Rooney regains hat-trick habit as Inverness close

Caley Thistle now trail First Division leaders Dundee by only six points after Adam Rooney struck his second hat-trick of the season.

The Irish forward advanced his season's total to 17 goals. Derek Holmes scored from the penalty spot for the Doonhamers.

Eric Odhiambo was again preferred in attack to Dani Sanchez and the English attacker had a goal bound shot blocked by Doonhamers central defender Marvin Andrews after just eight minutes.

Queen of the South created a great opening on 15 minutes when David Weatherston raced down the right flank and found Stewart Kean unmarked just outside the penalty box but Ryan Esson denied the attacker with a great low block.

Rooney dispossessed Reid to latch on to a long Grant Munro ball but Queen of the South goalkeeper David Hutton moved quickly to smother the Irish forward's shot.

The Dumfries side almost took the lead when a long-range free kick from Bob Harris deceived the entire Caley Thistle defence and rolled just inches wide of Esson's right-hand post.

Caley Thistle continued to push forward and were rewarded for their persistence with the opening goal three minutes before the break.

Hayes darted down the right, played the ball back to Lee Cox and from his deep cross Foran knocked down for Rooney to lash home from six yards.

Rooney doubled the Caley Jags advantage just seven minutes after half-time with a well struck half-volley from 10 yards when he evaded Andrews to pounce on Hayes' header.

Queens narrowly failed to pull one back when Burns drove wide with a well struck low effort a minute later.

The away side struck on 61 minutes from the penalty spot when Holmes sent Esson the wrong way after referee Crawford Allan ruled Munro had bundled over Weatherston in the penalty area.

Inverness regained their two goal advantage with 14 minutes remaining when Rooney completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Referee Allan awarded a spot kick after Neil Scally took down Foran in the Doonhamers area.