Boyce’s three derby reasons to rejoice
ROSS County supporters have been known to shrug in grim resignation when derby day is approaching. But for once – or, to be precise, for only the sixth time in Inverness since league admission in 1994 – they left the Highland capital in joyous mood.
Liam Boyce, the Northern Ireland striker, lit up the occasion with a wonderful hat-trick, leaving Inverness floundering in bottom place in the SPFL Premiership early in Richie Foran’s reign.
Dingwall manager Jim McIntyre described Boyce’s brilliantlytaken second goal as “fit to grace any league in the world” but the County matchwinner, who dedicated the treble to his daughter Scout, was just pleased to turn the tables on that derby misery.
“The only time we beat Caley Thistle last year was in the cup, so it is just good to get one over them and get us up and running in the league,” Boyce said.
All rivalry aside, both teams were needing a shot in the arm after League Cup exits and opening-day league defeats.
County had also suffered the embarrassment of having their League Cup silverware parade rained on by Inverness last time out in March, after a 3-0 defeat in Dingwall. There was certainly a real sense of urgency as the visiting team came tearing out of the traps.
Inside two minutes, a winding Erik Cikos run and left-foot strike drew a strong save from home goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams. But Inverness retaliated with an even fiercer attempt. Billy King’s ball in from the left found Scott Boden, who flicked a header towards the top corner, only for Scott Fox to catch.
A minute later, County were in front. Craig Curran’s diagonal ball into the home box from the left found Boyce unmarked on the six-yard line and he netted with a simple header.
County missed a great chance after 18 minutes. Fon Williams strayed out of his box to palm away a high ball forward from Andrew Davies, leaving his goal gaping, but Martin Woods fired over. However, the hosts suffered a big setback when defender Kevin McNaughton exited with an Achilles injury after 24 minutes.
With the hosts temporarily down to 10 men, County scored their second goal after 27 minutes – and it proved a moment of true class from Boyce.
A pin-point ball forward from deep right by Richard Foster did the damage, but Boyce’s control was exquisite as he dragged the high ball inside David Raven and whipped a right foot shot low past Fon Williams.
The game erupted in controversy on half-time as Caley Thistle clawed their way back into it. Ross Draper’s high ball forward had Davies challenging Boden, and the ball squirming past Scott Fox from 12 yards. Video re-runs suggest- ed it was an own goal. There was fury from County, who claimed they had halted play after referee Andrew Dallas blew his whistle for offside. He consulted his linesman and the goal stood.
County restored their two-goal lead a couple of minutes after the break. A Chris Routis free-kick launched forward from the left, midway into home territory, again found the hosts vulnerable as Boyce completed his hat-trick at the far post, out-leaping Gary Warren to head home.
A fine Ross Draper volley slashed the advantage again after 65 minutes from the edge of the area, but County held out.
Beaten manager Foran admitted: “If you want something more in life you’ll get it. They wanted it more than us in the first half, which is disappointing.”