Caley Thistle produced one of their best displays of the season to return to within three points of the Championship promotion play-off places with a 4-1 win against Falkirk last night.
Inverness raced into a comfortable three-goal half-time lead, with an outstanding first-half performance which saw their recalled front three of George Oakley, Connor Bell and Jake Mulraney find the target.
The opener from Oakley came just five minutes after the Englishman had been booked for diving after going to ground at the feet of goalkeeper Robbie Thomson. Oakley was in the right place at the right time on 10 minutes, however, reacting quickly to knock home the rebound after Thomson had clawed away Mulraney’s shot.
The Highlanders continued to dominate and added a second on 28 minutes. Mulraney was once again the provider as he latched on to Liam Polworth’s pass before knocking the ball across goal for Bell to prod home his seventh goal of the campaign.
Mulraney got the goal his outstanding display merited just two minutes later, showing excellent composure to curl home a low shot from the edge of the box after being set up by Oakley, in the Irishman’s first goal for Caley Jags since joining from QPR in summer 2016.
Falkirk looked a shadow of the side which thrashed second-placed Dundee United 6-1 on Saturday, with Caley Jags denied a fourth goal when Oakley was adjudged to have been offside when he tucked home the rebound from close range, after Thomson had beaten away Joe Chalmers’ shot.
Falkirk tried to find a way back into the match, forcing Mark Ridgers into action for the first time midway through the second half when Lewis Kidd saw his strike from the edge of the box superbly tipped over by the Inverness goalkeeper.
Paul Hartley’s men did grab a consolation on 86 minutes through Louis Longridge but Inverness restored their three-goal cushion through substitute John Baird.