Inverness CT 3-4 Aberdeen

Mar 30 2008 Jordan Costello At Caledonian Stadium

MIGHTY Chris Maguire nodded home a last-gasp winner against 10-man Caley Thistle to keep Aberdeen's top-six hopes alive after a thrilling contest.

The Dons' 17-game unbeaten run against the Highlanders continued as Jimmy Calderwood's bid to keep his 100 per cent record of reaching the top half of the SPL with the Pittodrie outfit remained intact.

Seven goals, two red cards - one of which came after the full-time whistle for Inverness skipper Grant Munro - and two committed teams made for an enthralling game.

Ex-Ross County midfielder Roy McBain looked to have sealed a point for Craig Brewster's side with a well-taken equaliser in 65 minutes but right at the death Maguire popped up to nick the points.

Aberdeen made two changes to the side who drew against St Mirren last week with Jackie McNamara starting ahead of Maguire and Dave Bus replacing Lee Mair.

Caley Thistle boss Craig Brewster brought back misfiring midfielder Don Cowie after dropping him for their 4-1 defeat at Kilmarnock last week.

Caley started brightly and nearly opened the scoring in the first minute when Dougie Imrie's cross found Cowie but his shot was beaten away by Derek Soutar.

Aberdeen came close soon after when a neat move between Sone Aluko and Darren Mackie ended with the Scot firing wide.

The Dons took the lead two minutes later after Lee Miller showed sensational skill to flick the ball over Imrie.

He then played the ball through to Aluko and the onloan Birmingham man hammered the ball home.

Calderwood's men almost doubled their advantage soon after but Richard Foster's left-foot strike went inches past.

Caley levelled in 20 minutes, courtesy of a Bus own goal.

Russell Duncan whipped in a free-kick to the back post and the big defender turned the ball into his own net.

The home side nearly took the lead when Marius Niculae smashed in a left-foot effort that was well saved by Soutar and five minutes later Duncan found the Romanian in the box but Alan Maybury timed his tackle well.

Caley Thistle went ahead in 40 minutes when Cowie laid the ball off to Duncan who thundered a left-foot shot home from 30 yards.

But just before the break the Dons levelled when Foster swung over a cross that Barry Nicholson headed home.

Caley were reduced to 10 men in ridiculous circumstances just after the half-time whistle had gone.

Goalscorer Duncan, who had been booked for celebrating his goal, was harshly given a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after referee Dougie McDonald had blown.

Five minutes after the restart the Dons could have regained their lead when Aluko's free-kick from 20 yards was wonderfully saved by Michael Fraser. Miller looked certain to nod home from the rebound but Grant Munro cleared off the line.

Aberdeen regained the lead in 55 minutes when Nicholson's corner found Miller at the front post and he headed home.

But 10-man Caley refused to fold and equalised five minutes later after Cowie found McBain who stabbed the ball in.

In 69 minutes Miller blew a great chance after a neat move between Aluko and Mackie ended with the former laying the ball on a plate for the ex-Falkirk hitman but he shot wide.

The Dons continued to press and Foster tested Fraser with a left-foot volley in 80 minutes.

Nicholson then had a curling strike from the edge of the box saved. However, with the last action of the game McNamara blasted an effort that was brilliantly saved by the Caley keeper but Maguire nodded home the rebound.

REF WATCH

DOUGIE McDONALD angered both sets of fans with card-happy antics. No common sense.

Rating: 4/10.

MATCH STATS

INVERNESS CT

SHOTS ON 6

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 10

CORNERS 5

BOOKINGS 4

ABERDEEN

SHOTS ON 8

SHOTS OFF 8

OFFSIDE 4

FOULS 12

CORNERS 6

BOOKINGS 5