Inverness CT 1 Motherwell 2: Well win in the rain

MOTHERWELL came from a goal down to beat Inverness 2-1 in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on a wet and windy day at the Caledonian Stadium.

Adam Rooney had given the home side the lead two minutes into the second half with a composed run and finish.

However, Chris Porter equalised when he linked up well with John Sutton and Mark McGhee's side took all three points back to Fir Park thanks to a beautiful, curling free-kick from Bob Malcolm.

Jamie Duff started for Inverness in place of the injured Phil McGuire, who was carried off in last week's 2-1 defeat to Celtic. Irish striker Rooney came in for Roy McBain, who started on the bench.

Motherwell's only change saw Malcolm replace the suspended Paul Quinn.
The visitors started brightest with lots of possession without any real penetration, the wet surface making for an intriguing contest.

Stephen Hughes had the first shot of the day but the former Rangers midfielder pulled his effort well wide from 25 yards.

At the other end, Ian Black made a good surge forward before unleashing a powerful strike that Graeme Smith gathered at the second attempt.
Dougie Imrie was full of running in the early stages and he raced down the line before threading an enticing ball into the box that Smith held with Rooney and Garry Wood lurking.

Wood should have done better after 18 minutes when a clever pass by Don Cowie gave the youngster a chance but he allowed the ball to slip under his foot and away to safety.

Imrie blasted a free-kick high and wide after 21 minutes after Black was fouled by Mark Reynolds on the edge of the box.

A deep corner from Cowie fell to Wood, who did well to turn in the box and squeeze in a cute shot Smith palmed away.

Inverness were unlucky not to take the lead after 31 minutes from a Cowie free-kick which deceived Smith with the assistance of the swirling wind but the ball came crashing back off the crossbar.

Good defending from Motherwell captain Keith Lasley prevented Rooney getting a shot in at goal as the home side began to take advantage of the strong wind at their backs.

However, the Inverness custodian Fraser was called into duty to tip a Steven McGarry effort out for a fruitless corner.

Russell Duncan almost nodded past his own keeper early in the second half when he tried to clear a dangerous free-kick from Steven Hammell.

From the resulting corner, it was Inverness who exploded forward on the counter attack. Rooney seized on some hesitancy in the Motherwell defence before beating two men and slotting the ball past the advancing Smith.

Hammell had a chance to get his side back on level terms soon after from a free-kick on the edge of the Caley box but his effort sailed over Fraser's bar.

McGarry and Clarkson both had efforts blocked as McGhee's men looked to get back level.

Jamie Duff then headed a Clarkson volley over the bar before McGhee made a double substitution with Jim O'Brien and Darren Smith replacing Murphy and Clarkson.

Malcolm picked up the first yellow card of the day for a late tackle on Rooney. Cowie and Black combined to set up Grant Munro but Hammell made a desperate tackle to prevent the Caley skipper scoring.

Inverness were to rue that miss as Motherwell went up the other end and equalised. Porter played a neat one-two with Sutton before firing past Fraser.

Imrie wasted a chance to test Smith by blasting a free-kick into the wall.

The visitors brought on Marc Fitzpatrick for the tiring McGarry, while Craig Brewster introduced Iain Vigurs and Roy McBain for Rooney and Black.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Motherwell took the lead. Duncan was adjudged to have fouled O'Brien and Malcolm stepped up to curl a beautiful free-kick past the helpless Fraser.

Vigurs could have got his side back level with a free-kick from a similar distance but his attempt was too high.
Late substitute Andrew Barrowman could have got a late leveller for Inverness but Smith did well to foil the attacker under intense pressure.