Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3 Kilmarnock 0

Last updated : 19 April 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Inverness Caledonian Thistle recorded only their second home win of the year with a comfortable victory over Kilmarnock.

Games between these two sides normally produce plenty of goals and it took less than 30 seconds for the first shot on target to be registered.

Kilmarnock defender James Fowler's run was not picked up and from 25 yards he unleashed an effort that had Michael Fraser scrambling across his goal to turn the ball to safety.

Six minutes later, Kilmarnock threatened again with Danny Invincibile bursting past Ross Tokely before sending in a low drive that once more had Fraser at full-stretch.

It had been a good start to the game by the visitors, but they fell behind with only 10 minutes gone.

Barry Wilson was felled on the edge of the box and Dougie Imrie stepped up to curl a superb shot beyond Alan Combe to score his first goal since joining the club in January.

This provided the catalyst for the home side's best spell in the match, although they failed to really force Combe into meaningful action.

Kilmarnock did offer a response as Fowler's cross found the head of Gary Wales, but he could only direct his header into the side-netting.

At the other end, Marius Niculae also had a good opportunity to score with his head from Wilson's cross only for his effort to dip narrowly over the crossbar.

Inverness upped the tempo at the start of the second half with Tokely firing a yard wide, before Combe had to look lively to prevent a deflected shot from Dennis Wyness looping into the back of the net.

The hosts were now well on top and Wilson was next to try his luck with a 25-yard free-kick that drifted inches wide of the upright.

That second goal looked like it was never going to come, but Caley Thistle's perseverance was rewarded on 71 minutes when Imrie's cross was turned into his own net by David Lilley under pressure from Roy McBain.

Eight minutes later, Niculae made sure of the three points as his composed finish took him into double figures of the season and gave Inverness a much-needed triumph in the Highland capital.