RUSSELL Latapy must surely tire of being among the elite few ever-capable of injecting the unexpected, even this late in his love affair with Scottish football. The super-veteran came off the bench to break a stalemate at the Caledonian Stadium with
his flurry of skill in a darting run into the home box creating the opening for young Billy Clarke's late winner.
It was a rare burst of drama in a game which had everyone asking if the top six really means that much to clubs and players.
Caley Thistle's hopes of getting there were left decidedly slender after the 1-0 defeat, but Falkirk now look good bets to finish the job.
While Falkirk went along familiar lines, Craig Brewster restored Dennis Wyness to his line-up along with Roy McBain, while Markus Paatelainen and Dougie Imrie dropped out.
In brilliant sunshine and near-perfect underfoot conditions, both sides took time to warm-up into any kind of rhythm. There was a languorous feel to play, belying the top six stakes, although Wyness managed to test Austrian keeper Robert Olejnik from distance after six minutes.
Both defences were firmly on top, though, with home centre half Grant Munro catching the eye with several telling interventions.
One, after 12 minutes, saw the Caley Thistle skipper swipe in timely fashion to prevent Carl Finnigan's shot testing keeper Michael Fraser from inside the box.
Striker Marius Niculae, fresh from his call-up to the Romania squad, also worked the ball well in deep areas, as he worked to inject some invention.
Fraser had to be sharp to block at point-blank range from Falkirk's Finnigan after 15 minutes after a Pedro Moutinho corner broke his way.
Niculae's trundler was turned for a corner by Olejnik after 36 minutes, before the referee called time on a dull first 45 minutes.
The early part of the second half drew little better from either side. But play ignited, at last, after 64 minutes.
Don Cowie freed Roy McBain on the left and his low cross promised much.
Graham Bayne, at a stretch, only just failed to connect in front of goal before Niculae's shot from an angle at the far-side of the box was blocked by Olejnik.
Ross Tokely kept the chance alive, but then over-hit his cross from the right with home strikers waiting eagerly in the middle.
Falkirk caused a scare after 74 minutes when substitute Billy Clarke managed to whip in a dangerous cross.
It took both Ian Black and Graham Bayne to block Gerard Aafjes near the line.
The second half was certainly shaping up as livelier than the first with Ross Tokely releasing Don Cowie for a burst down the right in 75 minutes. The un-marked Bayne was waiting hungrily but Cowie's cross was sharply snatched by keeper Olejnik.
Seconds later, the Austrian shotstopper was again out swiftly to grab the ball at Bayne's feet.
Just when it looked like a 0-0 would have been the best both teams deserved, evergreen Russell Latapy styled the winner.
The veteran glided through bodies in the home box and while Munro got his tackle in the ball squirmed to sub Billy Clarke to tuck home from six yards.
Inverness CT: Fraser; Tokely, McGuire, Munro, Hastings; Cowie (McAllister 80), Duncan, Black, McBain (Imrie 80); Wyness (Bayne 52), Niculae.
Falkirk: Olejnik; Aafjes, Barr, Milne, Scobbie; Cregg (Latapy 57), McBride, Arfield; Finnigan (Riera 57), Barrett, Moutinho (Clarke 69).
Booked: Clarke 86.
Referee: Calum Murray.
The full article contains 606 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
