Nathan Austin’s double ensured Caley Thistle emerged victorious 3-1 in their friendly with Clach.
James Beeston gave Clach the first goal of the game in the first quarter of an hour before Austin’s brace and another from Daniel MacKay handed the away side the win.
Former Ross County midfielder Tim Chow started in the centre of the park for Caley Thistle while Clach featured new signings Scott Dunn, Struan McArthur and Iain Foggo.
Liam Polworth wasted the first chance of the game when Daniel MacKay picked him out, shanking a left-footed strike over when left unmarked.
Clach took a surprise lead on 13 minutes after Chow fouled Kyle Maclean 30 yards from goal. Beeston’s low free-kick went round the wall and despite Mark Ridgers getting a hand to it, the ball nestled in the corner of the net.
The Caley Jags – taken by Scott Kellacher at Grant Street Park, levelled just before the half-hour mark when Aaron Doran fed Austin, who rounded and Dougie Maclennan and slotted in.
The scores were level at the break but Inverness surged to a two-goal advantage early in the second period, with MacKay finishing off Cameron Harper’s cross and Austin poking a through ball under Maclennan.
MacKay had a close-range shot deflected over from close range and full-back Shaun Rooney was unlucky to see a header float wide as the Caley Jags searched for a fourth.
Polworth whipped a free-kick inches wide of the near post and substitute Ross Gunn drew a superb stop out of Maclennan, however Inverness had done enough for a deserved victory.
