Caley Thistle boss Duncan Ferguson was thrilled his men emerged as 3-1 winners from a “six-pointer” at Ayr United in the Championship.
Billy Mckay’s first half goal from a home slip-up gave ICT the lead and a Morgan Boyes header doubled the scoreline early in the second half with his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Livingston last summer.
Boyes headed home another goal to make it 3-0, but Logan Chalmers swiftly scored to offer a glimmer of hope to United.
This was ICT’s first league victory since December 9 and not only did it move them above their opponents into seventh spot, but puts them within six points of the top four.
Ferguson was banned from the touchline for a second time this season following his red card in Tuesday’s disappointing 2-0 loss at Airdrie.
Queen’s Park’s 2-1 Friday night win against Dunfermline Athletic put the cat amongst the pigeons at the foot of the table going into Saturday’s fixtures, with ICT beginning the day only one point ahead of 10th position.
Victory came after five winless games
Ferguson, who was thrilled to have risen up one place, said: “It’s not our best performance but it is a good result.
“It is one of our best results in terms of being at this point in the season after the bit of a bad run we’ve been on.
“All of a sudden, we have only lost one in four games. Everything is looking a bit better. Had we lost, we’d be a bit cut adrift at the bottom.
“I felt we were worthy winners. There were moments in the game where we got a few breaks, like the first goal which gave us a wee bit of confidence and momentum. Ayr gifted us the first goal. From then on, we did well over the next 70 minutes.
“It was a massive six-pointer for us. We’ve played better but to come away from home and score three goals against a team around about us in the league is really pleasing. I thought we were worthy winners, even though they had their moments.
“Our goalkeeper, Mark Ridgers, was excellent.
“All top teams need a top, top goalkeeper. He is probably the best goalkeeper in the league. Mark stood up at the right moments and made crucial saves, particularly in the first half.”
Boyes’ brace delights Ferguson
And he spared a word for his unlikely two-goal hero.
He added: “Morgan got himself into good areas and was in the middle of the goals to head them in. We put good balls in for him, including a corner kick.
“It was good to see Morgan score and he also defended well.
“We defended our box well when we were put under pressure, apart from their goal when our guy slipped.
“Morgan did well and it was a great brace for him. I was made up for him.”
Sides in real need of a league victory
This was a match in which both sides were desperate to win, given their current dips in form. Ayr’s midweek 3-0 loss at in-form Morton made it just one victory in their last nine league fixtures.
For ICT, since beating Ayr 3-1 in the Highlands on November 11, they had won twice – once against Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Cup and a 4-1 victory against Queen’s Park at Hampden.
Ridgers twice called into early action
Ayr began the game on the front foot and Inverness goalkeeper Ridgers pulled off a fine diving save to push away a dipping drive from Logan Chalmers, who was a Dundee United loanee at ICT in 2022.
And the keeper was called into action again when he had to deal with a low effort from Jack Young.
However, the home fans’ mood darkened on 29 minutes when, from nothing, Caley Thistle took the lead.
Anderson chased a heavy ball and won it from keeper Charlie Albinson, who slipped, and the ICT man lined up Billy Mckay, who supplied the easiest finish for his ninth goal this term.
Boyes nets twice to help ICT land win
Ayr’s Anton Dowds had a goal disallowed for offside early in the second half.
Then, not long after United conceded a hotly-disputed free-kick, Boyes nodded home his first ICT goal when he met a cross from Cammy Harper.
And, on 63 minutes, it was same again as Boyes got enough on his header to score, this time from Harper’s corner.
The anger rang from the stands, in contrast to the delight from the ICT support.
Chalmers, however, got Ayr on the scoresheet when he coolly rifled a high close-range shot past Ridgers after weaving space for himself in the box.
AYR UNITED (4-2-3-1): Albinson 6, Ahui 7, Stanger 6, McGinty 6, Reading 7, Dempsey 6, Young 6, Chalmers 7, Smith 6 (Bryden 61), Murphy 7 (Amartey 74), Dowds 6 (McKenzie 86).
Subs not used: Mutch (GK), Rose, Syla, Senga, Watret, McAllister.
CALEY THISTLE (3-4-2-1): Ridgers 7, Duffy 6, Devine 6, Boyes 7, Carson 6, Gilmour 6, Welsh 7 (Longstaff 69), Anderson 7, Harper 6, Billy Mckay 7 (Brooks 82), Shaw 6.
Subs not used: Cammy MacKay (GK), Delaney, Doran, Davidson, Thompson, Sheridan, Ujdur.
Referee: Gavin Duncan.
Star Man: Mark Ridgers.