Mark Ridgers was the hero as his shootout save settled a nerve-shredding play-off semi ultimate and despatched Inverness to inside 180 minutes of a Premiership return.
On an evening when Billy Dodds’ aspect needed to dig deep into their reserves after being lowered to 9 males by a ridiculously card-happy Willie Collum, Ridgers dived to his proper to disclaim Arbroath stalwart Bobby Linn.
It teed up veteran Kirk Broadfoot to slam house the ultimate penalty and arrange a house and away showdown with St Johnstone as they appear to finish their five-year prime flight exile.
It was heartbreaking for Lichties legend Linn, in his ninth season with the membership, and it was harsh on Arbroath who completed six factors away from Inverness within the common Championship standings.
However Billy Dodds had challenged his aspect to disregard the script as they headed to Gayfield with what appeared like each impartial in Scotland behind Dick Campbell’s part-time shocktroops and their fairytale run.
And so they did simply that with a backs-to-the-wall masterclass. It was removed from fairly. It was tense, edgy, brutal at occasions and the match ball would have been deserving of a heavy dose of paracetamol.
Dodds and his gamers received’t be giving a rattling as they head into the ultimate.
They needed to overcome two stunning choices from Collum too as Danny Devine was harshly pink carded after 65 minutes after which sub Wallace Duffy followed on 113 minutes, once more with the whistler getting the choice mistaken.
Gayfield was rammed to close capability with round 600 travelling followers making the 300-mile spherical journey within the 5154 crowd. And the way they partied after watching their heroes dig out a consequence at a venue the place Arbroath had solely misplaced as soon as within the league all season - paradoxically to Inverness on the opening day approach again in July.
Since then the 2 sides completed highest scorers within the second tier throughout the common season - but couldn’t conjure up a purpose between them in 210 play-off minutes.
Signal as much as our Report Sport e-newsletter
Get all the most recent Sports activities information despatched straight to your Inbox day-after-day by signing as much as our e-newsletter.
We cowl each morsel of data relating to your favorite membership within the type of articles, movies and podcasts.
The e-newsletter will arrive day-after-day at 12pm, providing you with a spherical up of one of the best tales we have lined that within the final 24 hours.
To enroll, merely enter your e mail tackle into the hyperlink right here.
And in case you aren't already, ensure you be a part of the dialog over on our Fb teams and Report Sport Instagram.
The notorious Gayfield wind machine was at a reasonable stage, sufficient to make a idiot of any Inverness defender making an attempt to clear their strains and hold the ball within the park.
The ball may need been trying to make an escape to be honest, because the half was all punt and grunt, 100 mph stuff with neither aspect actually getting anyplace.
Second balls and set items have been order of the day for Arbroath and off two scraps Scott Stewart and Jack Hamilton each had fizzing efforts from outdoors the field blocked en-route to purpose.
On the different finish it took till the thirtieth minute for Derek Gaston to become involved within the motion as Caley’s makes an attempt to get Austin Samuels in behind have been thwarted by Ricky Little, Tam O’Brien. And the wind.
Quarter ultimate purpose hero Samuels lastly discovered house on the left with a minute of the half remaining and tried to shock Gaston at his close to publish from the acutest of angles however the keeper was alert.
It was Samuels’ final motion as he was hooked for Billy Mckay on the interval.
Arbroath although served first discover moments after the restart as Jack Hamilton broke broad and fired a harmful low cross proper throughout the face of purpose however with no takers.
Immediately the sport burst to life and on the different finish Shane Sutherland had the clearest sight of purpose of the night after 51 minutes when he nicked the ball previous Little and homed in on Gaston’s purpose solely to see his left footed effort bulge the mistaken aspect of the online.
Gaston was taking pelters from the Caley Jags behind his purpose. One muppet even determined to throw a cup of sizzling drink in his course however the keeper took it in his stride earlier than the stewards stepped in.
Scott Stewart swiped contemporary air from James Craigen’s cross as Arbroath handed up one other wonderful alternative.
However they have been dealt an enormous hand by Willie Collum within the sixty fifth minute.
Devine clashed with Hamilton because the pair contested a innocent ball lofted into the channel and after the pair hit the deck, Collum wasted no time in pulling out the pink card.
It seemed harsh because the Inverness man could have been final man however by no means took his eyes off the ball dropping out the sky earlier than the pair collided.
Collum’s thoughts was made up although and he followed-up with a second pink flashed to Dodds’ assistant Scott Kellacher for his livid protests.
Momentum was nicely and actually with the house aspect and issues acquired worse for Inverness when Sutherland collapsed unchallenged as he chased a ball down and needed to be stretchered off with what seemed to be a knee harm.
Having stopped the sport thrice to make subs already Dodds needed to watch his aspect plough on into the ultimate 10 minutes with 9 males earlier than he might throw on one other alternative for further time.
They made it by means of aswell because of some heroic penalty field defending. Sub Joe Hardy even practically nicked it with an outstanding solo run that ended with him capturing over.
Dodds lastly acquired to make his ultimate sub as the sport went into further time with Lewis Hyde changing the long-departed Sutherland.
However Arbroath ought to have stormed into the lead when Jack Hamilton burst by means of on Ridgers solely to see the large keeper save brilliantly along with his legs.
Colin Hamilton was subsequent to have a go when his header from Low’s cross flew simply broad.
Inverness have been digging deep however their job acquired even harder with seven minutes to go when sub Wallace Duffy obtained his second yellow for a sliding problem on Bobby Linn - once more it seemed harsh with the Inverness man showing to take the ball first.
Colin Hamilton hit the bar with one other header because the clock ticked down however Inverness held on for spot kicks.
Billy Mckay, Joe Hardy, Sean Welsh, Cammy Harper scored for Inverness whereas Michael McKenna, Nicky Low and Colin Hamilton netted the house aspect’s opening three kicks.
However Linn’s fourth spot kick was saved by Ridgers permitting Broadfoot to fireplace house the winner.