The Highlanders were the stronger team throughout and could have won
by a more handsome margin but for the form of Alan Combe.
The visiting keeper had to look smart to turn away Phil McGuire's
well-improvised over-head kick.
Home striker Graham Bayne then directed a firm header wide from
Cowie's cross.
Kilmarnock finally threatened in the 25th minute, but when Gary Wales
found David Fernandez with a perfectly-weighted through-ball, Michael
Fraser was in the right place to make a stop with his foot.
Nish then made his presence felt for the first time in latching on to
a cross from Garry Hay, but Fraser dived low to save.
Niculae came close seven minutes before the interval when his 25-yard
shot was beaten away by Combe.
But the Romanian was not to be denied and turned the ball into the
net after Rankin's expertly controlled shot was too hot to handle for
the Kilmarnock keeper.
Inverness took control of the game following the restart and it did
not take them long to double their advantage.
Hastings turned the ball into the path of Cowie, who showed a touch
of class in dispatching his shot past Combe.
Hastings then had a shot saved by Combe and when the ball came back
to the Canadian he carelessly stabbed over.
The impressive Niculae clipped a 25-yard drive just wide and then
slalomed through a ragged Kilmarnock defence to crack a shot off Combe.
Niculae had another shot which was marginally off target but the
forward's persistence paid off when he finally got a second goal.
The visiting keeper did well to stop Bayne's well-struck effort, only
for the ball to land at the feet of Cowie.
An eager Niculae nicked the ball from the midfielder's toes and
blasted a shot into the net that Combe could not keep out despite
managing to get a hand to the ball.
With four minutes remaining Colin Nish scored a
consolation from the penalty spot following a handball by Grant Munro.
87 mins
