Gilchrist gets nod for Caley Thistle revival

Inverness rally after Forres go in front

Caley Thistle made the short trip toMosset Park to face Forres Mechanics in perfect conditions for football and came from behind to record a hard-fought 3-1 victory.

Caley Jags included several first-team players for a fixture sandwiched by League Cup ties against Cowdenbeath and Dundee United with Lewis Horner, David Raven and Liam Polworth handed starts.

Forres gave a debut to trialist JohnCameronin attack and included new signings Scott Graham and Martin Groat in midfield.

Forres started well and, in the second minute, Dachi Khutsishvili beat Raven on the right and his cross flashed across the face of goal.

JakeMulraney was looking dangerous on the left for Caley Thistle and, in the 14th minute, he cut inside his man and his shot from 18 yards was deflected for a corner.

Mulraney then claimed for a penalty when he was tackled by Graham Fraser in the box, but referee Ben Dempster was having none of it.

In the 25th minute, Forres’ Graham capitalised on some hesitant defending to head into the far corner, but the goal was ruled out and a free kick given to the home side on the edge of the penalty area.

Graham quickly made up for it by curling the free kick superbly in the top left hand corner to put Forres ahead.

It didn’t take Inverness long to draw level and, from an Andrew MacRae corner, Alex Fisher was given too much space and headed low past Stuart Knight to make it 1-1 after 32 minutes.

Polworth then rifled a great shot just past the far post as Caley Thistle stepped up a gear and then in the 37th minuteMacRae shot just over from 20 yards.

A mistake in the Caley Thistle midfield allowed half-time substitute Liam Baxter to be played through on goal in the 47th minute, but he was denied by the legs of Cammy Mackay from 12 yards.

A driving run from Polworth in the 53rd minute allowed him to play Alasdair Sutherland in on goal, but his shot from 10 yards crept just past the far post.

Polworth was bossing the midfield now and a minute later he powered a volley just over from 30 yards.

An excellent exchange of passes between Fisher and Raven ended with the CaleyThistle attackerbeing denied by Mechanics substitute goalkeeper Euan Storrier.

CaleyThistle finally went ahead in the 70th minute, Cameron Gilchrist powering home a header from Sutherland’s corner from six yards.

Sutherland made it three five minutes later, slotting home from eight yards after he was set up by substitute Stephen Rennie.