Nine men Inverness Caledonian Thistle make Arbroath pay the penalty as they are through to meet St Johnstone in the play-off final

Arbroath 0

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

Inverness win 5-3 on penalties.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are two games away from the Premiership after defeating Arbroath 5-3 on penalties.

But they had to do it with nine men after Danny Devine was red carded midway through the second half and Wallace Duffy sent off in extra time.

But Mark Ridgers saved Bobby Linn’s penalty in the shoot-out before Kirk Broadfoot slotted home the winning spot kick.

Inverness will face St Johnstone in the play-off final to play for a place in the Premiership.

Inverness made one change to the team that drew 0–0 in the first leg as Billy Mckay was dropped to the bench with Aaron Doran brought into the starting line up.

Arbroath kept faith with the same starting 11 from the goalless draw at the Caledonian Stadium.

It was a nervous start to the game by both teams with the first real chance coming midway through the first half for Arbroath.

The ball fell kindly to Scott Stewart from 12 yards out and he fired wide of the left post.

Inverness had little to do in the first half but Austin Chalmers had the best chance when he collected a cross from the right wing from Aaron Doran, but his low drive was easily collected by Derek Gaston.

Billy Mckay came on at half time replacing Samuels as head coach Billy Dodds attempted to improve Caley Thistle’s attacking options.

Inverness had a golden chance to take the lead five minutes after the break when Shane Sutherland won the ball in midfield and charged towards the goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, but hit the sidenetting.

Inverness were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Devine was judged to have fouled Jack Hamilton as the last man and was sent off.

The visitors were left incandescent at the decision with assistant manager Scott Kellacher also sent off for his protests.

Inverness had to play the final 10 minutes of the regular 90 with nine men as Sutherland had to be stretchered off after his knee gave way and could not continue. But Lewis Hyde was able to replace Sutherland in extra time.

Arbroath had a great chance at the start of extra time when Jack Hamilton was clean through on goal. But Ridgers made a great save to keep the game goalless.

The hosts continued to put on the pressure on with Colin Hamilton’s header hitting the side netting from Nicky Low’s cross.

Caley Thistle were then reduced to nine men when Wallace Duffy was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Bobby Linn.

Arbroath nearly won it at the end of extra time when Colin Hamilton’s header hit the crossbar but the game went to penalties.

Billy Mckay and Michael Mckenna both scored the teams opening goals.

Joe Hardy and Nicky Low made it 2-2 and Sean Welsh and Colin Hamilton made it 3-3.

Cameron Harper made it 4-3 and Mark Ridgers saved Bobby Linn’s spotkick. Kirk Broadfoot scored the winning spotkick to send them into the play-off final.

Arbroath: Gaston, Thomson (Donnelly 90), Colin Hamilton, Little, O’Brien (Henderson 105), Low, McKenna, Stewart, Chris Hamilton (Gold 105), J. Hamilton (Wighton 110) Craigen (Linn 74).

Subs (Unused) Swankie, Ford, Bakare, Antell.

Inverness: Ridgers, Welsh, Deas, Devine, Carson, Doran (Hardy 60), Sutherland (Hyde 90), Broadfoot, Chalmers (Harper 67), McAlear (Duffy 74), Samuels (Mckay 45).

Subs (Unused) Allardice, Mackay.

Referee: Willie Collum.

Attendance 5154.

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