Inverness CT 2 Hearts 1

A stunning injury-time goal by player-manager Craig Brewster gave Inverness their first points in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season as they deservedly beat Hearts at the Caledonian Stadium.

The visitors from Edinburgh, fresh from their 4-2 win over Rangers last weekend, took the lead 11 minutes before the break when home defender Ian Black diverted a cross from Andy Driver into his own net.

But Inverness hit back in the 64th minute as Dennis Wyness tapped in after Barry Wilson's volley was parried by Steve Banks.

In the final play of the game, substitutes Alan Morgan and Brewster combined, with the Caley Thistle boss scoring with a sensational close-range strike.

In the ninth minute Laryea Kingston took it upon himself to create the first chance of the game, and following a surge into the Inverness penalty area the midfielder tested Michael Fraser at his near post with a low shot.

But that attack proved to be a mere flash of inspiration, as neither team could pass the ball effectively due to the strong wind billowing around the Caledonian Stadium.

Eventually Inverness strung some passes together in the attacking third of the pitch and when Wyness knocked the ball into the path of Don Cowie, his 25-yard shot was comfortably caught by Banks.

A better opportunity arrived shortly afterwards though, when Cowie's free-kick found Grant Munro at the back post and the defender's header across goal was hacked away by Christophe Berra.

For Hearts, Lee Wallace then pushed on in determined fashion and his drive was blocked bravely by Munro.

However, the ball broke to Driver and from the winger's low cross, the unfortunate Black could only turn the ball past a stranded Fraser.

Hearts were buoyed by the breakthrough, with Andrius Ksanavicius and Andrius Velicka drawing saves from Fraser with powerful shots.

To their credit, Inverness finished the opening period with a flourish though and Marius Niculae's knock-down almost presented Wyness with an open goal, only for Ibrahim Tall to clear.

Following the restart, Hearts were given a real scare in the 54th minute, when a cross from Wyness found the stooping Niculae who headed just wide.

Inverness kept up the pressure on their opponents and when Ross Tokely charged down an attempted clearance by Berra, the right-back raced menacingly towards goal.

Tokely turned inside and sent a pass to Wyness, but the striker could only place his disappointing effort off Berra who had recovered well.

Although Hearts thwarted that attack, they could not stop Wyness scoring from all of a yard soon after.

Tokely delivered a perfectly flighted cross to Wilson at the back post, which the veteran connected sweetly with.

Wilson's controlled volley was brilliantly pushed up into the air by Banks, but when the ball landed Wyness had the simplest task as he tapped in the equaliser.

In the 71st minute Inverness came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Cowie's corner was met by a towering header from Phil McGuire, only for Kingston to clear off the line.

Hearts had been quiet and outplayed for almost the entire second half, but in Kingston they had a player in their ranks who retained the ability to provide a touch of class.

When Inverness conceded a free-kick on the edge of their area with nine minutes remaining, the home side knew they could be in real trouble and Kingston duly curled the ball wide against Fraser's left-hand post.

But Caley Thistle survived and in the second minute of injury-time Morgan crossed from the left wing for Brewster to thump a shot high into the roof of the Hearts goal.

Teams:

Inverness CT Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Munro, McBain,Wilson (Morgan 85), Black, Duncan, Cowie,Niculae (Brewster 86), Wyness.

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Hastings, McDonald, MacDonald, Vigurs.

Booked: Wilson, McGuire, Duncan.

Goals: Wyness 64, Brewster 90.

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Berra, Tall, Wallace, Kingston,Ivaskevicius, Zaliukas, Driver (Stewart 46),Velicka (Elliot 46), Ksanavicius (Pospisil 69).

Subs Not Used: Kurskis, Goncalves, Jonsson, Kancelskis.

Goals: Black 34 og.

Att: 4,918

Ref: M Tumilty (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com