Spectacular Sean Welsh strike sends Inverness Caledonian Thistle back to the top of the Scottish Championship table with three points against Kilmarnock
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 (Welsh)
Kilmarnock 0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle scored what could prove to be a massive win in the Championship over Kilmarnock under the Friday night lights.
Large periods of the game saw a lack of quality in the final third hinder both teams, but there was no denying the spectacular Sean Welsh strike that made the difference between the teams.
On top of being Kilmarnock's first defeat away from home in the league this season, it also gives the Caley Jags plenty of reason to celebrate as they returned to the top of the table for the first time since late October.
As has often been the case in recent weeks, Inverness started strongly.
They had their visitors camped in their own half for much of the opening exchanges, even as far back as their own box, but the Caley Jags struggled for that moment of quality to make the difference.
Billy Mckay, already on double figures for the campaign, came closest for ICT. He connected with Aaron Doran's cross but could not angle his header towards goal, before the Northern Irishman linked up well with Shane Sutherland and Roddy MacGregor to get through on goal, only to be denied by Zach Hemming.
In the 18th minute Mark Ridgers was called into action, as Rory McKenzie tested him out with an effort from outside the box that needed to be tipped wide.
Really, that was the last incident of any significance that either goalkeeper had to deal with in the first half, but that was not for want of trying as Sutherland went inches away from breaking the deadlock with a curling effort, also from outside the box.
It certainly felt like a game crying out for a moment of magic to inject some quality into proceedings, and even after the interval it was more of the same.
Kilmarnock were presented with a chance when Caley Thistle failed to clear their lines, resulting in something of a scramble just inside their own box that resulted in Oli Shaw missing the target.
At the other end, though, Inverness got that moment of magic from their skipper, Sean Welsh.
Scott Allardice, impressive as ever with his aggression to win the ball back in midfield, regained possession inside the Kilmarnock half and burst forward.
Despite an overlapping run on his left from Doran, he opted to give the ball to Welsh inside, who skipped past one challenge and picked out the top corner from 22 yards out.
It arguably should have been two moments later, when a cross from the left was just behind Mckay but fell to Tom Walsh, who saw his effort saved by Hemming.
Kilmarnock struggled to respond, but Inverness were largely unable to test the visiting goalkeeper either, which meant the chance of a Killie comeback was still on going into stoppage time.
However, Caley Thistle managed to see out the game by taking the ball to the corner in the final moment, sealing three points that sees them return to the top of the Championship table – at least for tonight.
Caley Thistle: Ridgers, Welsh, Deas, Devine, Carson, Mckay (McAlear 84), Doran (Harper 76), Sutherland, MacGregor (Walsh 61), Broadfoot, Allardice.
Subs not used: MacKay, Jamieson, McDonald.
Kilmarnock: Hemming, Hodson, Murray, McKenzie (Alston 71), Shaw, Robinson (Burrell 78), Lyons, Waters, Polworth (Murray 71), McGowan, Burke.
Subs not used: Walker, Stokes, Armstrong, Sanders.
Referee: Nick Walsh
Attendance: 2296
Yellow cards: ICT – Welsh (86); Kilmarnock – McKenzie (42).
