Inverness CT 2 PARS 2

NICKY CLARK'S dramatic equaliser five minutes into stoppage time moved Dunfermline to the brink of a play-off place on Saturday afternoon.

The hitman headed home his 21st goal of the season from Joe Cardle's free-kick to rescue a point and all-but clinch at least fourth place for Allan Johnston's side.

After Joe Chalmers' free-kick and Nathan Austin's strike had turned the game Inverness Caledonian Thistle's way after Andy Ryan shot the Pars ahead, it looked like the Highlanders would have their play-off destiny in their own hands.

Had they hung on for victory, wins in their final two games - with Athletic having just one to play - would mean they would have snatched fourth place.

But, thanks to Clark's intervention that sent the travelling fans into raptures, a win over Dumbarton on Saturday will seal the deal for Dunfermline - although a draw should also be enough, given their vastly superior goal difference.

There was a cup-tie feel amongst the large travelling support at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and they roared on a team that saw Ryan start ahead of Declan McManus, while Callum Morris returned from a knock to take a seat on the bench.

They didn't have long to wait until they were on their feet in celebration when their favourites took the lead.

There were just 12 minutes on the clock when Lewis Martin shrugged off the attentions of two home players to cut the ball back from the left to Ryan, who took one touch before firing an unstoppable shot beyond Mark Ridgers at his near post.

It was the ideal start but, just four minutes later, Caley restored parity.

A hotly disputed free-kick in favour of George Oakley, while tussling with Lee Ashcroft, saw referee Stephen Finnie give Chalmers the opportunity to step up and send a delightful effort beyond Lee Robinson via his left-hand post.

That gave John Robertson's team a lift and Aaron Doran sent an effort narrowly wide minutes later, while Austin called Robinson into action with a shot to the near post.

He, however, did find a way past the Pars keeper just three minutes into the second half.

After receiving the ball on the right, he spun and moved away from Ashcroft and, before Jean-Yves M'Voto could get a block in, he rifled a shot past Robinson from just inside the area.

That goal meant that Dunfermline's destiny was out of their own hands and Carl Tremarco almost made it worse with a far post header that he couldn't find the target with.

Cardle was sent on for Fraser Aird on the hour mark - just before a lengthy stoppage for a clash of heads between M'Voto and Oakley - while McManus was also thrown into the action in place of Kallum Higginbotham.

An excellent McManus centre Clark, but he headed wide, as the play swung from end-to-end, with Daniel Mackay passing up a golden chance to seal it for Inverness with 10 minutes left, shooting wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Pars rallied in the latter stages and Ryan was unfortunate not to make a firmer connection with a Martin cross, with Ridgers grateful to clutch on to the ball.

But then, in the fifth minute of added time, Cardle's inswinging free-kick was met by Clark to head home and spark wild scenes of jubilation and all but secure a crack at the promotion play-offs.

Inverness CT: Ridgers, Seedorf, B.McKay, Donaldson, Tremarco, Polworth, Chalmers, Doran, Trafford, Austin, Oakley.

Subs: Calder, D.Mackay, Bell, Mulraney, Brown, Elbouzedi, Esson.

Goals: Chalmers (16), Austin (48).

Pars: Robinson, Williamson, M'Voto, Ashcroft, Martin, Higginbotham, Vincent, Craigen, Aird, Ryan, Clark.

Subs: Cardle, McManus, Morris, Armstrong, Wedderburn, Talbot, Gill.

Goals: Ryan (12), Clark (90).

Referee: Stephen Finnie.

Attendance: 3,316.