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Cusick 18, Bayne 46, McKinnon 79 Arbroath 3 Invermess CT 2 Arbroath demonstrated once again that they are not a side to be underestimated, particularly on home ground. Inverness Caley Thistle made the long journey south to Gayfield Park with an unbroken run of five games to their credit.

However, the part-timers knew they needed a victory to haul themselves off the bottom of the table and some stout defensive work coupled with an attacking attitude saw them send the visitors home empty handed.

The winner came courtesy of midfielder Colin McKinnon who has now twice started on the bench this season only to come on to score the clincher.

Five minutes after coming on to the park to replace Graham Bayne, who had earlier puthis name on the scoresheet, McKinnon completed a battling effort by the Maroons.

John McGlashan set the ball rolling with a cracking cross to Andy Cargill who'd earlier had a run-in with ref Alan Gemmell for dissent, earning him a yellow card.

He took the ball forward only to fall but McKinnon was well- placed to flick it past keeper Nicky Walker.

Some fine saves from home keeper Craig Hinchcliffe ensured victory despite a tense three minutes of stoppage time when the men from Inverness fought to claw their way back.

The result was just reward for a fine performance by the Lichties against a Thistle line-up unchanged from the one that was victorious over Falkirk.

Arbroath were denied an opener 12 minutes into the match when George Rowe netted after picking up the rebound when Bayne hit the left post, only to have his effort ruled offside.

John Cusick fared better six minutes later when he single- handedly beat both the keeper and defender Roy McBain to score the first goal of the game.

Thistle didn't waste much time and equalised in 37 minutes, Paul Ritchie heading the ball in from a David Wyness cross.

Arbroath made a great start to the second half, putting themselves ahead again a minute after the break, Bayne toe-poking a perfect cross from Kevin Heenan past the keeper.

Two minutes later, however, Ritchie slotted home his second goal of the match to equalise.

Later efforts by Barry Robson and McBain failed to trouble the keeper and, with McKinnon sealing matters, the home fans went away happy.

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