County go down to ICT in historic first Highland SPL derby
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INVERNESS Caledonian Thistle have grabbed the Highland derby bragging rights with a 3-1 victory over Ross County under the floodlights.
There had been a big build-up to the first ever SPL clash between the two clubs, which was hosted by ICT.
Inverness seized the initiative from the whistle and seemed to be cruising to an easy victory at half time with a commanding 2-0 lead.
However the visitors fought back with a spirited response in the second half before ultimately being overcoming in an exciting encounter watched by 6,766.
ICT were ahead within minutes after piling on the pressure, Ross Draper meeting a Graeme Shinnie corner with his head to devastating effect.
In the first half, Inverness were looking worth the lead, passing better than County and pressing forward with every opportunity.
Recent signing Mark Fotheringham showed some resistance to the flow of play with a rasping drive which rattled the Inverness crossbar.
Former ICT defender Grant Munro was largely responsible for the second goal as he missed an incoming ball, allowing Richie Foran to nip in and set up Graeme Shinnie, who doubled the advantage.
It wasn’t looking so good for County’s travelling Staggie army, some 2,700 strong, as the half time whistle was sounded.
Everything changed within minutes of the restart, Iain Vigurs devastating with a free kick which found the top corner.
Minutes from the end Rocco Quinn forced a great save from ICT keeper Reguero as the weather began to close in.
But the game was effectively killed off when a nippy Conor Pepper set up Aaron Doran for a fine volley to make it 3-1.
For long periods of the second half it had looked as though County were going to peg back their great rivals. But that third goal was enough to secure the points – a third consecutive defeat for the Dingwall side and one which sees them leapfrogged by their rivals.
Inverness CT: Reguero, Raven, Meekings, Warren, Graeme Shinnie, Doran, Tudur Jones, Draper, Roberts, Foran, Andrew Shinnie. Subs: Mathieson, McKay, Oswell, Morrison, Polworth, Pepper, Cooper.
Ross County: Fraser, Tokely, Fitzpatrick, Boyd, Munro, Quinn, Vigurs, Brittain, Scott, Fotheringham, McMenamin. Subs: Brown, Kettlewell, Glen, Kovacevic, MacPhee, Ross, Dingwall.
Full match report, pictures and analysis in the Ross-shire Journal.
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