Caley Thistle defeat Fleetwood Town in pre-season friendly
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CALEY Thistle defeated Fleetwood Town 2-1 to keep their winning pre-season run going on Sunday.
ICT started well against their English League One visitors and James Vincent headed wide when he met a delivery from the energetic Ryan Christie.
Midfielder Greg Tansey was next to have a go, but his 20-yard drive flashed past the post, with keeper Chris Maxwell diving at full stretch.
Caley Thistle continued to play neat and tidy football, but only a lack of cutting edge prevented them from taking the lead.
Fleetwood were mainly trying to contain the Highlanders, but most of their attacks broke down at the edge of the box.
They did, however, had the ball in the net after 33 minutes when Jamie Proctor tapped home a cross from the lively David Ball, but the flag was raised for offside.
Fleetwood's Nathan Pond poked the ball over the crossbar from a corner as they settled more into the contest.
At the other end, Billy Mckay latched on to a pass from Christie, but was denied by Maxwell who saved it with his feet.
Caley Thistle took the lead just before the break when David Raven steered a cross into the box and Mckay did enough to nudge it past Maxwell into the net.
Ten minutes into the second half, Fleetwood got another glimpse of goal, but Dean Brill got down well to save from Ball.
However, the visitors levelled the game in their next move when Ryan Cresswell headed beyond Brill into the net when he met a Steven Schumacher free-kick into the danger area.
Town, bossed by former Scotland defender Graham Alexander, gained confidence from this goal and pegged ICT back.
However, it was only locked at 1-1 for five minutes as James Vincent knocked the ball home from close range after a surging attack involving Aaron Doran and Mckay had their opponents out-paced.
It was a fine goal and the crowd were lapping it up under the sunshine which had replaced the earlier showers.
Sub Jamille Matt flashed a shot into the side netting for Fleetwood after getting on end of a cross from Conor McLaughlan.
The remainder of the game was an even contest, but Caley Thistle held on for the victory.
Next up for ICT is a trip to Championship side Birmingham City on Saturday.
Inverness CT: Brill, Raven, Shinnie, Vincent (Ross 64), Warren, Mckay, Doran (Watkins 64), Tansey, Tremarco, Williams (Trialist 70), Christie (Polworth 70). Subs: Esson (GK), Jason Brown, Chris Brown.
Fleetwood Town: Maxwell, McLaughlan, Jordan, Schumacher (Murdoch 83), Pond, Cresswell, Matthew (Evans 66), Morris, Proctor, Sercevic, Ball. Subs: Davies (GK), Hogan, Hughes.
Referee: Alan Muir.
