Boyce edges ICT closer to drop

ROSS COUNTY 4 INVERNESS CT 0

Liam Boyce nudged Inverness closer to the drop with a fourgoal salvo in an impressive Ross County display at the Highland derby at Global Energy Stadium.

Boyce struck twice in the first half and added a couple of penalties after the break as County strolled to a victory which moved them 11 points clear of their local rivals.

Caley Thistle ended the 4-0 defeat with 10 men. Liam Polworth was sent off after conceding the second penalty on the hour mark.

The home side opened the scoring in the 21st minute when goalkeeper Ryan Esson got into difficulties in trying to deal with a Jamie McCart backpass.

The keeper got caught on the ball and Boyce took full advantage before slotting the ball into the empty net for his 18th goal of the season.

County pushed for a second and Jim O’Brien picked the ball up on the edge of the 18-yard box after a Martin Woods freekick was only partially cleared, but his effort went over the crossbar.

Their pressure paid off in the 34th minute when O’Brien kept the ball in play and his cross back into the box was met by Boyce, whose glancing header flew into the far corner of the net.

The home side almost made it 3-0 three minutes later when Michael Gardyne swung the ball into the danger area, but Boyce failed to get enough power in his shot to beat Esson, who saved comfortably.

County made the perfect start to the second half when they were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute after David Raven brought down Woods inside the box.

Boyce sent Esson the wrong way from the spot.

It was 4-0 in the 60th minute when the home side were awarded a second penalty after Ryan Dow was taken down by Polworth. The Inverness player was shown a red card and Boyce scored again from the spot for his ninth derby goal of the season.

Picture: SNS. Liam Boyce scores his fourth goal.