Motherwell have brought an emphatic end to Inverness Caledonian Thistle's 10-match unbeaten streak with a 5-1 win in the SPL this afternoon.
The visitors took the lead out of nothing in the 17th minute when, after a quiet opening to the match, Nicky Law put the ball in to Michael Higdon, who rose highest to nod the ball home.
Motherwell doubled this lead just four minutes later after a poor clearance from Josh Meekings allowed Jamie Murphy to volley the loose ball in.
Murphy came within inches of getting a third in the space of six minutes soon after when he cut inside before firing in a powerful effort that clipped the crossbar.
Murphy continued to threaten and was only denied from netting his second of the game by a fine save from Antonio Reguero.
Inverness began the second half in perfect style, scoring a little over a minute after the restart when Richie Foran controlled David Raven's cross before clipping the ball past Darren Randolph.
Motherwell hit straight back, however, as Adam Cummings got on the end of Tom Hateley's cross to put a fine finish past Reguero to claim his first goal for the club.
The visitors put the game well and truly beyond doubt with just under 20 minutes left when Law found Henrik Ojamaa, who proceeded to put the ball through the keeper's legs to make it 4-1.
Inverness almost came up with an immediate response, but Aaron Doran's long range effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Randolph.
The away side put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute as sub Omar Daley sent a dipping shot straight at Reguero, but the keeper let it go right through him and into the net.
The result, Inverness's first defeat since their last encounter with Motherwell, leaves the hosts sixth in the table, while Motherwell leapfrog them into fourth.
Barney Corkhill
