Classy Caley Jags sweep Hibs aside
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ICT midfielder Nick Ross, who netted a stunning second goal against Hibs.
CALEY Thistle hit the half century points tally in the Clydesdale Bank SPL with a 2-0 home victory over Hibs on Wednesday night.
There were five changes to the team which beat St Mirren 1-0 at home at the weekend.
After that somewhat experimental line-up against the Buddies, back in from the start came 20-goal Adam Rooney, Shane Sutherland, Nick Ross, Lee Cox and Chris Hogg.
Russell Duncan was suspended after his red card on Saturday, while Alex MacDonald, Aaron Doran, Gavin Morrison and Eric Odhiambo dropped to the bench.
While Hibs had recorded a win over ICT when the Highlanders used Pittodrie as their home in 2004, they were on the hunt for their first-ever victory in Inverness.
Caley Jags manager Terry Butcher had driven into his side that he was chasing the win that would see them reach the 50-point mark ahead of their trip to relegated Hamilton.
The visitors had the first chance when Ricardo Vas Te flashed a shot into the side-netting after he caught a glimpse at goal 20 yards out.
The Portuguese midfielder then directed a header past the right post on 16 minutes when he connected with a free-kick from Scott Taggart.
The hosts’ first opportunity came on the 24 minute when Grant Munro steered a header forward from a Sutherland free-kick but keeper Jakub Divis was equal to it.
Hibs attacked with purpose when they could and Liam Miller fed a deft ball through to David Wotherspoon on 31 minutes, but he drove over the top in the game’s best chance to this point.
However, Caley Thistle nudged in front four minutes on the interval when Foran nodded a deep cross from Ross Tokely on target and the ball seemed to cross the line, although Rooney ensured the ball crossed the line.
The two Dubliners exchanged jovial banter on the way back to the halfway line, each claiming it was their goal.
So, this strike, no matter whose it was, certainly lifted the mood within the stadium at the interval as the Inverness side held the deserved advantage.
Teenage midfielder Ross made it two seven minutes into the second half when he was set up by Rooney and he unleashed a wonderful volley in off the crossbar. It bounced over the line and this was a stylish way for the Scotland under-21 cap to notch the first goal of the season.
Hibs looked for an instant reply and Wotherspoon drilled a decent over the top after he was played through by Vas Te.
Another long-range shot then came in from Hibs’ Richie Towell, this time his low effort whizzed wide and then Vas Te swept a 20-yarder over the crossbar.
Foran sparked an attack on 63 minutes when he darted over the halfway line, he fed the ball to Sutherland, who cracked a shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Sutherland thought he’d made it on to the scoresheet in spectacular fashion, but his searing thunderbolt rippled the back of the net – via the advertising board.
ICT were never in danger after this and ran out worthy, and comfortable, winners.
Inverness CT: Tuffey, Tokely, Duff, Cox, Foran, Rooney (Polworth 90), Munro, Ross (Doran 89), Sutherland (Sanchez 86), Gillet, Hogg. Subs not used: Esson (GK), Odhiambo, Morrison, MacDonald, Doran.
Hibernian: Divis, Wotherspoon, Palsson, Towell, Hanlon, Stephens, Booth, Miller (Horner 76), Stevenson (Scott 76), Vas Te, Taggart (Sodje 68). Subs not used: Brown (GK), Smith, Forster, Handling.
Referee: Stephen Finnie.
Attendance: 3,344.
