotal moment for us. Weneeded a break and that was it as we went up the park and scored the winner.

"I was pleased Hearts didn't put Andrew Driver out in the second half as he had been stopping Ross Tokely attacking but that changed after the break."

The Jambos only have themselves to blame.

Their mystery "management team" - not assistant head coach Stevie Frail - hooked Driver and Andrius Velicka at the interval when there was no need. It cost them big-time.

Caley midfielder Black admitted he feared the worst when he handed Hearts their opener.

He said: "I thought 'Here we go again' when I put the ball in my own net. We've been really unfortunate so far but deserved this win.

"I'm delighted the manager's back as he ratesme and wanted to take me with him when he left for Dundee United.

"Hopefully this can kick-start our season now because we've always had belief in the squad."

The first 45 minutes yesterday were instantly forgettable

The low point for Caley came on 33 minutes when Driver's cross cruelly ricocheted off Black, giving keeper Michael Fraser no chance.

Hearts were better than the home side who lacked a cutting edge but that changed after the break.

Wyness came agonisingly close to an equaliser when he linked up well with Marius Niculae but his diving header from the Romanian's cross crept inches wide of the post.

Brewster's half-time pep talk clearly had an effect as Caley piled on the pressure.

Former Jambo Wyness got the goal he deserved in the 63rd minute and he'll never score an easier one.

Tokely's centre found Barry Wilson whose ferocious drive stung the palms of Steve Banks before Wyness tapped in from half a yard.

The English keeper (left) should have done better with the shot as he failed to divert it to safety but Wyness wasn't complaining as he notched Caley's first home league goal of the campaign.

They were almost in front moments later. Don Cowie's corner was met by Phil McGuire but Kingston cleared off the line.

Hearts had done nothing in the second period but could have won it in 81 minutes when Kingston's free-kick hit the post.

It looked to be heading for a draw until Brewster stole the show.

Morgan dug out a magnificent cross and his gaffer's dream volley from eight yards almost burst the net.

REF WATCH

MIKE TUMILTY twice pulled Caley back in the first 10 minutes to give them a free-kick when they still had the ball. More dodgy calls wound up both sides and he never looked in full control. Rating: 5/10.

Taken from the Sunday Mail