Dougie Imrie fired in his first goal for Inverness as the Highlanders cruised to a comfortable victory over Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Imrie opened the scoring in the 10th minute courtesy of a sublime left-footed free-kick from the edge of the Kilmarnock penalty area to break his duck after moving north from Clyde in January.

A 71st-minute cross from Imrie created Caley Thistle's second goal as David Lilley could only turn the ball into his own net, before Marius Niculae completed the scoring through a confident finish.

Both teams started in positive fashion, determined to attack whenever possible and it did not take long for Inverness to strike first through a piece of great individual skill by Imrie.

The first two chances of the game each fell to Kilmarnock, with Michael Fraser called into action in the very first minute to tip a speculative drive from James Fowler over his crossbar.

Danny Invincibile then turned a low shot across goal that was smartly pushed wide by the Inverness keeper.

But despite that early pressure from the visitors, it was Inverness who broke the deadlock through Imrie's fine free-kick.

The away side's response to that setback saw Gary Wales send a diving header just wide from Fowler's accurate cross.

Inverness may have struggled through a seven-game losing run of late, but that terrible sequence was broken with the victory over Gretna a fortnight ago which appeared to fill the Highlanders with some much-needed confidence.

Caley Thistle were sharp in attack and posed problems for a Kilmarnock backline that often looked ragged.

The hosts pieced together a promising move in the 27th minute and Dennis Wyness directed a low cross towards strike-partner Niculae.

The Romanian looked certain to immediately turn a shot goalwards, only for Ryan O'Leary to put Niculae off his stride, forcing the forward to blast harmlessly wide.

Niculae was soon to have another opportunity, this time following good play by Barry Wilson, but the former Sporting Lisbon player headed over the crossbar from close range.

Inverness became less of a threat in attack as the opening half progressed, yet started the second period refreshed and eager to extend their lead.

As early as the 46th minute a neat knock-down from Wilson teed up Ross Tokely to lash a half-volley marginally past Combe's far post.

Wilson continued to be the main architect of Caley Thistle's chances and from his cross, Imrie somehow managed to completely miss the ball when apparently perfectly placed to head at goal.

Imrie may have failed to call Combe into action on that occasion, but the Kilmarnock keeper was soon had to deal with a deflected effort from Wyness that was hastily pushed over the top.

With Inverness firmly in the ascendancy, Combe then watched Wilson curl a free-kick just off target, before the hosts doubled their advantage.

Imrie whipped a cross into the centre of the penalty area and in an effort to prevent the ball from reaching the lurking Roy McBain, Lilley haplessly drove the ball past his own goalkeeper.

The afternoon then got worse for Kilmarnock as the hosts scored a third goal to secure the win.

Tokely's pass was well controlled by Niculae, who placed a superb shot high into the roof of a stranded Combe's goal to boost his hopes of making Romania's squad for Euro 2008.

Teams:

Inverness CT Fraser, Tokely, Proctor, Munro (McAllister 86), Hastings, Wilson (Hart 72), Cowie, McBain, Imrie, Niculae (Paatelainen 86), Wyness.

Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Black, Kerr, Vigurs.

Goals: Imrie 10, Lilley 71 og, Niculae 79.

Kilmarnock Combe, Clancy, O'Leary, Lilley, Hay, Fernandez (Di Giacomo 68), Fowler, Locke (Hamill 63), Flannigan, Wales (Dalglish 60), Invincibile.

Subs Not Used: Rascle, Ford, Murray, McInnes.

Att: 3,420

Ref: A Muir (Scotland).