Inverness 2 Hamilton 3 (Agg: 3-5): Highlanders humbled as super Accies seal Championship return

Hamilton Accies have secured an immediate return to the Championship after producing a superb display in the Championship play-off final to humble Inverness Caley Thistle in the Highlands.

Holding a 2-1 advantage from Wednesday night's first leg, Hamilton prevailed 5-3 on aggregate to seal promotion and relegate Duncan Ferguson's sorry side to League One.

There was a sense of deja vu as Kevin O'Hara - who hit a stunning 47-yarder to open the scoring early on in midweek - caught out Caley keeper Mark Ridgers from range once again to ensure another fast start inside eight minutes for Accies, who found themselves in dreamland after 12 minutes when Lewis Smith netted a stunning second on the night.

Cammy Kerr pulled one back for the with a fine 20-yard effort of his own in 31 minutes, but a O'Hara penalty just before half-time was cooly slotted home to seal Thistle's fate in the second leg, although Alex Samuel netted a consolation at the death.

It means boss John Rankin - who signed a new three-year deal before the play-offs - and his side are back in the second tier after a one-year absence and will compete in the Championship alongside League One champions Falkirk and Lanarkshire rivals Airdrieonians next term.

Accies had to withstand an early storm as Pepple forced Dean Lyness into a good stop after three minutes and then two minutes later, the Inverness man saw his effort in the box blocked before Billy Mackay fired over.

But in the eighth minute Accies took the lead in similar fashion to the first leg, with O'Hara again catching Caley keeper Mark Ridgers out with another strike from distance. It wasn't quite up to the 47 yards of midweek, but when the striker collected the ball 25-yards out, he fired a low strike and it squirmed under the goalkeeper's arms and into the net.

And, incredibly, the dream start got even better just four minutes later when the visitors doubled their lead. Smith played a one-two with O'Hara at a short corner, before curling a superb strike into the top corner to spark bedlam in the away end of the Caledonian Stadium.

The Jags were toiling but in 20 minutes they threatened to pull one back when Pepple's powerful drive forced Dean Lyness into a superb stop at his near post. The rebound fell to Cameron Harper and his delivery across the face of goal evaded everyone in a blue shirt as Accies escaped.

Pepple was a constant threat and his volley when he got on the end of a James Carragher free-kick forced Lyness into yet another near-post stop to keep him out.

However, it was Cammy Kerr who found a way through for the Highlanders, pulling one back in 31 minutes. The ball broke to the defender on the edge of the box and he kept his head down to drill a low drive into the bottom corner, and give them a glimmer of hope.

Kyle MacDonald's delivery across the six-yard box was almost turned into his own net by Carragher with O'Hara lurking behind him, sniffing a third.

Four minutes before the break, Accies grabbed their third goal on the night. Remi Savage caught Euan Henderson on the heels in the box and referee Euan Anderson pointed to the spot. O'Hara stepped up and cooly slotted his penalty right into the bottom corner to net his 20th of the season and restore their two-goal lead on the night.

Accies were fortunate to keep 11 men on the field in 43 minutes when Reghan Tumilty went in with a straight leg on Harper, but he escaped with a yellow card and was subsequently substituted by his raging manager John Rankin at half-time.

In the second-half, Hamilton were happy to sit in and try to catch Caley on the break. They stood firm with a resolute defensive display led by young centre-back Fergus Owens. The visitors barely troubled Lyness, as belief drained away from them in the evening sun.

Nine minutes from time, Henderson should have put some gloss on the scoreline when O'Hara put the ball on a plate for him seven yards out, but a good block from Ridgers denied him. Akheem Rose also dragged one agonisingly wide in stoppage time.

In the ninth minute of stoppage time Alex Samuel swivelled in the box to net a late consolation.

It mattered little though as the final whistle soon sounded to signal that Hamilton are back in the Championship.

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on X via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.