Storm Ciara’s winds, followed by the rain, did their best to spoil this football match but I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon at the Caledonian Stadium.
It was a keenly contested affair with plenty of hard work and endeavour.
At times, Livingston moved the ball about like the Premiership team that they are, but the closer they got to goal, the less effective they became. Everything Mark Ridgers was called upon to do, he did very well, but I expected him to be busier. Some of this came down to an extremely solid performance by the back four in deteriorating conditions that could have made a fool of the best of players.
David Carson, Sean Welsh and Charlie Trafford all had fine games in the middle of the park and it was fitting that one of them should score the winner. It has been a while since we have seen Caley Thistle pose a real threat direct from free-kicks, but as soon as the referee awarded it you could see Welsh fancied his chances with it. He then proceeded to curl it around the Livi wall into the back of the net we all understood why.
This result will not have the same ramifications as Caley Thistle’s famous win of 20 years ago at Celtic Park but if they continue to show that level of effort and determination over the rest of the season, they should comfortably make the play-offs. It can’t have done their confidence any harm.