Vigurs has last laugh

Motherwell proved too strong for Inverness as they went second in the League with a 2-1 victory at the expense of our hopes of climbing higher in the table.

Goals from Henri Anier and Iain Vigurs meant that Ryan Christie's first senior goal was not enough to earn a point for Inverness, who took too long to transfer the ball from back to front allowing Motherwell to break up our attacks with ease. Once more, it was too little too late from the home players who sent the fans home disgruntled and frustrated by our lack of urgency until it was too late.

Ryan Esson replaced Dean Brill in goal and Liam Polworth started along with Carl Tremarco and Danny Devine with Graeme Shinnie pushed into midfield. Meekings, Doran and Foran missed out and Billy McKay ploughed a lone furrow up front as usual.

Another chilled night and stiff breeze welcomed the players onto the park with around 80-100 Motherwell fans making the effort in a crowd of around 2360.

Little of note happened in the early exchanges but Motherwell held the ascendency as Inverness frustrated their own fans with a lack of imagination and forward drive, finding it easier to turn across the park or pass back into defence, even from good forward positions and this was not going down well with our own fans.

Esson dealt well with a Vigurs free kick from the Well right, punching the ball well clear of trouble and comfortably gathered a long range effort from the same player who was looking to silence the boo boys in the home crowd.

Graeme Shinnie is the one player that can't be accused of lingering on the ball and he drove at the Well box before unleashing a powerful shot which was deflected just wide.

However, it was the visitors that were dictating the pace of the game and Esson palmed away a vicious swirling shot from Reid. It would not be long before they took the lead. A weak left footed cross from Raven was easily mopped up by the Well defence and three passes later a long ball from Kerr found Henri Anier muscling his way into the box and he clipped his shot in off the post from 18 yards to open the scoring, not against the run of play you have to say.

Half Time 0-1

Vigurs ruffled the top of the net with a free kick early in the second half with a curling shot from 25 yards which had Esson scrambling across his line.

Watkins introduction gave us more directness along with Christie and the passes became crisper with more purpose, Tremarco finding plenty space on the left wing.

Greg Tansey rattled the post high up with a brilliant shot from range with Neilson beaten.

Draper was having another solid game for the hosts and when he fed a ball forward to the edge of the Well box, Ryan Christie picked up the loose change and dug the ball out from under his feet brilliantly. His half volley finding the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards, his first goal for the big side, and a beauty it was too.

Inverness now looked the likeliest to go on and win the game and a Shinnie cross was almost directed into the Well net, but Neilson was well placed to gather with McKay lurking with intent at the near post.

But, the aforementioned Iain Vigurs had the last laugh. Route one seemed to be the order of the day for the Steelmen and when another long ball was launched out of their own box, three one-two's later between Moore and Vigurs saw the latter nonchalantly stroke the ball beyond Esson with he outside of his left peg to nick the points.

Harsh on Inverness who had started to take the game to Well in search of their second home league win under Hughes, but caught out twice by the long ball.

Full Time 1-2

A win that all but finishes Inverness' season bar the away game on Friday night in Dingwall, but for Motherwell it's second place for now and another top finish for McCall's side in prospect.

tm4tj MotM:- Another sterling performance from big Drapes, with one bone shaker of a tackle that could be felt in the main stand. Great introduction for Christie though and cracking goal.

Moan of the Match:- Our reluctance to take the ball forward, always looking to go square or backwards was really getting on the fans wick. Yogi needs to address this sharpish and get the fans back onside or it is going to be a long pre-season coming up.
 

Date: 01.04.2014   Venue: Caledonian Stadium    Attendance: 2366
Referee: Craig Thomson
 
Inverness CT: 1
Lineup: Esson, Raven (Watkins 66), Shinnie, Vincent, Warren, Mckay, Draper, Devine, Tansey, Tremarco, Polworth (Christie 60)
Subs (not used): Brill, Ross, Williams, Evans
Scorers: Christie (74)
Booked: none
Sent Off: none
 
Motherwell: 2
Lineup: Neilson, Reid (Francis-Angol 46), Hammell, Hutchinson, McManus, Sutton, Vigurs, Lasley, Kerr, Anier (Moore 67), Leitch (Cadden 87)
Subs (not used): Stewart, Murray, Ainsworth, Thomas
Scorers: Anier (40), Vigurs (82)
Booked: Vigurs (41), Sutton (56), Hutchinson (75)
Sent Off: none