Inverness open their account for the season

First win of the season for Inverness and they did it in style. A four goal hammering of Dundee United lifted the tension at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium ahead of next weeks first SPL Highland derby. United started the game in control but by the end were a bedraggled side as Inverness ran them ragged in the second half.

A Richie Foran double in the first half was added to after the break by Andy Shinnie and the excellent Phillip Roberts, who blasted home his first goal for the club. The scoreline did not flatter Inverness as they surged forward after the break and built on their half-time lead.

This was just the tonic for the home fans with the Ross County fixture looming and news that the Dingwall club lost again just put the icing on the cake as far as the Inverness support were concerned. So it's smiles all round and this makes the report much easier to compile.

ajsict92 will have a full match report ready when he comes down from cloud nine...........

Foran, Shinnie and that lad with the dodgy barnet

Caley Thistle welcomed Dundee United to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium with both sides in search of an upturn in recent form. The home side were on the back of gaining another defiant point in the capital against Hibernian but were yet to record a win this season while the Arabs were coming into this game with no goals in two games and following a crushing 3-0 defeat at home to Hearts.

Despite the recent form from the away side any pessimists doubting any chance of a result would be understandable. ICT hadnt beaten United since August 2010 and last season saw ICT ship 3 goals a game against them in 3 defeats. They also contained some quality players in their starting 11. Young starlet Johnny Russell was partnered by Jon Daly who was back from injury and there was also a place for former County star Michael Gardyne and former ICT man John Rankin.

Terry Butcher was forced to make two changes with Ryan Esson and Andre Blackman out with injury. Gavin Morrison made a rare start and Spaniard Antonio Reguero made his first appearance between the sticks. Connor Pepper was dropped to the bench and Phil Roberts was handed his first start. The on-loan Arsenal forward earned plaudits for his mid week performance at Stenhousemuir and despite the Jason Leesque haircut the youngster did not disappoint on his full debut.

It was Dundee United who began the strongest and had ICT very much penned in their own half for the first 15 minutes. The first real chance of note fell to the away side. A long ball from Gavin Gunning was poorly controlled by David Raven and Michael Gardyne seized upon his loose touch to cut inside but couldn't get his shot on target and it curled wide of the far post.

The Arabs continued to threaten however and Jon Daly was next to come close for the away side, another long ball towards the ICT box was well controlled by Russell and he teed up Daly who from about 12 yards would have been expected to hit the target but fortunately for the home side his effort was high, wide and in all honesty rather lazy.

Daly came close again. This time from a corner. Willo Flood floated it in and Daly lost his man and his first time strike was thwarted by Reguero, though he struggled to gather it but was lucky enough to be covered by his defenders.

ICT began to grow into the game with Andrew Shinnie having an effort easily gathered by Cierzniak. What soon followed was a moment of true brilliance. Phil Roberts picked up a slack pass from Sean Dillon and fed it to Shinnie who laid the ball nicely for Richie Foran. The Irishman was in a rich vein of form with 3 goals in 3 games and he curled a delightful first time effort into the top corner of the net, leaving Cierzniak with no chance. A superb strike made to look so simple by the ICT skipper who had now doubled his total tally from last season.

With ICT in the ascendancy they began to dominate and Roberts continued to be the catalyst with his pace and work rate causing the United defence problems, and this lead to double delight before half time was even near. Some neat interplay between Doran and Morrison found Roberts on the left and his pin point cross saw Foran ghost in at the back post and head in goal number two.

It could have been 3 just before the break when Draper found Raven. His deep cross evaded everyone. Including Cierzniak but fortunately for him the crossbar was there to prevent a fluke goal and save the keepers blushes.

Half time:- ICT 2-0 Dundee Utd

Fully refreshed from the break ICT started the 2nd period the hungrier of the two teams. Andrew Shinnie was the first to try and extend the lead. Foran's through ball found him at the edge of the box but Shinnie's effort curled just wide of the post with Cierzniak routed. Aaron Doran then missed a decent opportunity to give ICT a three goal cushion. Foran reiceved Regeuro's punt and eventually squared the ball back to Doran who attempted a strike on his weaker left foot which went high and wide.

United responded with Daly coming close with a looping header from Willo Flood's free kick and this required a finger tip save from Reguero. Keith Watson then attempted a long range effort from about 25 yards for the visitors that was a few inches over the bar.

With about 20 minutes left ICT finally got that 3rd goal. Dillons clearance fell straight to Doran who after a neat exchange with Shinnie found Foran at the edge of the area. His pass to Shinnie was slightly misplaced but following a defensive mix up between Watson and Cierzniak, Shinnie was left with the simple task of sliding the ball into an empty net.

By this point ICT fans were struggling to comprehend what they were watching. A 3-0 lead against tricky opposition had some thinking they were in dreamland. It got even better 3 minutes later when Roberts topped his fine afternoon off with a fabulous goal. Doran's free kick was brilliantly knocked down by Foran. Warren laid it back to Roberts and from the edge of the area he struck it first time with the outside of his foot into the far corner of the net with the keeper at full stretch yet again. ICT fans had gone from dreamland to delirious delight in those 3 minutes and even the most die-hard pessimist knew that a first win was on its way.

With the game drawing to a close tiredness was beginning to creep in to the legs of ICT's players having put in full effort to this game and Foran, Roberts and Shinnie were all replaced by Pepper, McKay and Oswell in the closing stages to standing ovations. The remaining minutes played themselves out and the referee blew his whistle for full time.

Full time:- ICT 4-0 Dundee Utd

To summarize:- I had a feeling we would win this one. Not by the margin we did but maybe one of these bland 1-0 wins Terry was asking for. There is no question though that it was deserved. We weathered the United storm in the opening minutes and slowly but surely picked them apart with some quality play and clinical finishing. Our key players were all at their best with Doran, Shinnie, and Foran all giving top class displays along with Phil Roberts impressive full debut. At the age of 18 he is a young man with a very bright future. Skillful and dynamic but with a great work rate to back him up, a player with immense potential. Defensively we looked decent despite one or two hiccups and our playing from the back approach was key to our game. Reguero also deserves credit for his late inclusion. Kept a clean sheet and showed some decent handling and distribution... can't ask for much more. Just need to keep this level of performance up.

ajsict92's MotM:- Richie Foran. Back to his best and thriving in his role as target man. Both his goals were class, his effort was that of a man playing for the shirt and his leadership was transcending to the rest of the team. It was an easy decision...keep it up Richie.

29th Sep 2012	Scottish Premier League	Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Inverness C.T.	4 - Foran (31, 35), A.Shinnie (70), Roberts (73)
	TEAM: Esson, Raven, Meekings, Warren, G.Shinnie, Foran (Oswell 84), Morrison, Draper, Doran, A.Shinnie (Pepper 81), Roberts (McKay 88)
	SUBS: Reguero, Polworth, Brislen-Hall, Cooper
	Booked: Morrison (9), Warren (87)
	Sent Off: none
Dundee Utd	0 -
	TEAM: Cierzniak, McLean, Dillon, Gunning, Watson, Flood, Ryan (Millar 63), Rankin (Armstrong 46), Gardyne (Dow 46), Russell, Daly
	SUBS: Banks, Vignal, Hilson, Gauld.
	Booked: Rankin (37), Millar (72)
	Sent Off: none
Referee	Stephen Finnie
Attendance	3059