Just enough

In a game low on drama, Inverness did just enough to take all three points with a fabulous, brilliantly executed goal from Billy Mckay after tremendous wing play by David Raven. St Mirren had stifled the Inverness engine room and used the Partick tactics of closing us down quickly and it almost paid off for them, but for Raven and Mckay's invention, Billy flicking the ball home with around fifteen minutes to go.

With it being a seasonal Sunday kick off, the attendance was also seasonal, but full of anticipation after the performance at Dingwall giving fresh hope to our campaign.

Ross Draper was available but only made the bench, and Marley Watkins had picked up a knock and missed out. Nick Ross was the surprise inclusion in an otherwise unchanged side. St Mirren had the luxury of Steven Thompson and Kenny McLean available and had Inverness lad Mark Ridgers in goal

A fine afternoon saw St Mirren kick off and the usual slow pattern of play ensued. Inverness content to hold the ball, the visitors happy to let us have it, but no goal threats as a consequence of St Mirren shutting us down quickly a las Partick Thistle, which would make it an uncomfortable afternoon for the home fans.

Unlike the derby game, our play was less direct. St Mirren gave as good as they got in the first half and Kenny McLean was unlucky with a shot from distance that rattled the top of Brill's crossbar, McLean taking aim some 35 yards out, but his swerving shot was always just on the high side which was fortunate for the big keeper as he would not have stopped it.

Brill tipped over a rasping shot from McLean as he waged a one man war on Dean's goal as Inverness struggled to get any momentum going and he also flashed a swerving shot a yard wide as the visitors looked the most likely to open the scoring.

Inverness fans were getting impatient and they wanted better. Billy Mckay squandered the best opportunity of the half as a wayward back pass from Jeroen Tesselaar fed him in on goal on the right side of the box. Unfortunately as he cut inside the keeper he elected to clip the ball to his left but Ridgers managed to block the tame attempt and the chance was gone.

A poor first forty-five from Inverness' point of view came to an end just as we looked to up the pace, Christie, Mckay and Doran missing before the break giving some hope for a better second half.

Half Time 0-0

The second half had barely started when Doran fired one wide and at the other end McLean kept plugging away but shot over from distance. Inverness were content for St Mirren to take on long pots but they were keeping the visitors out of their box for the most part.

Danny Williams replaced Ryan Christie after the hour and a bit more urgency came into our game. The pressure was mounting and a series of attempts were blocked by the now hard working St Mirren defence. A goal was coming but it took a moment of magic to conjure it up.

Tansey collected the ball well in his own half. He looked up and spotted Raven making himself available on the right wing. He flighted a fifty yard diagonal ball towards Raven who still had plenty to do. The full back took the ball on the third bounce and skinned the defender to the bye line then arrowed a low ball into the box where Mckay, with his back to goal stepped over it with his leading leg and back flicked it home for a sensational goal. It was going to take something special to break the deadlock and that was it; stunning goal.

A spate of substitutions from both sides broke the game up thereafter although Mckay could have done better after breaking clear on the right side of the area, but he elected to shoot early and Ridgers gathered his weak shot easily when a cut back might have produced better.

A late Tansey free kick from 22 yards was comfortably saved by the keeper and Mckay almost turned a deep cross into the net but the angle beat him and the ball ended in the side net.

Full Time 1-0

The game drew to a close and Inverness did just enough to earn this victory as the visitors had struggled to make much headway in the second period. Not a pretty sight but another welcome three points in the bag.

tm4tj MotM:- Not always getting the plaudits, but today David Raven was superb and he capped it with a brilliant piece of skill to set up Mckay for the only goal of the game.

Next game is away to Kilmarnock.

St Mirren: 0
Lineup: Ridgers, Naismith, McAusland, Goodwin, Tesselaar, Drury (Mclear 78), Mallan (Reilly 85), McGinn, Kelly (Wylde 78), McLean, Thompson
Subs (not used): Kello, Osbourne, Ball, Baird
Scorers: none
Booked: McGinn (66)
Sent Off: none