IT has taken a long time for Ian Baraclough, the Motherwell manager, to finally get his first win of the calender year.

It has taken even longer for Louis Laing to get his first league goal in senior football. The relief for both was etched on their faces at the end of a torrid and nerve-wracking afternoon on a day the claret and amber support unfurled a banner before the match - "Don't Give Up The Fight."

Laing struck early in the second half, but when the towering Nigerian internationalist Edward Ofere netted 14 minutes from time it looked as if the Lanarkshire club were cruelly going to have to settle for a point. Baraclough had other ideas and just two minutes after sending on Lionel Ainsworth from the bench for Marvin Johnson, the substitute struck with the winner in 84 minutes. The 'Well players, to a man, read the script and didn't give up the fight.

England youth internationalist, Laing said: "Obviously I'm happy to get a goal, but it was massively important to get the three points. All the lads put a big shift in and it was three points we needed. The way we played we shouldn't fear playing anyone. We can go into the next game believing we can get the three points, and games after that as well.

"We don't feel we're in trouble, we have depth in the squad and players who can get us out of this situation. It was a team performance from everyone against Caley, not just the senior players. We are not going to be fearing anyone from now on. We know our jobs on the pitch, our roles and to go and get three points in every game."

Motherwell had not won in eight games. In contrast Inverness came to Lanarkshire buoyant and unbeaten in their previous ten matches. Both records were to come to an end.

Scott McDonald, on debut second time around, wasted no time in trying to add to the 45 goals he scored for Motherwell in his previous spell between 2004 and 2007. After just four minutes he got on the end of a Conor Grant cross from the right, but his head flick drifted past the far post.

Despite 'Well's impressive first half display it could, and should have been undone one minutes from the break when a mistake by Josh Law let Danny Williams with a clear run through on goal, but his chance went when goalkeeper George Long kept his cool and timed his dive to perfection to grab the ball as the midfielder tried to round him.

There was a spring in the step of the Fir Park side when they re-emerged and that turned to celebrations three minutes into the second half when Grant swung over a superb cross from the left for Laing to out jump the Caley defence and power a header past Ryan Esson from eight yards.

Laing, on loan from Nottingham Forest, added: "That's my first goal anywhere. I was talking to a mate the other day who said to me, are you going to score? Maybe that was the trigger I needed to get my first goal and hopefully I can get some more."

John Hughes's side were not going to relinquish their long time unbeaten record easily and in 76 minutes grabbed an equaliser when captain, and Pittodrie bound, Graeme Shinnie whipped over a left foot cross for Ofere, making his debut for Caley, to leap and send a header soaring into the net from six yards.

Ainsworth came off the bench in 82 minutes to a chorus of jeers from a section of the 'Well support, but within two minutes they changed to cheers when he drilled a low right foot shot into the far corner of the net from 20 yards, albeit with the help of a wicked deflection en route.

Delighted 'Well boss Baraclough said: "It was a great header by Louis Laing, but his defending was unbelievable as well throwing himself in front of everything. All the players ran themselves into the ground and that's what's required from now until the end of the season. We've got our rewards and can only take care of ourselves. We can't control what other clubs elsewhere do."

The only blemish for Motherwell came two minutes from the end when Simon Ramsden, stupidly booked in the first half for kicking the ball away in a fit of petulance, was red carded for a second cautionable offence.

Caley midfielder Nick Ross said: "We didn't pass the ball around and the pitch didn't help, but we are not looking for excuses. We are disappointed to lose. Ofere has some leap on him. He will score goals and that's what we need. He is the total opposite to Billy MacKay's style and will be a good addition. He did well for his first game in Scottish football and the goal will give him confidence."