CALEY Thistle fuelled hope of a rousing finish to a difficult campaign as they rediscovered winning ways on home turf with a comprehensive beating of Kilmarnock.
The first home victory since early January brought sweet relief, but it was a thoroughly deserved margin by the close of the 90 minutes.
Barry Wilson stood out in an all-round slick and convincing Inverness display, but the true moment of magic ca
me from Dougie Imrie, who netted a sublime free-kick opener before a David Lilley own goal and a Marius Niculae strike sealed it.
The hosts carved a 10th minute lead in spectacular fashion. Young Kilmarnock midfielder Iain Flannigan felled Barry Wilson on the right edge of the box, with Doug Imrie squaring up to take it.
From the dead ball, the January signing from Clyde fizzed a sublime, dipping left foot shot in at the far post for his first Caley Thistle goal.
The hosts only increased their overall dominance in the second period.
Killie looked set to crumble, but Alan Combe palmed the ball from under his bar to safety after a Wyness shot took a wicked deflection four minutes later.
Catastrophe struck for the visitors after 71 minutes when, after Imrie's surge, his cross flew into David Lilley's path, and under pressure from Roy McBain, the defender slotted into his own net.
Niculae's tenth goal of the season then arrived with 11 minutes left when Tokely's pass found him shaping to curl a shot high into the net with deadly poise.
The full article contains 266 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
