Inverness CT 0-1 Falkirk

Mar 16 2008 Alasdair Fraser At Caledonian Stadium

BILLY CLARKE reckons he has blasted a clear message to boss John Hughes after bagging the crucial late winner.

The young striker has been starved of opportunities since arriving at Falkirk on loan from Ipswich in January.

But Clarke took full advantage of Russell Latapy's groundwork with four minutes left and hopes his clincher proves to gaffer Hughes he deserves a start.

Republic of Ireland prospect Clarke has been stunned to find himself on the bench.

But he believes things are now looking up.

He said: "It's taken a while to get the chance. I've come up here thinking I would play and it hasn't turned out that way so I was disappointed.

"But I just have to keep working hard and see what happens now.

"It has been the manager's decision because I have settled in fine. I feel I've been working hard in training and doing the right stuff.

"It's up to him now whether he thinks I'm ready but he knows I'm knocking on the door."

Clarke's goal boosts Bairns' hopes of a top-six finish. And he credited the evergreen Latapy for his part in the winner.

Clarke said: "It was an important game for our top-six ambitions so to come off the bench and get the winner was great.

"You begin to wonder where a goal is going to come from and then Russell's run before I scored was superb.

"He's always got that capability. Five years ago when he had the legs he would have finished it himself.

"It was a good opportunity to come here and get some games - but I need more. Hopefully I can get them now.

"I have a year left at Ipswich so my plan is to rest up in the summer and go back there for pre-season and hit the ground running."

The sides took time to warm up into any kind of rhythm although Caley's Dennis Wyness tested Austrian keeper Robert Olejnik from distance after six minutes.

Defences were firmly on top, Inverness centre-half Grant Munro catching the eye with several telling tackles.

One in 12 minutes prevented Carl Finnigan's shot testing keeper Michael Fraser from inside the box. Striker Marius Niculae was working hard to inject some invention for Inverness.

But it was Fraser next in action as he blocked at pointblank effort from Finnigan in 15 minutes after a Pedro Moutinho corner.

Niculae's trundler was turned past by Olejnik in 36 minutes before the ref called time on a dull first half. The early part of the second half produced little better from either team but play ignited at last in 64 minutes.

Don Cowie freed Roy McBain on the left flank and his low cross was dangerous.

Graham Bayne just failed to connect in front of goal before Niculae's shot from an angle at the far side of the box was blocked by Olejnik. Falkirk caused a scare in 74 minutes when substitute Clarke managed to whip in a teasing cross.

It took both Ian Black and Bayne to block Gerard Aafjes near the line.

Then Ross Tokely released Cowie for a burst down the right in 75 minutes.

The unmarked Bayne was waiting but Cowie's cross was sharply snatched by Olejnik.

Just when it looked like a point would have been the best any side deserved Latapy created the winner.

The veteran glided through bodies in the home box and whileMunro got his tackle in the ball squirmed to Clarke to tuck home from six yards.

Falkirk gaffer Hughes admitted Clarke is now firmly in his plans.

He said: "There's no doubt Billy has pressed his case for next week.

"But I was just relieved to win because I thought it was mostly played at an end of season pace."

MATCH STATS

INVERNESS CT

SHOTS ON 4

SHOTS OFF 6

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 12

CORNERS 3

BOOKINGS 1

FALKIRK

SHOTS ON 3

SHOTS OFF 6

OFFSIDE 4

FOULS 6

CORNERS 4

BOOKINGS 1

REF WATCH

CALLUM MURRAY stamped down on the odd tantrum without resorting to his pocket book too much. Decent display. Rating: 7/10.