Manager Terry Butcher opted to make three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Dunfermline Athletic last weekend for the long trek to Somerset Park, Ayr this afternoon.  Russell Duncan returned from a stomach muscle injury and there were also places for Danni Sanchez and Adam Rooney in a very attacking line up.  Dropping onto the bench were midfielders Daniel Stratford, Jonny Hayes and Lee Cox.  Club Captain Grant Munro made his 300th appearance for ICT.

In a whirlwind start to the game, right back Ross Tokely picked up a yellow card on two minutes from referee Willie Collum for a tackle on Ryan McGowan, who has just joined Ayr on loan from Hearts.  Nine minutes later and we had opened the scoring when Richie Foran slotted home from a clever Danni Sanchez through ball.

However we failed to hold the lead for long and within two minutes Ayr had equalised when a miscued clearance from goalkeeper Ryan Esson landed right at the feet of striker Mark Roberts and he made no mistake from 18 yards.

Within two minutes we once again went ahead and this time it was the returning Adam Rooney who neatly finished with a clipped effort past ex-Ross County goalkeeper Craig Samson after some nice interplay round about the box.

Number three arrived six minutes later, Danni Sanchez broke on the left of the box, his low shot was pushed away by Samson but the ever alert Dougie Imrie on hand to fire home the rebound and make it 3-1.  Ayr United were at sixes and sevens and Richie Foran popped up four minutes later for his double and our fourth and as a result we killed the game as a contest.

Shortly before the break Dougie Imrie came close to netting number five as we broke quickly on the counter attack but when the ball reached him at the back post he fired wide of goal.

We continued our onslaught on the Ayr United goal right after the break and Danni Sanchez was unlucky to see his free kick tipped over the bar by Craig Samson, in what would have been a deserved goal for the Spaniard.

On the 57th minute number five duly arrived and it was that man Foran who claimed his hat-trick with a header into the net from a cross by Ross Tokely. 

Seven minutes before the end Jonny Hayes replaced Adam Rooney.  Right at the death Stuart Golabek picked up a yellow card and with the final whistle followed.

A very happy trip back up the A9 for players and supporters alike as we maintained our unbeaten away record.

Full-time score: Ayr United 1 (Roberts 13 mins) - ICT 5 (Foran 11, 25, 57 mins, Rooney, 15 mins, Imrie 21 mins)

ICT Team

Esson

Tokely, Bulvitis, Munro, Golabek

Proctor, Duncan

Imire, Sanchez, Foran

Rooney

Subs: Allison (GK), Cox for Duncan (58 mins), Barrowman for Sanchez (74 mins), Stratford, Hayes for Rooney (83 mins)