Kilmarnock warmed up for their CIS Insurance Cup
final date with Hibernian at Hampden next week with a hard-fought win over
Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Rugby Park.
In addition to boosting confidence ahead of the
trip to the national stadium, Jim Jefferies' side all but assured
themselves of a top six spot in the Bank of Scotland SPL.
But they were made to work all the way against
the Highlanders during an entertaining afternoon in Ayrshire.
Markus Paatelainen's header in the 10th minute
put the visitors ahead but a double from Paul Di Giacomo and an overhead
kick from Steven Naismith gave the home side the interval lead.
Two minutes after the restart Caley stopper
Darren Dods reduced the deficit with a header to ensure a fraught second
half for the home side, but Kilmarnock held on for a crucial three points.
Only Motherwell can now catch them, and that would require a set of freak
results.
After a rather tepid start, it was the visitors
who took the lead in the 10th minute with a fine goal.
Midfielder Ian Black strode forward with plenty
of time and space before feeding Richard Hastings down the left hand side.
When the Caley defender's cross came in to the
Killie penalty area, Paatelainen rose highest among a crowd of players to
header high past stand-in goalkeeper Graeme Smith.
The goal sparked the home side into life and
Kilmarnock defender Gordon Greer almost levelled a few minutes later when
his hooked shot from 16 yards almost crept in.
But in the 17th minute
the Ayrshire side did get back on level terms with the strangest of goals.
Peter Leven's long throw from the left escaped a
clutch of players at the front post and while Michael Fraser hesitated on
his line the ball bounced to the far post where Paul Di Giacomo
(right) bundled it in from almost on the line.
Both sides moved up the gears as the game became
increasing frantic and in the 27th minute Kilmarnock took the
lead
after good work by skipper Garry Hay wide on the left.
The full-back swung in a terrific cross to the
back post which was volleyed towards goal by Naismith from 10 yards out.
Fraser
made a good block with his feet but when the ball rebounded out,
Paul Di Giacomo pounced to smash it in off the crossbar.
Killie added to their lead in the 40th minute
when Grant Murray's cut-back was weighed up by Stephen Naismith
before the youngster fired in a wonderful overhead kick from 10 yards
which flew past Fraser and into the corner.
Visions of Kilmarnock's
4-3 win at Inverness earlier in
the season came to mind just two minutes into the second half when the
visitors pulled a goal back.
Gary McSwegan's snap-shot from 30 yards had forced Smith into tipping
the ball over for a corner.
And when Barry Wilson's cross came over from the
left, Caley stopper Dods forced his header from close range over the line
despite the ball having to make its way past several bodies.
Dods had a good chance to equalise on the hour
mark when he was quickest to react to an Ian Black free-kick deep inside
the Rugby Park penalty area, but the big defender's volley went
embarrassingly wide of the target.
There was no let-up in the action. Moments later
at the other end, Paul Di Giacomo took a Colin Nish pass and from 16 yards
drove his angled shot wide of the far post.
In the 80th minute the increasingly agitated
Kilmarnock fans had Smith to thank for keeping them ahead when he stopped
a goal-bound volley from Paatelainen creeping in at the post with his
foot.
The Ayrshire side struggled as Caley continued
to press for the third goal and when Inverness striker Graham Bayne drove
a shot from the edge of the box towards goal, it was Paatelainen's head
which blocked the effort.
It was desperate stuff at times as Kilmarnock
defended their goal but in the end they held out for three vital points
and a boost ahead of next week's final at Hampden Park.
