W ITH a supporter-base seemingly diminishing quicker than Scottish Labour's popularity in the polls, Caley Thistle could never be accused of resting on their laurels.
During the week, they got the policy pronouncement right by alowing under 16s free entry - and what a fine spectacle those in attendance were treated to.
Billy McKay's return to scoring form after 12 barren matches set the tone, his double and further strikes by Gary Warren and James Vincent overwhelming an adventurous Accies.
Tony Andreu's own double proved futile in preventing a fourth game without victory for Alex Neil's impressive young team on a day when either side could have scrambled up to the Premiership summit.
For McKay, now off to Romania with Northern Ireland on international duty, there was tangible relief conveyed in his usual mild-mannered way.
"It was important for me to get back in among the goals and I'm looking now to really kick on," the 25-year-old striker said. "But the most important thing, again, was we got the win and it has taken us top of the table.
"The worst we can be is second if Celtic win tomorrow. We could hardly ask for a better position at this stage in the season. I've had spells without a goal before in my career - and I'll probably have it again."
With Warren and Vincent also weighing in, spirited Accies were ultimately swept aside.
In a bright start from the away team, Andreu's opening goal followed a David Raven foul on Jon Routledge in the 16th minute. Fully 35 yards out, the threat seemed minimal, but the Frenchman's Cristian Ronaldo-style toe-punt rocketed past a stationary Dean Brill and in off the inside post.
From there, however, it was Caley Thistle who took a grip on the half. Within eight minutes they were level, with Raven's original delivery from the right bouncing beyond reach of Marley Watkins in the box. The in-form Welshman was quick to compose himself, though, drilling back to Mckay who wiped out the deficit with a sharp touch and eight-yard finish past Michael McGovern.
Into the second period, Accies again opened brightly and again the bubble was burst. Tansey's corner from the right was met by a textbook leap and header from defender Warren. From seven yards, McGovern had no chance.
The hosts then seemed to be in comfortable territory as they surged 3-1 up after 68 minutes with Raven's high ball controlled by Watkins whose attempt at goal was only parried to McGovern's left. McKay raced in to score from three yards to round off his return to scoring form in style.
Four minutes later, though, Andreu's tame effort from inside the box surprised Brill and squirmed through his body to give Hamilton hope. It was extinguished almost immediately by Hughes' men as James Vincent raced on to a clever head-flick by Watkins to net the fourth.
A philosophical Hughes seemed in Dead Poet's Society mode post-match with a seize-the-day message. "All I said to them after the match was we'll bump into each other five or 10 years down the line," he said. "I'm quite sure that day they will say to me 'gaffer, see when we were at Inverness, that was the best time of my career'. And all I'm saying to them is, if that is the case, you need to grasp it right now."
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