Tade goal secures ICT win over 'Well

Read Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher's column exclusively in the Inverness Courier on Tuesday

Referee: B. Madden.

Attendance: 4152.

CALEY THISTLE - Esson; Piermayr, G. Shinnie, Golobart, Gillet, Cox, Hayes, Tansey, McKay (Proctor, 88), Ross (Williams, 76), Tade. Subs unused: A. Shinnie, Morrison, Sutherland, Meekings, Tuffey.

MOTHERWELL - Randolph; Clancy, Hammell, Hutchinson, Craigan (Jennings, 86), Hateley, Law (Humphrey, 71), Lasley, Higdon, Daley (Ojamaa, 71), Murphy. Subs unused: McHugh, Forbes, Page, Bradley.

Motherwell pushed for an equaliser in the latter stages, but apart from Esson rushing from his goal to deny Chris Humphrey, Caley Thistle held out for victory.

Collecting the ball 25 yards from goal, he looked up and sent a searing drive beyond the reach of Randolph and into the top corner for his eighth goal of the season.

The Frenchman, however, made amends with a stunning goal to open the scoring in the 67th minute.

There was a little bit of a lull in proceedings, but Tade had a wonderful chance to put Inverness in front when clean through with Randolph to beat, but the home goalkeeper came out on top with a decent save to deny the forward.

At the other end, Keith Lasley tried his luck from 20 yards only to see Esson gather the ball at the second attempt with Daley lurking.

Inverness had threatened sporadically in the first half, but they began the second period on the front foot and only a fine block by Stephen Craigan kept out Hayes after his barnstorming run into the penalty box.

Tade and Tansey both had efforts from just outside the 18-yard box as half-time approached, but on both occasions Darren Randolph was well position to save comfortably.

The hosts attempted to up the tempo as half-time approached and only a good challenge by Kenny Gillet prevented Murphy from scoring after he had attempted to take the ball around Esson.

The best chance of the first half fell to Motherwell when Daley escaped the attentions of Piermayr, but from 12 yards out he blazed wildly over.

Play then moved to the other end and a swift break by Gregory Tade saw him pick out the unmarked Billy McKay, who from 18 yards dragged his shot a couple of yards wide.

Both sides were guilty of squandering possession in the early stages, but a mistake by Thomas Piermayr presented Jamie Murphy with the ball and his pass released Omar Daley, but with the angle against him Ryan Esson blocked his effort to prevent the opening goal.

There was also a change in goal for the visitors from seven days ago, Ryan Esson regaining his place between the sticks as Jonny Tuffey dropped to the bench.

In came Greg Tansey and Nick Ross as there replacements, while new signing Steve Williams, on loan from Bradford City until the end of the season, was named amongst the substitutes alongside David Proctor and Andrew Shinnie, both returning from injury, but there was no place in the squad for Aaron Doran.

Captain Richie Foran was out through suspension, while David Davis had returned to parent club Wolves after a loan spell at Caley Thistle.

Inverness had to make two enforced changes to the side that salvaged a Scottish Cup fourth round replay against Dunfermline last weekend.

CALEY Thistle ended a six-year wait for a victory at Fir Park and kept their first clean sheet of the season into process as they overcame Motherwell to stretch their unbeaten run to four games.